TCHS Sophomore Ismail Gilani Accepted into The Gatton Academy

Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in The Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated Gatton Academy residence hall.

Taking courses offered by WKU, their classmates are fellow Gatton Academy students and WKU undergraduate students. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned between sixty and seventy-two college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Academy graduates may choose to stay at WKU or transfer to other universities to complete their bachelor's degrees.

After hearing about The Gatton Academy from his math teacher, Mr. Long, Ismail set out to take challenging courses, get more involved in extracurricular activities, and signed up for the ACT in order to prepare for the application process. When asked what he is most looking forward to about attending, he said he is "really excited about being able to pursue higher level math and science" and is looking forward to the research opportunities. Ismail explained he is also "eager to be surrounded by like-minded (and at the same time, diverse) individuals who share my passions."

While he doesn't know what his future plans are, Ismail is hoping that The Gatton Academy will give him the opportunity to explore many new things because "it will allow me to learn and do things I wouldn't be able to at a normal [high] school." Students who attend The Gatton Academy can participate in their home school's extracurricular activities; Ismail "plans on still participating in TCHS clubs and activities, especially Academic Team" and joked that it would be "unfair if Gatton had their own [Academic Team]."

The entire staff at Taylor County Schools is proud of and ecstatic for Ismail to embark on this journey!

Expect greatness from Taylor County High School students!!