The Challenger Program at the County College of Morris or the Jump Start Program at Sussex County Community College allows high-achieving juniors or seniors to take college courses while still in high school. Students interested in either program must meet the specific entry requirements as determined by the institution they wish to attend (see information below). In addition, Sparta High School’s Supervisor of College and Career Readiness must approve all applications and specific courses to be taken. Only credit-bearing courses that are considered educationally significant and which will contribute to the student’s academic and/or career goals will be approved.

Approved juniors may only take evening session courses outside of the regular school day. Seniors have the option of taking day or evening courses. Seniors desiring to take day courses can use a half-day option (2.5 GPA or better) if eligible. Please check with your school counselor or the director of guidance for specific details and applications. The student will assume all costs associated with the program including application fee, tuition, books, transportation, and any other associated costs.

Challenger Program (CCM) Requirements

All students must take the Accuplacer Placement Test at CCM. This will enable the college to monitor the enrollment of students in appropriate courses. Students who do not meet the minimum scores in mathematics will be precluded from taking courses with mathematics as a prerequisite or with a strong math component (ex. accounting and/or certain sciences). Students who do not meet the requirements for English Composition will be precluded from taking courses in which English is a prerequisite and/or there is a strong writing component. Pre-college-age students are not permitted to take any remedial classes at the college.

Exemptions for the college placement testing:

•  OLD SAT: scores of 540 in Critical Reading and 530 in Math

• NEW SAT: If you scored 560 or higher for Math** and 590 or higher for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT. 

• ACT scores of 23 for English and 23 for Math

• NJSLA If you scored a 4 or 5 on the 11th grade English Language Arts NJSLA test and a 4 or 5 on the Algebra 2 NJSLA test.** 

Jump Start Program (SCCC) Requirements

The Jump Start Program is designed for students currently enrolled as high school juniors or seniors who wish to earn college-level credits before graduation. Upon obtaining signed permission from your parent or legal guardian, you may enroll in up to two college courses (not exceeding eight credit hours of academic work) per semester during the day or evening.

Jump Start classes are:

• Taught on the Sussex campus or online

• Taught by Sussex professors

• Jump Start Classes are a 50% reduction in tuition and fees 

Upon graduating from high school and enrolling at Sussex, students will have all applicable credits applied toward their associate degree or certificate. Students enrolling at a different college or university can request an official Sussex transcript sent to the other college for credit transfer consideration.

To be eligible for the Jump Start Program, the applicant must:

• Be a high school or home-schooled student between 16–18 years of age. Students who are younger than 16 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• College Readiness as evidenced by any of the following:

  • High school transcript showing B or better in college-based Math and English

  • SAT Scores: Evidence-Based Reading/Writing – SAT of 450 or higher 

  • Mathematics – SAT of 500 or higher or appropriate Placement Test scores in basic math and algebra. 

  • ACT Scores: (23 English, 23 Reading, 23 Math)

  • The College-level Math Placement Test is needed if students enroll in Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Physics,  or Chemistry.

Step 1 - Apply Online

• Fill out the Application - include your social security number

  • For Admission Status, choose Concurrent High School Students – Jump Start Program from the drop-down menu

• Submit the Application. You will receive an email with the following:

  • Sussex Student ID Number

  • Sussex Passwords

Step 2 – If you need to take the Placement Test, if not move to Step 3

• Take the College-Level Math (CLM) Placement Test if you are taking any of the following classes at your high school: College Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Physics with Calculus, or Chemistry with Calculus.

• Contact the Testing Center at 973-300-2155. Check the Testing web page for study guides and sample test questions.

Step 3 – Print and fill out the Jump Start Registration Form. Email the form to jfliegel@sussex.edu Step 4 – Pay Online

• Pay online using the My Sussex Portal.

For any questions, please contact:

Julie Fliegel

High School Coordinator

973-300-2223

jfliegel@sussex.edu