College Acceleration Program (CAP/Dual Credit) and Salem Community College Partnership Programs
CAP programs are afforded to High School Students through N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1(a)1ii(3) which permits district boards of education to recognize successful completion of an accredited college course that assures achievement of the knowledge and skills delineated in the Core Curriculum Content Standards or includes learning that builds on and goes beyond the standards. CAP courses can be taken at the PMHS or SCC Campus. CAP will allow qualified students to earn credits that can be utilized both as fulfillment of a high school credit and as fulfillment of a college degree requirement.
PMHS CAP Courses:
A number of PMHS courses that are part of the regular curricular program are eligible for CAP credit at Salem Community College. Students enrolled in these courses who wish to gain SCC credit for the courses must apply and purchase the course credit through SCC in February in order to receive the reduced tuition rate ($72/credit for 2023/24 school year). Students who select to purchase the credits after the course is completed in June will pay the full college tuition for the course and forfeit their discount. Tuition and fees are solely the responsibility of the student. The final grade of the PMHS CAP course will be sent to SCC and converted to their grade scale and placed on your Salem Community College Transcript. CAP course grade count toward your SCC grade point average.
PMHS offers the following courses for CAP credit:
AP Biology* = SCC's BIO101&102 (8 College Credits)
AP Calculus* = SCC's MAT231 (3 College Credits)
AP US History* = SCC's HIS201&202 (6 College Credits)
AP Chemistry* = SCC's Chemistry 101 (4 College Credits)
AP Spanish* = SCC's Spanish 101 (3 College Credits)
Accounting 3 = SCC's ACC131 Principles of Accounting1 (3 College Credits)
Advanced Computer Applications = SCC's CSC115 (3 College Credits)
Anatomy & Physiology = SCC's BIO220 (4 College Credits)
Calculus = SCC's MAT231 (3 College Credits)
Contemporary Mathematics = SCC's MAT 134 (3 College Credits)
Education & The Teaching Profession = SCC's EDU101&102 (6 College Credits)
English 12 Advanced = SCC's ENG101&102 English Composition (6 College Credits)
Pre-Calculus = SCC's MAT153 (3 College Credits)
Psychology = SCC's PSY101 General Psychology (3 College Credits)
Sociology = SCC's SOC101 Introduction to Sociology (3 College Credits)
Speech & Debate = SCC's ENG202 Intro to Speech Communication (3 College Credits)
*ALL Advanced Placement Courses are eligible for SCC's CAP course credit regardless of the score on the AP exam. The goal in each AP course is to achieve a passing score on the AP Exam and students should consider the requirements of the college they intend to attend prior to purchasing AP course credit.
COLLEGE ENRICHIMENT COURSES - A student may take a course at a Salem Community College as early as their Freshman year. All courses taken at an accredited college must adhere to the following guidelines:
1. In order for any course to appear on the high school transcript, the Principal must approve the course and grant permission for the student to take the course prior to the student’s enrollment in the course. A review of the college syllabus and/or course outline shall be conducted prior to the Principal’s granting permission to determine the degree of the course’s alignment with the Core Curriculum Content Standards. In cases where the college course is being taken to fulfill a high school requirement, the degree to which the college course meets or exceeds the scope of the high school course will also be evaluated.
2. The pre-approved course may be taken to fulfill a pre-requisite requirement for other high school courses, provided that the student successfully completes the college course.
3. The student shall not be awarded Pennsville Memorial High School credit for the course unless the request for such credit was approved in writing by the Building Principal prior to the student’s enrollment in the college course. The specific number of potential credits to be awarded will be defined by the Principal in advance. Typically, a 3-credit college course will be awarded 2.5 high school credits, with a 4-credit lab course awarded 3.25 high school credits.
4. The course shall not be considered for acceptance of fulfilling Pennsville Memorial High School graduation requirement(s) unless agreed to in writing by the Principal prior to the student’s enrollment in the course.
5. The maximum number of high school credits that a student may earn through successful completion of college courses is 15 credits outside of other dual credit/CAP course agreements.
6. The grade earned in the college course shall not be computed into determining the student’s high school grade point average or class rank unless the course is part of the senior "Jump Start Program".
7. The student’s transcript shall indicate the following information: course title, institution, date, grade earned. The number of high school credits earned shall appear only if the awarding of high school credits for the college course was pre-approved by the Principal.
8. The student/parent/guardian is responsible for all tuition costs and/or any other related costs.
9. The student’s attendance in the college course should not conflict with the regular hours of Pennsville Memorial High School.
10. The approved college course may not be taken during the regular school day without principal approval unless the course is part of the "Jump Start Program".
Students considering enrolling in an approved CAP courses must meet the following criteria:
1. Complete a Salem Community College admissions application/registration form. Please note: Tuition and Fees are the responsibility of the student.
2. Following successful completion of SCC course - Request for CAP form must also be completed no later than 45 calendar days after the completion of that course. Beyond that time the agreement for college credit shall be void. a. Considering that different schools utilize different grading scales, the college shall transpose the numerical grade earned in the course into the college grading scale for purposes of the college transcript. Consequently, a numerical grade that transfers to a “B” on the high school transcript may appear as a “B-” or “B+” on the college transcript.
