KENNEBUNK — Students at Kennebunk High School have a number of academic opportunities for their choosing, and now they have one more — the chance to earn college credit at the University of New England while still in high school.

KHS and the university are expected to sign an articulation agreement during the School Board’s meeting on Monday, the first of its kind between UNE and a public high school, according to RSU 21 Superintendent Katie Hawes.

As part of the agreement, students who take advanced placement, or AP, or International Baccalaureate, or IB, courses at the high school will receive college credit at UNE if they attain a certain score.

“Our kids have been able to take classes at UNE for a couple of years now if they’re ready to do it,” Hawes said. “But this is a step forward for us because it’s actually classes at KHS with a KHS teacher as part of their regular daily schedule — and then UNE is saying, ‘Yes we believe your teachers have the credentials.’”

Hawes said the agreement has been three years in the making. Students taking AP courses at KHS, and achieve an AP Test score of three out of five, a passing score, will be accepted for credit at UNE. Standards become more rigorous for IB courses, in which students must score a four on a final test to qualify for university credit.

The program will allow students to begin school at UNE with sophomore-standing, if they meet all the requirements. That means students may be able to spend only 75 percent of the money they typically would on a college education.

Hawes said UNE already partners with RSU 21 on a number of initiatives, including a district-wide fifth -grade math festival and outreach programs involving science, technology, engineering and math — the field collectively known as STEM.

RSU 21 serves students in the communities of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. KHS and Middle School of the Kennebunks are two of only three IB-accredited schools in Maine, the other being Gray-New Gloucester High School in Gray.

Hawes said she is hopeful the new articulation agreement will encourage students at KHS to seek out advanced courses. Currently, she said, 70 percent of students at the school take part in AP, IB or early college courses through UNE, or Southern Maine or York County community colleges.

By offering college credit, she said she hopes 80 percent of students will enroll in such courses, which is a goal of the district’s five-year master plan.

In addition, Hawes said, she’s hoping the programming will encourage Maine students to stay in state after graduating high school.

“I think UNE has a particular interest in RSU 21 because of our focus on STEM and the fact our students excel at the math and sciences … they do have an interest in attracting our students,” she said. “This gives them an opportunity for a really seamless journey for students K-16 if they choose to go (to UNE).”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].