Community College School

A community college school is essentially an educational institution that offers lower-level tertiary education as well as higher education in addition to providing certificates, diplomas and Associates' degrees. These colleges are named so as they attract and admit students from local community; they are supported by the property taxes of the local community.

In UK, such community colleges are known as secondary schools that provide some kind of extended services. For instance, a community college may achieve status of a technology college or may conduct adult education courses. A community college school in UK usually offers General Certificates of Secondary Education and it may include A-levels, Sixth Form or, at times, other vocational qualifications.

Earlier in the 1970s and '80s, community college schools were typically referred to as junior college. The term continues to be used at some institutions. However, in the 1990s, the junior colleges remained as private two-year institutions, whereas the community college schools evolved as those funded by public.

Essentially a community college school is concerned with the local students and their requirements. The colleges serve the students who are unable to afford campus or off-site housing at a four-year college.  Their courses also include customized training with the local businesses to serve the local purposes.

Some community colleges offer "concurrent enrollment" programs that allow the local high school students to begin their college career by taking classes at the community college. This would be recognized in both – as college credit (especially in subject areas like history and political science) and high school diploma. However, the classes and policies in the colleges differ according to agreements between the high schools and the community colleges. 

Administration Of A Community College School

Majority of the community colleges are controlled by special districts, through the property taxes collected from the local community or a division of the state university. In the former case, the special district is regulated by a board of trustees and the state agency supervising all community colleges districts is allowed to exercises only a limited control.  The staff and faculty of a community college school work under the President (executive officer of the college) elected by local board or the state university. 

Enrollment

The community college school follows an "open enrollment'' policy that enables the students to pursue future college education. It is highly advantageous for the students with mediocre academic records in high school, or those who were expelled or dropped out and obtained a GED later on. These colleges also provide a great opportunity for students who have matured to realize the benefits of college education, are learning disabled or those who could not attend college after high school.