Why more students are taking summer classes in Naperville

Summer school isn't just for students who are at risk of falling behind. It's also for students who want to get ahead - at least in Naperville Unit District 203.

The district has 400 more students enrolled in summer courses this year than last, officials say, and they credit a number of factors, including higher interest among "college-focused" students in using the warmest months as a time to gain an advantage.

School board President Terry Fielden said summer sessions offer a way for "college-focused and college-ready" students to cross a class or two off their requirements list.

"It provides an opportunity for some of the kids to get ahead on what they're doing as far as summer school goes, and they can actually put another class on their schedule to prepare themselves for college," Fielden said. "I think that's why a lot of the children elect to go."

Kevin Wojtkiewicz, District 203's director of summer learning, said 3,100 students are enrolled in summer school - an increase of 400 from last year's 2,700. The enrollments are across seven categories including elementary, junior high, high school, music, science camps, special education and English language programs.

It's the junior high and high school students who often use the programs to advance their learning, he said.

"We have some kids who want to be able to add more electives to their schedules during the regular school year, so they're trying to get their U.S. history out of the way," Wojtkiewicz said. (Roughly 200 students are enrolled in U.S. history this summer.) "It opens up an opportunity for them to take an extra elective or an extra AP (advanced placement) class during the school year, so that helps them get ahead."

Some students are looking to complete state graduation requirements early to spend a semester taking college courses or additional preparation before officially enrolling in a university, Fielden said. Summer school helps make that possible.

School board member Susan Crotty said she is glad so many students are taking advantage of the district's summer offerings instead of choosing enrichment programs through private companies or universities. She said the fact the district expanded transportation to all summer school participants this year is a big convenience factor driving increased enrollment.

"The transportation makes it easier for parents to sign up," Crotty said.

The district previously offered bus transportation for summer school participants in elementary school. This year Wojtkiewicz said all levels of students have buses available to take them to and from the classes, which run until Friday for elementary and junior high students and through various dates in June or July for music and other programs.

Also new this year is a second location for the elementary program, junior high classes in computer programming as well as space and flight and five online classes offered through a consortium with Indian Prairie Unit District 204 and Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200.

"That's a different opportunity, especially if they are traveling for the summer or they have athletic camps and can't take traditional summer school," Wojtkiewicz said about the online courses, which 300 students are taking.

Parents in the district pay between $80 and $360 for each class their student takes. Crotty said those fees make providing so many summer school options basically cost-neutral for the district as the purpose of summer learning continues to evolve.

"It can be enriching. It can be so many things today," Crotty said about summer school. "It's not simply credit recovery."