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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.

 

To learn more, speak with your counselor or take a look at the Program of Studies

Program of Studies

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:

Earn college credits at no cost to families

Experience college-level coursework in high school

Reduce future college tuition costs

Build 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

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are high school level classes where students can earn college credit based on scores that they receive on end-of-year AP tests.

Like honors classes, AP classes are rigorous and require a significant time commitment outside of class. It is recommended that within one year:

  • 9th grade students take no more than one AP class
  • 10th grade students take no more than two AP classes
  • 11th grade students take no more than four AP classes
  • 12th grade students take no more than five AP classes

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.

Charlottesville City Schools pays for each AP exam for students who are enrolled in the corresponding AP course at CHS by the registration deadline (November 14) and who take the exam on the regularly scheduled date in May.

  • Students who register late, cancel an exam, or do not show for the exam will be charged a $40 fee per exam. All outstanding fees must be paid before registering for future exams.

  • Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered by CHS are restricted to students currently enrolled in the corresponding AP course during the active academic year.

    Because CCS fully funds all initial AP exam attempts for enrolled students, administrative and testing capacity is reserved exclusively for students taking the course for the first time. CHS does not offer "Exam-Only" registration, nor do we host retake exams for students who have previously completed the course.

    Students who wish to retake an AP exam after completing the course must register as an independent/external candidate through a neighboring school district that accepts outside exam-only test-takers.

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.