School Spotlight: Seminole Heights Charter High School

Less than two years ago, it was stripped down to the studs and concrete slab. A clean slate and a fresh start for a building that has seen many tenants come and go through the years.

What emerged from the renovation is a place that is at once energetic and calm, bright and unassuming. Much like the students who fill its classrooms.

Seminole Heights Charter High School opened its doors last year to at-risk youth -- those who, for one reason or another, are potential dropouts.

But the term "at-risk" is misleading if it conjures stereotypes. These halls are not filled with troublemakers.

"These are students you and I would be happy to have our own children sitting next to in a classroom," Principal Dr. Bobby Smith said.

There is no specific profile for an at-risk student, Smith said. One student, for example, had battled an array of health problems, which resulted in frequent absences from his traditional high school. He was falling behind in classes, not because he wasn't trying, Smith said. In fact, the student racked up a perfect FCAT score. Not one wrong answer, Smith said.

Some students have been home-schooled, and want to complete their high school requirements in a classroom setting. Others just don't want the distractions that traditional high schools tend to be filled with.

These hallways, Smith said, are "drama-free."

Though the school's motto is "your diploma, your way," that doesn't mean they ask for it and we hand it to them, Smith said. Students admitted to the program are expected to meet stringent expectations, and potential enrollees are put through a multi-day orientation to make sure they understand exactly what will be required of them. Once admitted, students can complete the online curriculum at their own pace in one of three five-hour sessions to fulfill the credit requirements they need. Teachers are certified in multiple subject areas, and provide both instruction and support in the classroom.

The school is the first in Hillsborough County to offer an alternative to a traditional high school that does not involve getting a GED or attending adult night classes, Smith said. Students are among their peers, earning the same diploma that traditional high school graduates earn., just in a smaller setting.

Students often will complete requirements that take a full semester in a traditional classroom in half that time, Smith said. Students with at least 18 credit hours are in the senior cadre, which allows them special privileges.

Senior Shamika Davis, 19, is working hard to graduate in December, so that she can join the Air Force. Her goal is to become a nurse, then eventually go to law school.

Her teachers at SHCH are helping her get there.

"They take more time and listen," Davis said.

And the students here are more focused on getting their work done instead of getting into trouble, she said.

"I love everything about being here," Ruben Mujica, 18, said. He attended several Bay area high schools before enrolling at SHCHS. Now, he is on track to graduate in June, then join the Marine Corps.

Both Davis and Mujica said their favorite teachers are the ones who are the strictest.

"Ms. [Taylor] Sampson, she challenges you, she gets you to work harder," Mujica said with a smile.*

"Every student has to have a plan when they graduate," Smith said. A career counselor works with students to establish that plan and help them execute it; resume writing and interview skills are emphasized so that students can learn how to market themselves effectively, Smith said.

One goal this year is to build more relationships with individuals and organizations in the community, Smith said. Several neighborhood churches have expressed an interest in working with the school, and 100 Black Men of Tampa is looking establish a mentoring program for SHCH students.

Sometimes, neighborhood residents stop by just to say how happy they are a school has moved into the building and share their own memories of its previous uses, Smith said. Getting the word out to the community about the school's mission is important to its success.

"The more roots that a school has, the more it can become a beacon of hope for the area, and it helps to improve the area as a whole," Smith said.

For information, call (813) 234-0809 or visit www.yourdiplomayourway.com.

* This article contains a correction to the spelling of Taylor Sampson's name.