CCI FAQs

CCI Academy vs. CCI 

The CCI Academy is an all day Douglas County School’s program students enter in their 9th grade year. Only students who have been selected through the annual lottery system during their 8th grade year are eligible to attend CCI Academy.  CCI Academy students take ALL of their classes, including core (English, math, science, social studies, and foriegn language), at the CCI. If they remain in the program through their 12th grade year, they will not take any courses at their assigned base high school.  CCI Academy students are eligible to participate in CCI Dual Enrollment programs beginning their 10th grade year.  

The CCI is a collaboration between DCSS, West Georgia Technical College, and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce that provides students the opportunity to complete college level career and technical training while still in high school. CCI programs are half day and all DCSS 10-12 grade high school students are eligible to participate. CCI students take their core area classes at their base high school for half the school day then are transported to the CCI for their chosen program for the other half of the school day. 

What are the benefits of my student attending the CCI Academy? 

• Small class sizes (25 students max.) 

• One to one technology

• Easier access to Dual Enrollment core and technical programs

• Additional Dual Enrollment support provided by the school 

Where will my child attend their classes? 

All CCI Academy courses are taught at the CCI. CCI Academy students will not participate in any courses at their base high school. 

Is my child able to participate in activities at their base high school if they enroll in the CCI Academy? 

Yes, CCI Academy students are still permitted to participate in sports, clubs, and other school activities at their assigned base high schools. 

Is transportation to and from the CCI Academy provided? 

Yes, transportation is available to all CCI Academy students. Students using DCSS transportation will ride a bus to their base high school from their assigned bus stop each morning. At the base high school, a bus to CCI will be provided.  At the conclusion of the school day, CCI Academy students will ride a bus from CCI to their assigned base high school. Students will arrive in time to catch a bus from their assigned base high school to their assigned bus stop. 

Alternatively, students can be dropped off and picked up at the CCI

Does the CCI Academy offer math support or reading instruction?

No, the CCI Academy does not offer support classes to students. All of the courses taught at the CCI Academy taught on the college prep level. If support classes have been recommended for a student, the CCI Academy may not be the right fit for them. 

Does the CCI Academy offer honors and AP classes?

No, the CCI Academy does not offer honors and AP classes. CCI Academy students who wish to participate in more rigorous coursework do so through Dual Enrollment classes and programs. 

When can my child start taking Dual Enrollment classes? 

All students in the 10th grade are eligible to enroll in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Dual Enrollment courses. This includes CCI programs. 

All students in grades 11-12 are eligible to enroll in any (CTAE and/or core) approved Dual Enrollment courses. 

However, there is a 30 credit hour (approx. 10 courses) Dual Enrollment funding cap for all students. For this reason, we do not recommend students begin taking Dual Enrollment courses until their 11th grade year. 

What Dual Enrollment programs are offered at the CCI? 

• Automotive 

• Cosmetology 

• Criminal Justice

• Culinary Arts 

• Cyber Security 

• Dental Assisting 

• Early Childhood Education 

• Game Development 

• Nurse Aide 

• Pharmacy Assisting 

• Welding 

What is Dual Enrollment? 

Dual Enrollment (DE) is a Georgia funded program that allows high school students to take college courses that can simultaneously count toward high school and college requirements. 

What courses are available?

Approved courses include: 

• Core academic areas (English, math, science, social studies and world (foreign) languages) 

  • Course categories such as: fine arts, physical education and health are no longer eligible. 

• Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses. This includes all CCI programs 

Am I a good fit for Dual Enrollment?

When considering Dual Enrollment (DE), students and parents should understand the characteristics of students who are successful in college classes. Students who are considering the DE program need to be:

•  Organized

• Willing, eager, and able to take initiative

•  Mature

• A self-advocate

• Flexible

• A good time manager

•  Eligible for admission to the college

• Have reliable transportation and parking at both the college and high school

• Respond to and initiate communications with the college and high school in a timely manner (within 24 hours or less)

Dual Enrollment Eligibility 

What are the Dual Enrollment eligibility requirements? 

To be eligible for dual enrollment funding a student must: 

• Attend eligible public, private, or home school high schools in Georgia

• Be a Georgia resident (no additional citizenship required)

• Meet college admissions requirements for their DE program

• Be on track for graduation

• Be in good academic standing

• Must not have already received a high school diploma

Funding Cap Eligibility 

What are the limits on the state-funded Dual Enrollment funding Program?

The Dual Enrollment Funding Cap is 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. This is a hard cap. The hours are based on hours paid by Dual Enrollment funding for terms of enrollment in the program. 

All first-time students effective Summer term 2020 and beyond are subject to the Dual Enrollment Funding Cap. 

Grade Level Eligibility

 Who is eligible to participate in the Dual Enrollment funding Program? 

9th Graders

•  Students in the 9th grade are not eligible to participate in the Dual Enrollment funding Program. 

