With the approval of some final details, students at Mathews High School now have the option to pursue a course of study that would allow them to graduate simultaneously with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.

Mathews County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Nancy Welch announced the finalizing of the agreement during Tuesday night’s school board meeting, which was held in the MHS media center.

“This is not for everybody; this is an extremely rigorous program,” Welch said. But for those students possessing the drive, the Associates of Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree Program with Rappahannock Community College offers an excellent opportunity to get a leg up on their academic careers, she added. The program offers students guaranteed transfer acceptance to a number of Virginia colleges and universities.

Welch presented school board members with a list of Advanced Placement courses and their RCC equivalents, with students receiving col...