Middle College
at Northwood High School
Welcome back, students! 9TH GRADE -- MC2 contracts are due to Mr. Sauter.
at Northwood High School
Northwood students who have earned 45+ credits
The Middle College (MC2) program at Northwood High School offers a unique and exciting educational opportunity for motivated students to earn both their high school diploma and an associate's degree simultaneously. By integrating high school and college coursework, students benefit from a rigorous academic experience and graduate with significant college credits that can enhance their future career and college prospects.
This program is only available in two high schools in all of Montgomery County, MD.
As a 10th and 11th grader in Middle College, the professors deliver their instruction on Northwood's campus. Students benefit from personalized teaching and direct access to higher education resources, all while remaining within the familiar setting of their high school.
Through a combination of Advanced Placement tests and Montgomery College classes, students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree in General Studies or Business Administration - 60 transferable credits – while completing their Maryland high school diploma in a supportive atmosphere at Northwood HS.
Middle College (MC2) prepares Northwood students for the rigor of college through the following pathways:
Grade 10: Students take 1 MC course for three semester terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
Grade 11: Students take 2 MC courses for two semester terms (Fall and Spring).
Grade 12: Students take a full-time courseload on Montgomery College's campus to complete the remainder of their respective degree pathway.
*Note: Although Grade 9 students do not enroll in Montgomery College classes, they are encouraged to pursue honors courses and maintain a strong GPA to remain eligible for the program.
Our Middle College graduates are transforming the world around them. Hear from them!
Middle College graduate, Lesley Garay Benavides, earned a full-ride scholarship to University of Chicago and shares her experience in MC2. Hear from Lesley!
For Middle College, college courses are AT NO COST for high school students for Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters!
All tuition, textbooks, and required materials come at no cost to students!
How do I join the MC2 program at Northwood?
1) Students residing in the DCC (or NEC) must participate in the CHOICE process. This is a separate lottery from the MC2 lottery.
2) DCC students should make Northwood their #1 choice! - If you go to Northwood and meet the criteria, you can do this program!
3) All students must also apply to MC2 in Synergy ParentVUE interest based programs.
4) Students outside the DCC who apply will be assigned by lottery if more than 32 choose to apply.
What is the difference between the Middle College at Northwood (MC2), and the Virtual Middle College program (VMC)?
College courses in the VMC are delivered entirely online, while those in the MC2 may be online, on the high school campus, or on the college campus. Additionally, only students attending Northwood or Northwest high schools may participate in MC2, students from any high school can participate in VMC.
If my child is interested in participating in sports, can they still do Middle College at Northwood?
Yes, students are encouraged to join sports and extracurricular activities that match their interests. Students enrolled in courses on an MC-campus must plan their sports schedule according to their academic schedule.
The Montgomery College Middle College at Northwood program provides a rigorous, structured, and supportive academic program to all Northwood students.
The program ensures that students are afforded the necessary opportunities to complete both high school graduation and Montgomery College Associate of Sciences degree requirements, while supporting students through a progressive transition through high school to college.
A Middle College program, is "a bold approach, based on the principle that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges."
"Middle College high schools blend high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college." - Early College High School Initiative
The Montgomery College Middle College (MC2) at Northwood provides the following benefits to students beyond traditional high school:
Possibility of earning a General Studies A. A. or A. S. Degree at the end of high school
Learn from Maryland's best community college, according to Niche
Enhances the college admissions profile
Possibility of shortening time spent in college and the costs of room and board while there
Possibility of decreasing the cost of college tuition and fees
Dedicated preparation for college placement test
Dedicated support for AP and college courses
There are four cores, and each core allows for an interdisciplinary exploration of related disciplines. Students select one of the following four core areas to focus their study:
Studies in Humanities, Arts, Communication, and Languages (HACL)
The General Studies (HACL) core allows students to begin their studies in the following areas: English, Film, History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Women's and Gender Studies and World Languages.
Studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
The General Studies (STEM) core allows students to begin studies in various STEM disciplines
Studies in Social Sciences, Administration, and Health
The General Studies (SSAH) core allows students to begin their studies in the following areas: Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Integrated Studies (INTG)
As part of the General Studies umbrella, this core was created to be a flexible way for students to explore more than one core areas at the same time. The INTG Core can be a unique way to discover different discipline areas as students plan their studies at Montgomery College and beyond. Some of the ways students have used the INTG Core is within a transfer plan for allied health fields such as kinesiology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work and other major fields of study.
Northwood's Middle College students were among the first from MCPS to graduate with an Associate Degree from Montgomery College on May 18, 2018 before they received their high school diplomas!
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Students can continue to their passions in sports and extracurricular activities at Northwood while earning their associate's degree.
Middle College students are among Northwood's record-breakers and champions within our school's athletics program.
Mr. Sauter and Mr. Angel,
Northwood's Dual Enrollment team