PMHS/SCC JUMP START College Program:
PMHS in conjunction with Salem Community College offers a senior "College Accelerated Program" to give students a JUMP START on their college career.
This program is offered to select seniors who wish to begin taking college courses during their senior year. All students participating in the program will be responsible for tuition, fees and books. The tuition rate for these courses will be negotiated between PMHS and SCC and published annually in the guidance office. The students will be responsible for transportation to and from the college. The credits earned for the courses taken at Salem Community College will NOT count towards class rank or high school graduation requirements UNLESS students declare their intent to gain dual credit for course work taken. In addition to course facilitation and instruction, the college will also provide academic counseling for all enrolled students. In order to participate in this program, students must apply to SCC. Program applicants must have earned 80 credits at the completion of their Sophomore year and 115 credits at the completion of their Junior year to be considered for the program. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 85 or higher to be accepted into this program at the time of program application. Seniors in the program must have achieved the level of “Meeting Expectations” on the State Endorsed Assessment.
*Students Must be enrolled in 30 equivalent credits at PMHS.
Jump Start College Cohort Program
The Jump Start College Cohort Program offers PMHS seniors the opportunity to take a full year of college courses during their senior year as a cohort group. Successful completion of this program will earn the student a minimum of 26 college credits as well as Dual Credit on their high school transcript for courses successfully completed.
Students in this cohort group program will travel to Salem Community College following period 2. (PMHS does not provide transportation to or from SCC for the Jump Start Program.) Students in this program will be required to complete the PMHS Senior Health/PE requirement while at PMHS and will also be permitted to enroll in any other course at PMHS that will coordinate with their SCC schedule.
Students interested in the Jump Start College Cohort Program will need to have earned a minimum of 115 credits as well as carry a minimum GPA of 85 or higher.
Students accepted into this program will take those courses organized through the Curriculum Office and SCC and may only substitute another course during the Fall or Spring Semester with permission from the principal. Students will have the opportunity to elect to enroll in a course of their choosing during summer session 1 at the end of their senior year for up to an additional 6 credits.
Jump Start Students will participate in the SCC orientation day schedule by the college in August.
Jump Start Students will attend SCC according to the college academic calendar and will be expected to attend courses at SCC even when PMHS is closed.
Approved JUMP START Course of Study
Fall Semester: English Composition 1 (ENG 101 – 3 Credits), Science Option or General Biology 1 (BIO 101 – 4 Credits), World History 1 (HIS 161 – 3 Credits), Sociology 101 (SOC 101 – 3 Credits) - 13 Credits Total.
Spring Semester: English Composition 2 (ENG 102 – 3 Credits), General Psychology (PSY 101 – 3 Credits), Science Option or General Biology 2 (BIO 102 – 4 Credits), Ethics in the Modern World (ETH 200 – 3 Credits). 13 Credits Total.
Summer Session 1 option: Students may elect to take up to 2 courses of their choosing for the first summer session. Transportation to the community college will be provided up to the final day of school.
NOTE: The SCC registration process will take place in the spring for the Fall Semester.
Dual Credit SCC to PMHS Course Grade Conversion:
Students who elect to take SCC courses for PMHS transcripted dual credit will have their SCC grades converted from the SCC letter grade to the PMHS 100 point grade scale. Courses taken at SCC will receive final grades in letter form only and will be converted to the PMHS 100 point scale. Course credit will also be converted as follows: 3 credit college course will be transcripted as 2.5 high school credits with 4 credit college courses earning 3.25 credits.
Point scale conversion is as follows:
SCC PMHS
A = 100
A- = 92
B+ = 91
B = 88
B- = 85
C+ = 84
C = 81
C- = 78
D+ = 77
D = 74
D- = 70
Senior Option
Senior Option and the work-study program are available to seniors who have earned a minimum of 115 credits towards high school graduation, have a minimum GPA of 78 or higher. Students who have not “met expectations" on a State Endorsed Assessment prior to January of the senior year may forfeit the ability to remain in the Senior Option program and will be enrolled in a Portfolio appeal program either during senior option or an an after school setting. Students with questions concerning Senior Option should see their guidance counselor. No Credits are offered through the Senior Option program. Seniors who elect to enroll in senior option are to leave school grounds following their last scheduled class of the day. Work Study programs in career oriented pathways are available on a case by case basis.
Career Education
The State of New Jersey, as well as our educational leaders, recognizes the importance of making our students aware of the career opportunities available to them.
Toward this end, the New Jersey State Department of Education has made career education one of the requirements for the State endorsed diploma.
Students will experience this aspect of the program as it is infused into the curriculum. Each course will carry a career exploration component.
FIRE SCHOOL - option 2 course credit.
Option Two (N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1(a)1ii) of the high school graduation requirements allows local school districts to design and/or approve educational experiences that serve as an alternative to traditional instruction. Due to the academic nature of requirements inherent in the fire academy, offering PMHS credit for this experience fits appropriately under the Option Two guidelines. Please see the principal for details on gaining PMHS course credit for successful completion of the fire school program.