Most 14-year-old boys are playing video games, interested in sports and talking about girls while just entering high school. But Matthew McKenzie just did what most high school freshmen don’t even care about yet: finish college. The 14-year-old whiz kid not only completed his high school courses, but he also graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, reports Fox 5 Atlanta.
He graduated from Chattahoochee Tech with a college degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, then later the same night he received his high school diploma.
His fast track through school is a direct result of an intense homeschool program, which he began in second grade. “We would pull material from different textbooks and custom create his curriculum,” says his mother, Monique McCord.
And she’s right. On average homeschooled children perform better on standardized tests. For example, in a 2012 comparison of SAT scores, homeschooled children averaged 538 on the verbal test and 525 on the math; the national average was 506 on verbal and 514 on math. While those differences might not seem significant for individuals, as differences in averages for populations of students, they are very significant.
McKenzie started reading at 4 years old. He started high school classes at 8 and college classes at 11.
When he was done with first grade in a public school, she decided to homeschool him: He was so advanced that school was boring him. She says administrators weren’t open to putting him in higher grades.
The Cobb County, Ga., teen wants to start a natural cosmetic company that, among other things, will create products to cure wrinkles, his mother, Monique McCord told USA TODAY.
“I want to be a cosmetic chemist. I want to start my own line of chemical products, the beauty of things,” McKenzie told FOX 5 Atlanta.
To do that, he’ll need to continue his education even further, which he already has plans to.
McKenzie starts a biochemistry bachelor’s program at Kennesaw State University in the fall and plans to continue with his education probably pursuing master’s and Ph.D. programs to get his doctorate.
She estimates he’ll be done with his next degree in two years or so — a little more if he adds a music minor. Just in time to start dating.
(Ha! That’s right, books before babies, as my grandfather used to say!)
McCord said her son isn’t allowed to date until he’s 16. He did go to a prom for homeschooled and private schooled dance students — but he took a friend, not a date. she said.
And don’t think this is the last that you’ve heard of the McKenzie’s. Matthew has three other siblings who are doing just as well as him or even better.
So, look out world, here comes another genius family!
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