OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Getting a high school diploma is a big deal and some students at Oak Ridge High School are getting their associate's degree at the same time.
Oak Ridge High School has partnered with Roane State to allow juniors and seniors to earn an Associate of Science degree or an Associate of Applied Science degree.
"They can get an Associates of Applied Science in Mechatronics, so that can put them straight into a career in the working path," said Brianna Ottinger, Counseling Department Coordinator. "Or if they do the Associates of General Science, they'll already have that toward their bachelors so they'll have the first two years of college done."
The degree also helps out with the financial aspect of college.
"Kids can finish with a high school diploma and associate's degree at the same time with very little out-of-pocket cost, usually they only have to pay for their books", said Ottinger.
And the life lessons the kids learn make the program that much better.
"Kids learn maturity and time management because they have to manage all that on their own it's not as set up for them in high school," said Ottinger.