By Lynne Adkins

Philadelphia (CBS) – Thirty-eight high school dropouts are back in school working for a diploma and college credit.

The Gateway to College program at Camden County Community College is part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates to get teens and young adults back into the classroom to finish their degrees.

William Thompson, vice president of the college, says it’s a free and intensive.

The students get a traditional high school diploma in our case from either Camden High School or Woodrow Wilson High School and the best part for the students is they can begin to amass up to 15 college credits as part of the program.”

He says during the first semester a dozen students dropped out. The remaining may begin taking their high school proficiency test this spring.