Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is launching an Early College Program for high school students. The pilot program begins in fall 2022 and provides high school students with a tuition-free early start to higher education.

CCPS will pilot the program for the 2022-2023 school year. As part of the pilot, CCPS will offer 150 total spaces to current high school juniors from four high schools: Henry E. Lackey, St. Charles, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools.

Interested students and families should attend one of the five upcoming planned information sessions. During the information sessions, staff will share details about the application process and program deadlines. The following sessions are available.

• Tuesday, Feb. 15, 5:30 p.m., Henry E. Lackey High School media center.
• Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m., St. Charles High School auditorium.
• Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m., Thomas Stone High School media center.
• Tuesday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m., Westlake High School cafeteria.
• Wednesday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m. virtual meeting. Click here to register for the virtual meeting.

Parents and students can also learn more about the program at https://www.csmd.edu/apply-register/credit/high-school/early-college/index.html.

Accepted students will be enrolled in both CSM and their zoned high school their senior year. Students will attend classes at the CSM La Plata campus and receive both high school credit and CSM credits for those courses. These students will work toward a 34-credit certification program that allows them to complete transferable college credits and their high school diploma requirements at the same time. As both a CCPS and CSM student, the program offers enrolled students one year of free college credits.

CCPS is covering tuition for all participating students and associated course fees for eligible students in the Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) program. Cost of the pilot program for CCPS next year is estimated at $694,000, which includes tuition, instructional materials, meals and transportation.

The 2022-2023 pilot phase may expand to include high school juniors and seniors at all CCPS high schools starting with the 2023-2024 school year.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).