The Early College Scholars program allows eligible high school students to earn at least 15 hours of transferable college credit while completing the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. The result is a more productive senior year and a substantial reduction in college tuition. Students earning a college degree in seven semesters instead of eight can save an average of $5,000 in expenses.
To
qualify for the Early College Scholars program,
a student must:
- Have
a "B" average or better;
- Be
pursuing an Advanced Studies Diploma; and
- Take
and complete college-level course work (i.e.,
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,
Cambridge, or dual enrollment) that will earn
at least 15 transferable college credits.
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Early College Scholars are supported by Virtual Virginia and the Commonwealth College Course Collaborative. Virtual Virginia provides statewide access to college-level courses while the Commonwealth College Course Collaborative defines the subjects high school students can complete and receive college degree credit from participating public and private colleges and universities.
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Visit
Dan River High School in Pittsylvania County
to learn more about Early College Scholars and
how the Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement
School is expanding access to college-level
courses. |
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Early College
Scholars Agreement
Participating students sign an Early
College Scholars Agreement, which is also
signed by the student's parents or guardians, principal,
and school counselor. Students who meet the terms of
the agreement are recognized as Early College Scholars
and receive a certificate of recognition from the Governor.
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 Virtual Virginia which includes the Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School provides a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, enabling students to earn college credit, regardless of their high school's ability to offer college-level courses. The Virginia Department of Education reimburses school divisions for tuition and test fees for students who sign an Early College Scholars Agreement.
More
information on Virtual Virginia |
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The Commonwealth College Course Collaborative supports the Early College Scholars program by providing a set of academic courses that fully transfer as core requirements and degree credits at Virginia colleges and universities.
 More
information on the Commonwealth College Course Collaborative,
and the participating institutions, is available through Virginia
Mentor, a service of Virginia's private and public colleges
and universities. Virginia Mentor Web site also includes an
Early College Scholars Transfer Tool that shows students how
to maximize the amount of college credit they earn in high
school.
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