11th & 12th Graders 

• Eligible students may take any approved Dual Enrollment courses listed on the Course Directory, at an eligible participating postsecondary institution (USG, TCSG or private). 

10th Graders 

• All eligible 10th Graders may enroll in approved Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses listed on the Course Directory at a participating TCSG institution only. This includes CCI programs. 

• 10th Graders who have a minimum SAT score of 1200 or minimum ACT composite score of 26 in a single national test administration, may enroll in any approved courses listed on the Course Directory at a TCSG, USG or private eligible participating postsecondary institution 

What are the Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment? 

PROS

• All GA public, private, and eligible home school students are eligible in 11th and 12th grade.

• All 10th graders can take CTAE courses. 10th graders who have earned a 1200 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT in one sitting can participate fully in the DE program.

• Tuition, books, and mandatory fees are 100% covered up to a funding cap of 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours.

• Potential for simultaneous credit for high school and college

• College credits are not based on a test score (like AP/IB)

•  Can ease the transition from high school to college

• Students can earn a Technical Diploma or Technical Certifications

• Students can start pursuing career goals earlier

• Greater access to a larger variety of courses

• More flexibility in scheduling

• Some students are truly ready to “Move On” (When Ready)

•  Click Here for more information about  Accelerated Career [Option B (Old Senate Bill 2/ SB2)] Legislation.

CONS

• College courses come back to the high school as a letter grade and are transcribed by county policy.  For example:

A=95

B=85

C=75

D=70

F=65

• There may be some non-mandatory fees such as: parking, course specific fees, lab materials, personal items, etc. – these are usually nominal

• Challenging classes taught by college professors

•  Colleges communicate directly with student, usually via email

• Some competitive colleges may not consider DE to be as rigorous as AP (see below for more information)

• Credit transferability is not guaranteed, especially for out-of-state and private colleges

• Students may miss high school announcements and activities

• Lack of daily interaction with friends may impact relationships, involvement, etc.

• Students will be in class with college students, as well as older adults

• College and high school calendars (thus, breaks) often DO NOT align

• Professors are unlikely to excuse absences for trips, playoff games, etc.

• Special Student Services must be arranged by the student/parent directly with the college (504, IEP, Healthcare Plans, etc.)

  • • Please speak with your case manager PRIOR to pursuing this option to determine appropriateness of DE

    • College accommodations can be different than high school accommodations

•  Parking is NOT always guaranteed at the high school

• Students at some high school are required to be off campus during their scheduled DE classes – INCLUDING ONLINE classes

• Student must factor in travel time, traffic, changing bell schedules, etc.

• The two schedules might “clash,” resulting in adjustments; sometimes conflicts are unresolvable. Students should schedule DE courses around their high school schedules

Can a student retake or withdraw from a Dual Enrollment course? 

• Effective Summer term 2020 (FY2021), a student may not receive funding for the same course twice. Courses taken Summer term 2020 or later cannot be retaken and receive funding; does not include courses taken through Spring term 2020. 

• Effective Summer term 2020 (FY2021), students become ineligible to continue to receive Dual Enrollment funding after their 2nd course withdrawal. 

• Course withdrawals prior to Summer term 2020 are not included. 

Is there consideration for extenuating circumstances with withdrawals or retaking a course? 

• A student who withdrew from or wishes to retake/repeat a Dual Enrollment course may submit a written Extenuating Circumstance Appeal Request with supporting documentation. The Appeal Request form will be made available on GAfutures in May 2020. (Consideration given only for courses taken Summer term 2020 or later.) 

• The student must have experienced an extenuating circumstance of serious illness, serious injury or a death of an immediate family member. 

• Appeals do not allow for additional hours of Dual Enrollment program funding eligibility. The appeal solely allows for continued participation in the Dual Enrollment program, up to the 30 semester or 45 quarter hours program Funding Cap. 

What options are available after a student reaches the state-funded Dual Enrollment Funding Cap of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours? 

• Students may choose to self-pay for additional credit hours/courses 

• Students who have reached the Dual Enrollment Funding Cap may be eligible for HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant Programs as a “bridge” to additional funding. Students pursuing a technical diploma or certificate program of study in one of the 17 high-demand industry areas of the HOPE Career Grant may be eligible for HOPE Grant Bridge funding. The eligible Postsecondary Institution determines eligibility for HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant. The student must meet all eligibility requirements of the HOPE Grant Program, including residency, citizenship, and all academic requirements. Students may be responsible for any charges not covered by the HOPE Grant and Career Grant funding such as fees and books. The course credit hours paid by HOPE Grant funding will be applied to the 63 semester Paid-Hours limit and the Combined Paid-Hours HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship and Grant Limit. 

