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Charlottesville High School

Gain College Credit in High School

Gain College Credit in High School

Charlottesville High School offers multiple opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school. Through Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment (DE), and Early College programs, students can challenge themselves academically, explore future interests, reduce college costs, and get a head start on their postsecondary goals.

 

With approximately 30 dual enrollment and AP classes offered each year, Charlottesville High School offers many paths to  college credit. In addition to the number of classes offered, the school also receives recognition for its unusually high percentage of students who pass the challenging AP exams (averaging 75 percent for more than a decade). And CHS has frequently appeared on the Washington Post‘s annual “Challenge Index,” which identifies schools that persuade “average students to take college-level courses and tests,” a very strong indicator of success in college.

  • Students have the option of taking courses at any level while pursuing a high school diploma. CHS and CATEC do not charge any fees for class enrollment or exams.

More Information:

Dual Enrollment (DE)

Through a partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), eligible students can enroll in Dual Enrollment courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time. These courses are taught to college-level standards and appear on a student's college transcript.

Benefits of Dual Enrollment include:

Earning college credits at no cost to families

Experiencing college-level coursework while in HS

Reducing future college tuition costs

Building confidence for postsecondary success

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Charlottesville High School offers one of Virginia's broadest selections of Advanced Placement courses, allowing students to engage in rigorous college-level coursework across a variety of subjects.

Students may earn college credit, advanced placement, or both based on their performance on end-of-course AP exams. Charlottesville City Schools pays the cost of AP exams for students enrolled in the corresponding AP course who meet registration requirements.

Benefits of AP courses include:

Increased academic rigor and challenge

Opportunities to earn college credit

Strong preparation for college coursework

Enhanced college application credentials

Because AP courses require a significant commitment both in and out of the classroom, students should work with their counselors to develop an academic plan that balances challenge and success.

CHS / PVCC Dual Degree Programs

Charlottesville High School is proud to have a strong partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC). As part of our partnership, CHS and PVCC offer Early College programs in General Studies (Associate of Science) and/or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS). Students should indicate interest in one of these programs at the end of their 9th grade year by speaking with their CHS counselor.

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Universal Certificate of General Studies (UCGS)

The Universal Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year public college or university in Virginia. When completed, the UCGS will satisfy lower-division general education requirements at all four-year public colleges and universities in Virginia. Students earn 32 college credits as part of the UCGS, all for free.