Opportunity Middle College (OMC) is collaboration between Fayette County and Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). Our OMC student body consists of juniors and seniors from all of the 6 A1 high schools and all programs of FCPS. We are housed at BCTC’s Newtown Campus. Our goal is to provide access and supports to our students to allow them the opportunity to take college class while they are still in high school. Although, all 6 high schools offer dual credit courses, our program is unique in that we provide the integration of high school and college courses in the college setting.
The application process begins in January when students begin to think about their schedules for the next school year. Rising juniors and seniors may access an online application on our OMC website on the "Apply Now" tab at the top. Following completion of the application, each applicant will record him/herself answering some interview questions and submit the video prior to the deadline. Final acceptance into OMC is usually communicated by mid-March.
After acceptance at OMC, arrangements will be made for any college placement testing that is necessary and students will select their college courses during the mandatory orientation meeting in the spring semester.
Most OMC students are not required to pay tuition nor purchase their own textbooks. However, students who are not qualified for free-and-reduced lunch will have to pay one-third (33%) the cost of their college tuition.
Each graduating senior will receive their diploma from their home high school.
OMC has a senior celebration to recognize all OMC seniors, and OMC graduating seniors may participate in graduation ceremonies with their home high school.
New juniors take 2 college courses in the fall. New seniors are given 3 college courses in the fall. If students earn a B average in the college classes they may add extra classes. Some juniors pursue an associate degree while in high school. This is a very demanding course load. After the first semester, students must take 5 college courses each semester and summer school. Most students graduate from high school with 12-40+ hours depending on the college course load and the amount of time spent at OMC.
Yes, by maintaining a 3.0+ college GPA, students may obtain permission to take additional college classes.
Yes. BCTC offers online college courses. Students may select one online class per semester only.
BCTC is an accredited member of the Kentucky Community and Technical School system. BCTC has excellent partnership/transfer agreements with all of the state supported 4 year universities such as UK, UL, EKU, Morehead, etc.
Many BCTC courses will transfer to many other colleges and universities. However, to ensure credits will transfer, students should check with the college or university they wish to transfer to or get advising from BCTC’s transfer office.
BCTC courses are blocked Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday, therefore OMC high school classes are blocked the same. Each student will have a high school schedule that is worked around their college classes to ensure that all required credits for graduation are earned.
The college classes are taught by BCTC college professors and the high school classes are taught by FCPS teachers.
Yes, students may participate in sports and any other extra-curricular activities at their home high school.
Yes. Students must get to their home high school in the morning. An FCPS bus will pick them up and take them to STEAM Academy. Then they will be dropped off at BCTC Newtown Campus by 8:00 am. After school, the FCPS bus goes to STEAM Academy, then students take a bus to their home high schools and then home.
In addition to the online OMC application, accepted students must also complete an online application to BCTC.
After completion of either the ACT or BCTC's college placement exams, your first semester schedule will be created by the OMC staff using the college selection sheet completed at the orientation.
BCTC will use your high school GPA or ACT scores for college placement. For ENG 101/102, a writng score on the ACT should be at least 18 or high school GPA should be 3.0 or higher. For MA 111, Contemporary Mathematics, you will need a score of at least 19 on the ACT or a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. For MAT 150, College Algebra, an ACT score of 22 or a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher is needed for enrollment.
You will select your college classes during orientation and the OMC staff will create your college schedule for the first semester. Students will create their own schedules for all subsequent semesters.
Please feel free to contact the program director at (859) 246-6467.