We've been busy scheduling students for next school year. One of the areas of great interest is our opportunities available for students to obtain college credits while in high school. Certain restrictions apply that don't allow every student to be eligible. Most restrictions are based on grade (juniors or seniors), grades (3.0+ GPA), ACT score (20+ composite), or class rank (upper 1/3 of class).Why offer college credits to high school students? There are numerous benefits for students, parents, and schools to offer these opportunities.
From the perspective of students and parents ... Affordability! While nothing is free, most of our college credit opportunities come at a much reduced cost. We can assist families who qualify for free or reduced lunches to apply for ACE Scholarships that will pay for dual credit or regular college classes. While this scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, it does not cover the costs of fees or textbooks. In addition to affordability, completing college credits while in high school can greatly reduce the time to complete a degree. Students who take advantage of these opportunities during both their junior and senior years of high school may even begin their first college year as a sophomore!
From a school perspective, assistance in the transition of students from high school to college will hopefully increase the success of retaining students towards degree completion. I look forward to placing a high school diploma into the hands of a student who already feels committed and successful in completing college credits.
Here's a brief list of the opportunities we have for our students to obtain college credits:
Advanced Placement
- Courses offered at CHS:
- AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP US History, AP Literature, and AP Statistics.
- Cost:
- Students must pay $89 to take the AP Exam.
- Requirements:
- Teacher recommendation and pre-requisites.
- Colleges require 'passing' scores. www.collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy
Dual Credit with WNCC or CSC
- Courses offered:
- CSC - US History (two classes), College Algebra, Calculus I, Statistics, Personal Finance, Literature, Plant Science, Soil Science, Ag Economics.
- WNCC - Basic Nursing Assistant, Medical Terminology.
- Costs:
- CSC dual credit classes: $50 per credit hour plus one-time $15 matriculation fee.
- WNCC classes: half price tuition.
- Requirements:
- Must be a junior or senior
- 3.0 GPA, or upper 1/3 of class, or 20+ composite ACT score.
Early Entry
- Courses offered:
- Any CSC course available to incoming freshman.
- Cost:
- Full cost of CSC tuition, half cost of WNCC tuition.
