With the ever changing world, the rigor of the high school curriculum has changed significantly over the years.

Taking a leap forward, Junction City High School is one of two schools statewide that are participating in a new Math and Science Initiative.

JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp explained the concept behind the program.  “The National Math and Science Initiative is a function of the Department of Defense, they look at schools that are close to military installations around the country and provide resources, mostly financial, in regard to professional development for your AP teachers, study sessions for students, increasing enrollment in Advanced Placement courses and increasing scores [in AP courses],” said Sharp.

The goal of the initiative is simple.

“We’re hoping that we can expose more students to more rigorous curriculum in math and science,” said Sharp.

Sharp said that programs like the math and science initiative help better prepare students for whichever path they choose after high school. “Colleges across the country were spending a lot of their own money in remediation classes, on students who weren’t ready for college; so the whole movement of the Common Core standards was about shifting down those standards to high schools,” said Sharp.

Eleventh and twelfth grade curriculums and course loads now rival that of a Junior College.

“We’re asking to put out a more substantial product than we were a few years ago,” said Sharp.

Manhattan High School is the only other school in Kansas to partake in the DOD Math and Science Initiative.

Sharp said the schools are working together to better prepare students for college and the workforce.