Chickasha to get Regional OSSM school

[OkieKAS]

State lawmakers voted Wednesday to provide funding for a new regional program of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics that will be based in Chickasha.

The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) was created in 1983 and graduated its first class of 44 seniors from across the state in 1992. Based in Oklahoma City, it is designed as a two-year residential public high school for academically gifted students in mathematics and science. The school currently has 71 juniors, 63 seniors and an ultimate enrollment estimated at 300, according to the school's Web site.


“The OSSM-Chickasha program will allow students in western Oklahoma who have completed all available curriculum at their local high school to take advanced classes in science and math and still live at home with their parents, participate in their current school and graduate with their school class,” said state Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton. “This is a great opportunity.”

[redland]

I missed this item in the news this past week, and I am surprised by it. I was not aware that OSSM (a feather in the state's cap, by the way) was so pressed for space that an additional campus was needed. And if so, why Chickasha? Chickasha is not that far from OKC, and in fact many students in "western Oklahoma" are closer to Oklahoma City than to Chickasha. Again, I don't understand the need for a second campus, but if one is to be founded I should think the Tulsa area would be a more sensible locale.

[jbrown84]

Yeah seems like an odd location to me as well. Chickasha must have a powerful senator or something.

[kevinpate]

Hmmm, could be you might oughta consider that other chamber, the one that's not so evenly divided.

Bigger hint:
Oklahoma State House of Representatives - Member's Page

[jbrown84]

Never heard of her.

[OkieKAS]

“This is an excellent opportunity to bring together two of the state's finest educational institutions to offer local students new avenues in their education,” said Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha. “We have so many gifted students in Oklahoma, and it's important that we provide them with as many tools and opportunities to excel as we can.”


“OSSM offers our most gifted students academic opportunities they cannot otherwise enjoy,” said state Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha. “The students from Chickasha who've gone to OSSM in Oklahoma City have enjoyed tremendous success. I am pleased that this regional program will now allow many more students in western Oklahoma this opportunity as well. This is exciting for Chickasha.”


“Our students in western Oklahoma are some of the best in the state and now they'll have the chance to prove it,” said state Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco. “OSSM opens a lot of doors for high school students as they prepare for college and I'm proud to offer those opportunities to students in my district.”

Of the over 900 students who have graduated from OSSM since its creation, 41 have been from Grady County. Senate Bill 194, which passed out of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday, provides funding for OSSM, including money for a new regional OSSM program to be located in Chickasha.

[kevinpate]

I won't always agree with her politically, but all in all, a right decent lady, though I seriously doubt she ever recall that we've met. Her husband, who may or may not be unknown to some of you, is a right interesting chap himself -
James R. Winchester

[jbrown84]

Never heard of her, but she must have an awful lot of clout to get a regional OSSM for her town 45 minutes from OKC when Tulsa doesn't even have one.

[bombermwc]

I'm not sure why they don't just expand the main campus. Part of the reason for schools like that are that they are a single location school...not regional. If kids want to take advacned classes in other parts of the state, then they have the option of concurrently enrolling in the regional university. The experience of being ON campus is part of OSSM. If you live at home, it sort of defeats the purpose of the school environment of intense academic focus. I am totally opposed to a second campus.

[okiemom]

I never saw this coming. 40 minutes away is awfully close.
Oh well, good for Chickasha. We need positive news.

[kevinpate]

It's not very difficult to see the stage now set for an expansion of the offerings through USAO as well.

[OKCMallen]

Part of the mission of OSSM is to create these satellite programs in various parts of the state. There are several already, so this isn't really an expansion of OSSM proper...it's just programs provided by OSSM. Basically, the kids can take some math classes, etc, their smaller high schools don't provide.

OSSM is getting close to doubling the student population on the main campus. I believe all of the private funding is in place and now just some public funds are needed and they will double the dorms (which were constructed with this in the plan).

[ossmshawnee]

The OSSM - Chickasha Regional Center is the 16th Regional Center to open.
The Regional Centers are vastly different from the downtown OKC campus. At the regional centers only AP Calculus BC and Physics C are taught. The students come to the regional center for half a day, then go to their regular high school for the rest of the day. This allows the students to stay involved in sports and extracurriculars while learning physics and calculus at the college level. All of our regional centers have labs that far surpass the local high schools and even some colleges. The education they receive here prepares them for a rigorous university curriculum in a way that a regular high school cannot.
Other regional centers are located in Afton, Ardmore, Drumright, Enid, Kansas, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Ponca City, Poteau, Pryor, Shawnee, Stilwell, Sallisaw, Tahlaquah, and Wayne.
As of this year the regional centers have graduated more students than the downtown campus. By having regional centers all across the state, more students are able to take advantage of the OSSM curriculum, with the added bonus of being able to live at home and stay involved in sports, band, or other extracurriculars.