When Melinda Deravil enrolled in Seminole Heights Charter High School she had fewer than half the course credits she needed to walk across the stage and receive her high school diploma.
Nearly seven months ago, graduation seemed an impossible task. She had dropped out of ninth and tenth grades and then made up a handful of her needed credits at Blake High School.
But she had reached a decision. "I wanted to fix my life," she said. "I wanted to feel my life was on track."
Seminole Heights offered what Deravil believed she needed — smaller classes with more hands-on instruction.
On June 17, she was the student speaker and one of 12 students in the charter school's first graduating class.
The school, which opened in October at 4006 N. Florida Ave., had a goal of reaching dropouts or potential dropouts. Current enrollment is about 260 students, said Principal Bobby Smith. A second group of students is expected to graduate in December.
Charter schools are independent, nonprofit public schools that receive state and local funding. Students can earn high school diplomas the same as students who attend traditional high schools.
The Hillsborough County school district sets the school's standards regarding enrollment levels, graduation rates and students' standardized test scores.
Deravil not only completed her required courses, she raised her grade point average from 2.2 to 3.2. She said she plans to attend Hillsborough Community College and then transfer to the University of South Florida, with a goal of becoming an obstetrician.
For information about Seminole Heights Charter High School, call (813) 234-0809.
Kathy Steele
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