Muncie Schools Early College Program To Graduate First Students

Muncie Community Schools is known to the state as one of two school corporations named as “distressed political subdivisions.”  But while the district’s financials are being scrutinized, Muncie officials are making sure to tell everyone that its academics are solid.  And, as IPR’s Tony Sandleben reports, one program at Muncie Central High School would argue those academics are exemplary.

The typical sounds of high school – the bell rings and students head to class. Not all of them go to just work on a high school diploma, though.  At least not at Muncie Central High School.

“We study where you’ve been, where you want to go and how you’re going to get there.”

Khalid Reichard oversees Muncie Central’s early college program, the four-year plan that this year will see its first graduates leave Central with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.

While helping students complete a college degree is Reichard’s main job, he also tries to help them advance in other ways.

Allana Campbell (Photo: Tony Sandleben)

“Mr. Reichard’s been a huge help, honestly. He’s been a best friend. He’s a teacher when he needs to be. He’s a leader when he needs to be, but he’s also a best friend.”

Allana Campbell is one of the students getting an associate’s this year. She’s part of a group of students that keep busy, to say the least.

Kelby Stallings will also be getting an associate’s in May. On top of that, she is a Lily Endowment scholarship winner who plays basketball and tennis, is in the school’s most advanced band ensemble and does several other extracurricular activities.

“I have the capstone engineering course and then AP Econ, AP English Literature, AP Calc, Wind Ensemble – so band, independent study, AP Physics and then AP French.”

Kelby Stallings (Photo: Tony Sandleben)

Reichard hopes these early college students can take what they’ve learned in the program and go on to bigger and better things.

“They’re making such important decisions as freshmen and sophomores in high school. Who are they going to hang around with? What are they going to do in their free time? Those things just set so many wheels in motion in life so I just love reaching them at that age and just giving them an alternative.”

Campbell says she plans on attending Ball State next year to study Criminal Justice. Meanwhile, Stallings has not yet decided where she will attend college.