A child genius who has mastered Calculus II and linear algebra cannot continue his college classes, as teachers have refused to let him graduate high school early.
Michael Sweeney, 14, has been homeschooled in Bethlehem, New York for his entire education and currently attends community college full time. Despite his achievements, Bethlehem Central School District has refused to give him permission to graduate early, and rejected his request up to three times this year.
Sweeney has mastered Composition 1 and 2 of his college courses, along with his other courses in history, engineering, physics and health, According to the Times Union,
On a Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), Sweeney scored a 13.5 in every category, which measures above the required 12 points to qualify as completing 12th grade. The CAT test has been widely used by homeschool families to meet state requirements for standardized testing.
‘He’s moving on to 12th grade. He’s testing out of every high school category at this point,’ Nicole Sweeney, his mother, told Times Union.
Sweeney’s parents told the outlet that their son has already completed 26 college credits along with his high school credits in just one year, and that it should equate to completing 9th through 11th grade.
Although his family has submitted Sweeney’s homeschooling education plan with all the required transcripts, their request for early graduation has been rejected by the district every time.
‘With no compliant homeschool program your student must enroll in school, either here at Bethlehem Central or elsewhere, such as a private school,’ Superintendent Jody Monroe wrote in a rejection statement to the Sweeney family.
Michael Sweeney, 14, has mastered Calculus II and linear algebra cannot continue his college classes after Bethlehem Central School District has refused to let me him graduate high school early
Superintendent Jody Monroe has rejected the Sweeney families early graduation request on behalf of the Bethlehem Central School District
According to the New York State Education Department, Sweeney must attend public high school for another two years since he will not be 16 years old until after the next school year starts. Sweeney will celebrate his 15th birthday on December 10 of this year.
Sweeney has applied to Arizona State University’s mechanical engineering program, but he cannot attend without graduating from high school.
‘Michael’s reached his point where he needs to start taking 300-level courses and you can’t transfer in 300-level courses, so he needs to enroll in ASU full time to continue his degree path,’ his mother told the outlet.
According to Times Union, Monroe stated the family could reject her rejection decision at the school board and advocate for their son’s early graduation.
In response, the family has hired a lawyer to help.
The Sweeney family said that the Bethlehem Central District has delayed the planned school board meeting to give their lawyers time to figure out the best solution to the problem.
His parents stated the district had suggested Sweeney complete ninth grade this school year as a solution. The district also refused to recognize his college credits for 9th to 11th grade.
Sweeney family told the outlet they are working towards his enrollment in an online degree program at ASU. The program would include student build kits and computer design programs he could complete at home.
Sweeney’s parents told the outlet that their son has completed 26 college credits along with his high school credits in only on year, and that should it should equate to completing 9th through 11th grade
Sweeney has applied to Arizona State University’s mechanical engineering program, but he cannot attend without graduating from high school
‘I really like the problem-solving, but also the creativity of it. Something that’s fake but magic almost,’ Sweeney told the outlet.
He said he dreams of designing, creating and testing out animatronics that are often used in theme parks as his future line of work.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Bethlehem Central School District for comment.
