Earning college credit while in high school

 There are ways for you to earn college credit before you ever step foot on a college campus. Taking AP and Dual Enrollment courses can prepare you for the rigors of college while also saving time and money. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses

When you enroll in an AP course you will spend the year preparing for an exam that takes place at the end of the year. If you choose to take the AP exam, you will earn a score that is between a 1 and a 5. Colleges decide what score you have to earn in order to get college credit. If you are strongly considering out-of-state colleges, AP might be your best option. Albemarle County considers AP and Dual Enrollment to be of equal rigor, but many out-of-state colleges prefer AP. You can find out more at this link.

Dual enrollment (DE) courses

When you enroll in a DE course, you are taking a college course through PVCC (Piedmont Virginia Community College). The class takes place at Monticello, and is taught by a Monticello teacher.  The grades you earn in DE classes go on your Monticello transcript and on your PVCC transcript.  It is important to note that not all DE coursework transfers directly to all four year colleges or universities.  Albemarle County considers DE and AP courses to be of equal rigor, and in-state colleges agree. If you're planning to stay in state for college, DE might be a great fit. You can find out more at this link.  

Early College Degree Program

Students take AP and PVCC courses during 10th, 11th, and 12th grade with the goal of graduating from PVCC with an Associate of Science in General Studies at the end of their senior year of high school. Upon completion of the program, students can transfer their PVCC credits to a four year college. Interested freshmen should reach out to their school counselor for more information.

10th graders commit one of their eight class periods to ECDP coursework. During that block, they take CST 100 and ITE 120. They also take a virtual SDV 100 course.