Academic Rigor
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Academic Rigor - Taking on challenging courses and supplemental educational programs can be a key way to demonstrate and highlight your unique abilities, work ethic, curiosity, and courage to grow academically (within and beyond your TCS schedule!) While our graduation requirements already exceed the minimium state (PA) requirements and are intended be college-preparatory, there are a few ways that TCS students can individually customize their own academic rigor further!
REMEMBER: Colleges (and even specific majors within the same college!) may have different minimum requirements, so be sure to do some research on those and consult Mrs. CR about your future plans, before making decisions about your schedule!
- Meeting/Exceeding Graduation TCS Requirements -- Usually this means enrolling in both a 4th science and 4th math course, taking on available electives, and any other options given! (You'll experience your greatest flexibility typically in 12th grade, but there may be opportunities along the way!)
- Advanced Course options at TCS - Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Honors English, independent study, online AP courses, Art II, III, IV, etc. (See Mrs. CR about these!)
- Dual Enrollment Courses - Scroll down for more information about trusted college partners for dual enrollment courses!
REMEMBER: Colleges (and even specific majors within the same college!) may have different minimum requirements, so be sure to do some research on those and consult Mrs. CR about your future plans, before making decisions about your schedule!
Dual Enrollment refers to taking college level courses while still in high school. Colleges offer open spots, usually in their regularly scheduled courses, to qualified high school students who want and can handle an extra challenge!
BENEFITS
COLLEGE PREPAREDNESS: You're actually taking college-level courses! You get a taste of what college feels like while you're still in high school. You may even get access to campus facilities like libraries, gyms, labs, etc.
EXPLORATION: You can take a class that relates to a career or personal interest, or a course that fulfills a requirement (either for your future college or for high school graduation, with prior approval from TCS). You're also reaching new heights of time management, organization, resourcefulness, reading, writing, and absorption of new material!
CREDIT TRANSFER: Often times, your courses will transfer to the college where you matriculate (enroll) to count as fulfilled requirements or elective credit.
COMPETITIVE EDGE: Colleges are looking for proof of college-level preparedness, a willingness to challenge yourself, and if applicable, your demonstrated interest in a particular subject, career area, etc.
CHALLENGES
EXTRA WORK: Adding a college course is significantly more work, and typically is above and beyond your normal work load at The City School.
TIME COMMITMENT/CONSTRAINTS: Scheduling an in-person or synchronous class will be dictated by availability in your TCS schedule, which is your first priority and often quite busy! There are after-school, evening, weekend, and flexible online courses, though. Just like any extracurricular activity, it will require more time!
ADDITIONAL COST: Because the courses are being taken through another institution, they require extra payment outside of your TCS tuition. Check out EARLY SCHOLARS PROGRAM through CCP, which could provide funding for up to 4 college classes!
CREDIT TRANSFER: Every college gets to decide if or how they will count credits from other institutions. We can look ahead, but sometimes it is difficult to know ahead of time.
Check out these well-established options -- curated, vetted, and used previously by students at The City School!
EARLY SCHOLARS / ADVANCE AT COLLEGE
(FALL, SPRING, and/or SUMMER)
EARLY SCHOLARS / ADVANCE AT COLLEGE
(FALL, SPRING, and/or SUMMER)
OPEN TO 11th or 12th grades who satisfy CCP's placement requirements, usually through a placement test.
WHAT: Semester-long courses held at CCP (or online) ; must be pre-approved through TCS and must not conflict with your established TCS course schedule.
WHEN: These courses happen during the school year and have cyclical admissions seasons. For fall semester, applications open in February /March of the previous year (but are accepted as long as there is space in available classes). To sign up for spring semester, applications open in October/November.
In order to receive Early Scholars' funding, students MUST be PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS. If you live outside of Philadelphia (or do not receive Early Scholars funding), the cost is $99/credit + books. (Most courses are 3 or 4 credits.)
ACE PROGRAM @ CCP
(SUMMER ONLY)
ACE PROGRAM @ CCP
(SUMMER ONLY)
OPEN TO 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades with a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher.
Philadelphia residency is NOT REQUIRED for this summer program.
WHAT: Intensive courses and includes a full semester of college-level course material over 5 weeks. Courses require hard work, dedication to the task and most of all, a desire to learn new and exciting academic skills. See the ACE Program website for available courses.
WHEN: Application opens in late March; courses run for 5 weeks in July-August
HOW: Apply on CCP's website, following the directions as outlined on the ACE Program page. The program costs $250 + books.
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS:
Gr 10: GPA of 3.25 or higher // Gr 11-12: GPA of 3.0 or higher
WHAT: 15-week online courses specifically created for high school students; offered by a Christian college based in Arizona.
WHEN: These courses happen during the school year and have frequent "rolling" start dates outside of typical college semesters.
COST: $52.50/credit; most courses are 4 credits. Total cost is approximately $210 + any book fees.
NOTE: The options listed below are certainly not the only programs available, but they are some of the most affordable and flexible ones we've found. If you're interested in another option, please contact with Mrs. Conde-Rodriguez to set up a consult!
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