Eight Ways to Earn College Credit in High School and One Way to Lose It

In today's global workplace, there is a need to ensure that high school graduates are prepared for college, postsecondary training, and the work place. One way to prepare students more effectively for postsecondary success is to expose them to opportunities to earn college credit and experience college-level instruction while still in high school.

Earning college credit while still in high school is a great way to lighten the load for college freshmen and allow students to experience college-level expectations first hand. College credit earned in high school may also count towards high school graduation requirements. Early college credit programs are not just for “A” students, but for all students. Students will need to work closely with the high school guidance staff to earn college credit.

The following is a range of college credit earning opportunities for high school students.

• Some Advantages to Early College Credit

  Save Time—many times, credits earned in high school don’t have to be earned in college. Save Money—credits don’t cost as much now as they will in the future, and in some cases, the school district will pay for the credits while students are in high school. Save a year of your life—a college bachelor degree used to be a four-year project. Now, five years is more common. Avoid dropping out—statistics show that students who start taking college level work in high school are less likely to drop out. Freedom—students have the ability to explore courses that interest them.

  Advanced Placement (AP): rigorous, college-level courses; courses audited to ensure quality; high standards that are measured through a national AP assessment; widely accepted for college credit, even highly selective universities, with a qualifying score on the AP exam; highly developed resources and support systems from the College Board; courses offered at the high school site.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): established rigorous college-level curriculum; high standards that are measured through international assessments; widely accepted for college credit, even at highly selective universities; highly developed resources and support system through the International Baccalaureate Organization; courses offered at the high school site.
• Direct Credit: collaborative partnership with high school and higher education institutions; access to college information and support; increased rigor of the high school academic program; high school students take college level courses and potentially earn college credit; courses usually offered at high school site.
• Dual Enrollment: exposure to college expectations and experiences; access to college information and support; increased rigor of the student’s academic program; school districts pick up the bulk of the funding though use of the foundation allowance; course work must be taken at the college site.
• Early and Middle College High Schools: high schools are on a college campus designed to meet the needs of underserved youth; small schools are designed to graduate underserved and at-risk students with a high school diploma and simultaneously, an associate’s degree or up to 60 transferable credits; serve students who are academically capable but do not fit well in the traditional high school setting; provide support.
• Summer College: a variety of sports, arts, and academic programs offered at traditional colleges during the summer; some of these programs now offer credit.
• CTE Articulated Programs/Tech Prep: alignment of high school and college curricula; increased rigor of academic coursework; guidance for students with regards to postsecondary options; seamless transition from high school to higher education.
• Online College Credit Courses: provide “any time any where” learning experiences; provide rigorous college level curriculum; expand or add AP courses without the expense of adding on-site courses; provide access for students in geographically remote areas; address the needs of the AP students with scheduling and/or physical challenges; reduce the cost of offering small enrollment AP classes; meet the online high school graduation requirement.

Remedial classes are not a good choice for college bound students.

If a student doesn’t take challenging courses in high school, she/he may have to make up for it in college. Some students are required to take remedial classes in college based on their score on reading and/or math assessment tests taken upon college arrival. The classes cost money but don’t provide college credit. Working hard in high school to meet the high standards of colleges will allow students to make good use of their time and money as they begin their college careers.

For more information on how a student can earn college credit, contact your local high school. Additional information about these opportunities may also be found at the Michigan Department of Education Web site, www.michigan.gov/highschool.