College Credit at GPHS
In this article, Naia will talk about three ways, AP college board, RCC credit, and SOU credit, that students can earn college credit during high school here at GPHS.
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GPHS College Credit Classes
GPHS College Credit Classes
By Naia Olivier
By Naia Olivier
Grants Pass High School works hard to set students up for their future, whether that is in the workforce, military, trade school, apprenticeship, or college. The Career and Counseling Center helps kids find out what is right for them. To graduate, everyone needs 24 credits, but along with that, students can take three different approaches to also earn college credits all throughout high school. These three ways, AP College Board, RCC credit, and SOU credit are considerably cheaper than courses taken in college, and if planned right, some people can have the classes they take in high school get them extra credits to go into college.
The most common form of credit is AP College Board. This is a nationwide system where students take AP classes in their high school and, during May, they take a standardized test that decides if credit is earned. Each class’s test has different requirements and different lengths, but all have a multiple choice section and the whole test is usually around 2-3 hours long. Here at GPHS, there are AP classes in all areas of academics, the most common being social studies and English, but there are also math, science, and elective APs. Each AP test costs $40, but the school works very hard to help students who need waivers for the cost. This is the cheapest way to get college credit, but its flaw is that, to earn credit, you must pass with a 3/ 5 on the AP test. If you don’t pass, then the credit will not be granted. Because of this, many are not willing to take the risk.
Students can also get college credit through RCC, by either dual enrollment or taking a class at GPHS that just gives RCC credit, as well. Classes at RCC are usually for students who want to take advanced classes specific to their future major. Many students take advanced medical classes through RCC. Classes at RCC can be taken online or in person and students can also use RCC classes as make-up credit if they have failed classes required for graduation. These classes do cost more money compared to AP but, again, organizations in the school help students with money obstacles. The flaw in this way of earning credit is that for those who plan on going to college out of state, RCC credits will rarely count the same way in the new school, depending on the type of school and its specific requirements.
Lastly, SOU credit is available for many advanced classes. Classes such as Advanced Literature and Stats, give students the normal high school credit, and then those who pay for SOU credit automatically get college credit, as well. Because the class is already advanced, there are no extra college-level requirements or tests required to earn credit. Many AP classes also have SOU credit available as an addition, such as APUSH. Many students will buy the extra SOU credits, as well as attempt to get AP credit as a second protection. An anonymous GPHS junior in APUSH said, “I am fortunate enough to be able to afford the SOU credits, as well, so I bought those and I’m taking the AP test to get as much out of the class as I can.” Just like the RCC credits, these credits sometimes do not transfer out of state perfectly, but they are more reliable than RCC because SOU is a public university. SOU credits are the most costly credit available, usually around $200 per credit. Although the price seems like a lot, truthfully it is a fraction of the price of the same class when one is actually in college.
Overall, the amount of support GPHS has for students graduating and going into the real world is impressive. The mandatory Career Academy class, required for sophomores, is very helpful for students to figure out what they want to do after high school. Most importantly, the Career Center is always open to anyone who wants to talk about their future with someone who has many, many, answers and resources. For most, college is the next step after high school, and earning credit in high school is a smart route to take in order to get a head start on the credits needed for their degree. All three of the ways to earn college credit at GPHS are relatively cheaper and more built around a young adult/high school level, but that does not take away from the validity and advanced education they provide.
Sources:
Sources:
Anonymous APUSH student interview
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