• Public high school students pursuing a high school diploma through High School Graduation Option B (SB2) may use HOPE Grant as a “bridge” to additional funds after they have reached the Dual Enrollment Funding Cap. Students’ certificate or diploma program of study may qualify for HOPE Career Grant as well. The eligible Postsecondary Institution determines eligibility for HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant. The student must meet all eligibility requirements of HOPE Grant Program, including residency, citizenship, and all academic requirements. Students may be responsible for any charges not covered by the HOPE Grant funding such as fees and books. The course credit hours paid by HOPE Grant funding will be applied to the 63 semester Paid-Hours limit and the Combined Paid-Hours HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship and Grant Limit. 

What high school programs does the CCI offer? 

The CCI offers Audio Video Technology and Marketing for high school credits only. These are three-semester programs. Students are eligible to participate in 9-12 grade. 

What Dual Enrollment programs does CCI offer? 

The CCI currently offers 11 different Dual Enrollment programs. The Dual Enrollment programs include:

• Automotive (with optional second year/ advanced level) 

• Cosmetology (with optional second year/ advanced level) 

• Criminal Justice

• Culinary Arts 

• Cyber Security 

• Dental Assisting 

• Early Childhood Education 

• Game Development 

• Nurse Aide 

• Pharmacy Assisting 

• Welding (with optional second year/ advanced level) 

How do I register for a CCI program? 

CCI program registration is now entirely online. Each step of the registration process can be found under the "Apply to CCI" tab on our website cci.dcssga.org. Click the "24-25 Program Registration" option to be taken to the program registration page. If you need help getting started on the CCI registration process, we would encourage you to attend an Apply to CCI Night. Apply to CCI nights will be held multiple times throughout the school year.  Apply to CCI Night dates and times can be found on the Apply to CCI homepage or at cci.dcssga.org 

Students may also speak with their assigned counselor or career center specialist about the registration process. 

Who is eligible to participate in CCI Dual Enrollment programs?

Any DCSS 10-12 grade student who is on track for graduation and has 4 consecutive elective credits (8 at AHS) available is eligible to participate. However, due to the Dual Enrollment funding cap of 30 credit hours, we recommend students do not participate in CCI programs until their 11th or 12th-grade year. 

What are the CCI Dual Enrollment program admission requirements? 

To be admitted into a CCI program, students must meet the eligibility requirements (discussed above) and be accepted into their program’s postsecondary institution WGTC. To be accepted into WGTC for the 2024-2025 school year, students must have a HOPE GPA of 2.0 or higher after the completion of their 9th-grade year. 

Is there an age requirement for CCI programs?

Some of the programs do have age requirements. Those programs are Dental Assisting (17 by Oct. 1st), Nurse Aide (17 by Sept. 15 for first-semester students, 17 by Feb. 15 for second-semester students), and Pharmacy (16). NO exceptions will be made even if a student misses the deadline by just one day.

Where will I take my CCI program courses? 

All CCI program courses are taken at the CCI which is part of West Georgia Technical College’s Douglas campus at 4600 Timber Ridge Drive Douglasville, GA 30135 

When will I take my CCI program courses?

Most CCI programs are a full year. Students begin their program in the Fall semester and complete their program in the Spring or Summer semester. Programs are offered in the morning and the afternoon. The time of day a student participates in their program depends on the program they are enrolled in and their base high school schedule. CCI program students will attend courses at CCI for half of the school day and their base high school for the other half of the school day. 

Is transportation provided to and from my CCI program? 

Yes, students are able to ride a bus to and from their CCI programs from their base high school. Alternatively, students may drive themselves or be dropped off/picked up by a parent. 

Are there any costs associated with the CCI programs? 

Course textbooks are provided to CCI program students. However, the student will be responsible for program fees in some of the programs. Please refer to the program’s information sheet to see your chosen program's fees. Program information sheets can be found by clicking the program’s name on this program offering sheet. 

What college certificates will I earn in a CCI program? 

Students who complete their chosen CCI program earn one or two college-level certificates. Please refer to the program’s information sheet to see the certificates you will earn in your chosen program and the type of work it will prepare/qualify you for. Program information sheets can be found by visiting the program’s page on the Apply to CCI website or on this program offering sheet.

How many Dual Enrollment (DE) credits are CCI programs? 

The number of DE credits earned varies by program. Please refer to the program’s information sheet to see the number of DE credits earned in your chosen program. Program information sheets can be found by visiting the program’s page on the Apply to CCI website or  on this program offering sheet.

What is the Dual Enrollment (DE) funding cap? 

Students have a 30 semester (or 45 quarter) credit hour funding cap. After the funding cap is reached students will be financially responsible for all tuition and fees associated with the college-level courses they choose to participate in. Additionally, the college credits earned after the Dual Enrollment funding cap is reached will be counted as joint enrollment. 

HOPE Career Grant funds may be used to cover the cost of some CCI programs after the Dual Enrollment funding cap has been reached. Please discuss this option with your assigned counselor.