Bruce Kopp/Eyewitness News
Hendricks County - More school districts are facing tough times with shrinking budgets and increased demands, but that hasn't stopped them from breaking through with promising new programs.
Ally Gatmaitan was nervous about her final year at Avon High School.
"It was a little scary. I had really gotten used to the old building, but I really like the new building a lot. I love everything about the ALC," said Gatmaitan.
The ALC is the Advanced Learning Center. It opened last fall. About 600 seniors make use of the Advanced Learning Center on a regular basis. It's a $22 million addition to Avon High School. It offers a technology rich learning environment.
Every senior has a laptop. Every teacher a tablet computer. They use email and the internet to complete assignments. In the engineering classroom, there's a laser printer that produces 3-D projects.
During calculus, there are wireless calculators.
"They enable us to dock up with our teachers and we can go on screen and he can make what we are doing individually public," explained one student.
Hall monitors aren't what they used to be.
"We're identifying every senior at Avon High and they'll have their moment on the hall monitors in the hallway," said Swank.
But the elaborate setting is having a deeper impact. Teachers say students have embraced the added responsibility, and are more mature and successful.
Senior Patrick Rodgers has a straight-A average. He's headed to Stanford University this fall. He also happens to be the boys State Golf champion.
"I've really enjoyed the freedom we've had here. It's really a step up from the intermediate and high school college atmosphere and I think that's really cool," said Rodgers.
Ally Gatmaitan already feels well prepared for her first year at Purdue in nursing.
"It's definitely a great place to be. I know it sounds silly for a high school student to say but I really do enjoy coming to school, and I love the atmosphere that we have here," she said.
With two months until graduation, seniors have relied on the ALC's resources to search and select a college or career. It's guided them through the application process and scholarships available.
This marks the beginning of a regular series of special reports called "What's Cool in School." Watch every Monday at 5:30 pm on Eyewitness News. If you have a story idea, contact Bruce.
