N.C. The entry criteria for alternative schools vary by location. Health Start sponsors three centers at alternative schools in the city, in addition to seven others in traditional schools. To help students achieve the goal of getting a diploma, Centennial teaches its kids the phrase catch the vision . At Centennial, the vision is seeing your name on the diploma. We even have a stone at the front door engraved with catch the vision .
Kids talk about it all of the time.
At least at Centennial, the kids have a choice, says Lamperes. Some want to go back to their home school to graduate with their peers. As a result, mental health issues are the number one reason that students use the center, says Lori Dugan, Centennial's nurse practitioner. These are complicated kids. Many are on psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants or lithium.