"School Counts"

Kentucky’s per capital income is only 82% of the national average, which is the result of a lack of education. Not enough Kentuckians graduate from high school or college, Madisonville Rotarian Ron Sanders said his Club, in a partnership with Madisonville Community College are doing something about that in Hopkins County. The first program of its kind in the state and only the second in the nation.

“It’s not just a federal or state problem, it’s a local program,” said Sanders. Some western Kentucky counties have college graduation rates below Mexico, for example. In the 25-34 age range, only 24% have college degrees compared to 53% in Japan.

Sanders said the School Counts program has a goal of changing those statistics by raising educational levels, which in turn improves the workforce in Hopkins County. “It gives hopes and changes lives,” said Judy Moore, Assistant to the President of the MCC.

Moore begins cultivating elementary and middle students to join the program in their freshman year of high school. The School Counts students are required to make a “C” or better, maintain 95% or better school attendance, complete high school in 8 consecutive semesters and take more courses than the minimum required or graduation, preferably in Math, Science or English.

In return, the students earn a certificate each year they are in program and $1,000 per semester they are enrolled at MCC. A similar program in Christian County pays full tuition for qualifying students.

Sanders says the School Counts program was kicked off with a $127,000 donation from the Madisonville Rotary Club and today boasts a $1.5 million endowment fund. More than a thousand high school students are enrolled in the program. More than 300 businesses and several other civic organizations support School Counts financially.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Sanders.