DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Four years since its inception, the Prep Academy, a collaborative initiative between Decatur Public Schools and Richland Community College, is poised for growth as its pioneering cohort graduates.

Established in 2021, the Prep Academy offers an innovative, tuition-free dual-enrollment experience for high school students. Participants from Decatur Public Schools can attain both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree within a four-year timeframe. In May, the program celebrated its inaugural graduating class of 25 students.

This pioneering group collectively completed over 1,500 credit hours, maintaining an impressive average GPA of 3.09, with many earning academic honors. Each student saved approximately $26,000 in public college tuition fees.

“We are grateful to Richland Community College for collaborating with us to offer our students in the Prep Academy the chance to excel in an early college program,” stated Ashley Grayned, Executive Director of Innovative Programs and Strategic Planning for Decatur Public Schools. “These students joined as 14-year-olds navigating both high school and college, and they graduated at 18 with diplomas, associate degrees, and skills poised for university success nationwide. We couldn’t be prouder of the commitment shown by the first cohort of Prep Academy students. They are true trailblazers!”