What is the Darlington High School Early College Honors Program?
The Darlington High School Early College Honors Program is designed to offer truly driven and dedicated students the opportunity to earn a two-year associate degree by the time they graduate high school. Qualified students can also take as many college classes as their schedule allows or only a few that interest them.
What does this mean for students and their parents?
This is an extraordinary academic and financial value for parents and students. The program currently offers more than 30 different college courses that students can take. This means ECHP students and their families can save THOUSANDS of dollars because students receive reduced or free tuition and textbooks. Currently tuition, fees, and textbooks are paid for by the Darlington County School District (DCSD). Please note that this may change from year to year as the DCSD reevaluates the annual budget.
Unlike AP and IB courses, students who earn credit in dual credit classes are guaranteed to have that credit transfer to any public college or university within South Carolina. It is important to note that in order for credits to transfer to those institutions, students must earn a C or higher in the college classes they take. Furthermore, participation potentially increases a student's opportunity for receiving other scholarships as well.
Who teaches these classes?
Each class is taught by a highly-qualified, innovative teacher - some of whom are Nationally Board Certified. Many classes are taught by DHS teachers who are also adjunct instructors at Florence Darlington Technical College (FDTC) and Francis Marion University (FMU) , and online classes have both a DHS teacher and an FDTC instructor. Online courses are taught by an instructor at FDTC.
Two Year College Degree
Students who meet the college requirements, commit to summer work if necessary, and dedicate themselves to advanced academic work, can earn a two-year associate degree by the time they graduate high school.
College Credit
Students who pass their college courses with a C or higher are assured to have that credit transfer to any South Carolina public college or university. Students can earn up to two years of college credit, which is the equivalent of more than two years of college. Therefore, those students will be ready for the next phase of life after college - work or graduate school - up to two years ahead of their cohort.
No national or standardized tests on which your college credit rests
While the classes do have tests, quizzes, and final exams like any other course, there are no standardized tests on which your college credit depends. This is a big difference from AP and IB programs. No matter what grade students make an AP or IB class if they don't earn a minimum score on their standardized tests, then they do not earn college credit. And even then, some colleges don't give credit for passing the test; rather, they need to make a perfect score. That is not the case with our college courses.
Financial Savings
There is currently no cost to our families for taking our classes. Tuition, books, and fees currently being charged are paid for by the Darlington County School District through the Darlington High School magnet program. Each year we evaluate our budget and financial needs so there may be costs for students taking college classes in the future. In situations where tuition, fees, or textbooks are not completely funded, they are offered at a reduced cost so as to make the courses as affordable as possible. Currently, students who take advantage of all of the classes offered in the Early College Program can save up to $60,000 in college expenses, which is the cost of two years of tuition, room, and board at some of South Carolina's state universities.