Once the second semester of the school year is in full swing, seniors at Pleasant Valley start to make big decisions. Lots of students have already committed to four year colleges, two year colleges, and apprenticeships. The question is, how can a student decide which fit is best? While the majority of students are off to universities, more students are realizing the benefits to transitioning into two-year colleges.

Madison Huffman, a senior at Pleasant Valley, said, “A two year is a better transition I feel. It’s kind of like going to junior high before high school, because elementary students can’t just be thrown into high school. But, I also believe that Pleasant Valley better prepares us for college than other high schools in the area.”

Two year schools are becoming a better option for many students, because the price is much lower than a four year university, class sizes are smaller for more personal learning, and it’s a more flexible schedule for working students.

Darren Ericksen, associate principal at Pleasant Valley High School, said, “The statistics say it all. While a two year community college may be better, Pleasant Valley challenges its students to prepare them for the expectations of a four year college. Along with that, we offer so many dual credit courses and Scott Community College classes to help get our students a head start.”
Two year community colleges are also helpful to students who do not quite know what they want to major in. Scott Community College, Black Hawk College, and many other community colleges offer a wide range of classes to try and help find what students may be interested in.