Program mission and focus

OU is a dual credit program enabling youth ages 17-20 to work toward high school completion as well as college credit. OU is a chance for opportunity youth to reengage in education, learn, and feel empowered. 

OU reengages disconnected youth through a program that

1. Provides an on-ramp to post secondary achievement through an individualized support model
2. Creates multiple pathways for students to succeed
3. Encourages community partnerships

Opportunities Unlimited 2018 Graduation Ceremony

​our students...

• Students who are struggling in the traditional school environment
• Students who are not currently attending high school
• Students that are at risk of not completing the graduation requirements of 240 credits
• Students must be 17-20 years of age

Class offerings

HiSET/Diploma Preparation Class: The HiSET stands for High School Equivalency Test. In the HiSET preparation class, students will receive preparation tests, materials, and support to get them to a level of passing. The HiSET is nationally recognized by both employees and colleges as a high school equivalency degree. If students have 40 credits or less to earn, then they can work towards completing their diploma through online Blackboard or AVENTA classes. Two teachers are present during this class to help support students in HiSET preparation or diploma completion.

Career Skills Class:  The Individual Career and Academic Plan will assess interests and talents and match these results with career clusters, and concurrent offerings available at Front Range Community College. This class will also teach job skills such as resume writing, interviewing, FAFSA, and job/internship applications.

Math, English and Science Support Classes: Students work with OU teachers to prepare for the Accuplacer (FRCC entrance exams) and the HiSET tests. Teachers present activities, lessons, and worksheets to help students practice his/her skills with extra time to provide one-on-one support.

Support Group: The School Social Worker teaches a support class to help enhance the community and culture between OU students and staff. This class allows students to identify and promote his/her social and/or emotional needs.

College Support Class: This class allows students to work on FRCC coursework in a supportive environment. The school social worker facilitates this class to support students academically and socially/emotionally. 

Service Learning: OU students volunteer with agencies in Fort Collins to introduce and build altruism while creating positive connections within the community.

OU students at La Familia for Service Learning

OU students at the Larimer County Food Bank for Service Learning

​Front Range community college

If students complete their first semester in the program successfully, they have a unique opportunity to take Front Range Community College courses while in the OU program. They may take different combinations of these components but must meet the minimum class requirements to be a full time student. Those requirements are;

• Must be enrolled in 6 classes (This is based on 360 reporting data.)
  •  This could be 5 OU classes at PHS and 1 FRCC class (meets 3x per week/3 hours/3 college credits)
  •  This could be 3 OU classes at PHS and 3 FRCC classes, etc.
• Every student will participate in the HiSET program from 3:30-5:00pm Monday thru Thursday
• HiSET Prep and Test Taking - This is to assess and prepare for the high school equivalency test that will be taken when the student shows proficiency in all five core test subjects.

Fees and payments

Front Range Community College (FRCC)
If students earn a C or higher in their FRCC courses, Poudre School District (PSD) will cover tuition costs. Students will be responsible for the cost of textbooks and any additional student fees/program fees. In other words, certain courses at FRCC have additional program fees (such as CNA courses, EMT courses, dental assisting courses, etc.). Students are able to set up payment plans through FRCC directly. 

HiSET (High School Equivalency Test)
Students have a unique opportunity to be reimbursed for the full cost of the HiSET test. Students will be reimbursed after they pass each individual sub-test, which costs $28.25 per test. If a student does not pass a test, they will not be reimbursed. Students can retake each individual test up to three times. There are five total sub-tests consisting of Math, Science, Reading, Writing and Social Studies.

Opportunities unlimited team

Elizabeth "B" Lewis
Program Coordinator & School Social Worker
Office: 970-488-6176
Cell: 970-203-5670
ellewis@psdschools.org
*Please contact B for enrollment information

Anson Wilder
Integrated Services Case Manager
HiSET Prep Instructor
​Language Arts & Science Teacher
Office: 970-488-6189
ansonw@psdschools.org

Krista Mikucki 
Math Support Teacher
kmikucki@psdschools.org

Luke Cheever
Career Skills Teacher
lcheever@psdschool.org

Cassie Poncelow
Counselor
​cponcelo@psdschools.org

opportunities unlimited in the news!

Program offers second chance for dropout risks by Sarah Jane Kyle

Two years ago, Veronica Valdez was on her way to becoming a high school dropout. Though she went to her core classes — math and reading — at Fort Collins High School, Valdez skipped those she didn't think were relevant to her future — physical education, home economics and humanities. She was earning credits she thought mattered but missing her other classes meant missing credits required for her to graduate. Valdez, now 18, had three options — drop out, take an overwhelming number of classes her senior year or find a program that motivated her to succeed.

If she dropped out, Veronica would have joined the 1.7 percent of Poudre School District students who became dropouts last year. If she increased her course load, she knew she would have the same struggle as before — skipping classes because she didn't see their value. As she tried to find motivation and another way to craft a better future, she learned about Opportunities Unlimited, an innovative program at Poudre High School funded through marijuana tax dollars.

Opportunities Unlimited was created last year to help students at risk of dropping out earn their diploma, traditional GED or high-school equivalency diploma. The program also takes advantage of concurrent enrollment, which allows students to take classes at Front Range Community College for free. The program is a new approach to helping at-risk students succeed, as most alternative programs focus solely on high school diplomas. It is open to students ages 17 to 21 who have already dropped out, were on the verge of dropping out, or had too few credits....

Ready the rest of the story here: http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/02/13/program-last-chance-between-dropping-out-and-diploma/97614254/


9NEWS Coverage on Opportunities Unlimited

FORT COLLINS - Inside a classroom at Poudre High School, a new program is working to give students who have dropped out a second chance. In August, the district created the Opportunities Unlimited program, a G.E.D “plus” program for students ages 17 to 21 who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of high school. The program also allows students a head start at an associates or four-year college degree by taking college courses at Front Range Community College.

“This is their second chance. This is another chance to not only finish what they started in high school but go beyond that," Program Counselor Cass Poncelow said. The 30 students in the program came from schools across the Fort Collins and Loveland area. So far, 17 of the students have signed up for college courses and are starting on associate’s degrees.
One of the students in the program, Samuel Tidd, attributes Opportunities Unlimited to a renewed focus and interest in his future. “It feels like you’re doing something important. It feels like your life is in your hands, like you’re preparing for your future and you’re not just taking tests," he said.

Part of the program also focuses on community service. Since August, students have performed over 100 hours.
“It’s pretty incredible what has happened in this program the last couple of months," Poncelow said.
She said she hopes Opportunities Unlimited will become a model for other G.E.D. programs across Colorado.
(© 2015 KUSA)