Gaffney High math teacher Karen Denton helps a student while supervising NovaNet. The self-paced computer program is helping students recover credit towards graduation. A Gaffney High School course recovery program delivered almost perfect results this summer in helping freshman and sophomore students advance to the next grade.

The school saw 15 of 17 students using a NovaNet software package earn credit in English or math over the summer. The self-paced computer programs were offered as a pilot program so students could recover course credits in a subject and move to the next grade level.

NovaNet was made available to students who failed English or math, but not both subjects, this past school year. Those students were allowed to use the self-paced computer programs to recover course credit in classes offered June 27-July 22.

The school considered students who failed their English or math classes in the range of 60-69, Gaffney High assistant principal Denise Wooten said. Students must earn credit in both subjects to be promoted to the next grade level.

The students received an incomplete grade from their teachers and used NovaNet to complete their coursework. Students paid the school’s regular summer school fee of $175.

Math teacher Karen Denton and Heather Walker are the school’s NovaNet instructors.

“It was a very successful program. We have 15 students who were able to move to the next grade level,” Wooten said. “We will definitely use NovaNet next summer.”

Gaffney High spent $20,000 on NovaNet site licenses last summer, allowing the school to serve a maximum of 10 students at one time. NovaNet is one of several strategies the school has implemented to reduce high school dropouts and increase the number of ninth grade students who advance to the next grade level.

Gaffney High teachers Pam Oliver, Ann Marie Stephens, Cathy Brown and Stacey Fuentes were recently trained in NovaNet. The teachers will work with English as a Second Language, special education, homebound students and other students who need additional help.

“We are branching out with NovaNet this school year,” Wooten said. “We want to find ways we can use the computer program during the school year to meet the needs of our students.”