Alternatives and Options for Completion of High School

CCPS recognizes that four-year enrollment in a public high school may not serve the best interests of all students, and the following alternative programs are available:

• Early Graduation: Qualified students who have met Student Service Learning (SSL) and Maryland High School Assessments (MHSAs) have the opportunity to graduate at the end of their junior year. Students must apply and have a minimum of 15 credits by the end of their sophomore year. Students must register and complete English III in summer school for original credit prior to junior year. Students participating in Early Graduation are not ranked. Will not be considered senior status until after successfully completing the first semester of their junior year.
  
  Early Graduation
• Virtual Academy: An educational program offered through CCPS that provides a hybrid of face-to-face instruction and online high school courses. Credit is awarded upon satisfactory completion of subject requirements. Students who enroll in Virtual Academy are self-motivated independent learners who have basic computer skills. Virtual Academy accepts students in grades 9-12 and who are referred by the school principal.
  
  Virtual Academy

Each of these alternatives requires that interested students to follow specific procedures established by Charles County Public Schools. The guidelines, forms, and timelines for application are available from high school counseling departments.

Credit that is awarded for high school graduation requirement and college credit.

The Extended Day Original Credit (EDOC) Program provides students in Grades 9-12 at Henry E. Lackey, La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, Thomas Stone, and Westlake high schools with an opportunity to earn credits outside the regular school day, helping them fulfill graduation requirements in a flexible format. Priority is given to 11th and 12th graders, though students in Grades 9 and 10 may enroll if space permits.

Courses are taught in an online format with firm deadlines for assignments. Students meet with their teacher weekly on Zoom and attendance, along with assignment completion, is required to remain in the program. Semester grades are included in report cards and factor into the student’s GPA. Parents can track student progress in ParentVUE, and school counselors are available to answer any questions.

Principal's Waiver provides eligible seniors with the option of an early release schedule during their final year of high school. To qualify, students must be in their 4th year of high school and have met all graduation requirements prior to or by the end of their senior year. This option allows students greater flexibility to pursue work, internships, or college coursework outside of school while completing any remaining high school commitments. Approval for the waiver must be obtained from the school principal, ensuring that students are on track to meet all academic and program obligations before beginning a reduced schedule.

Charles County Public Schools is proud to partner with The College of Southern Maryland to offer CCPS high school students and their families the CSM Early College Program. Open to qualified rising seniors and juniors, this tuition-free program is an opportunity to experience being a full-time college student, save money, and earn college credits. Students take college classes on the CSM La Plata Campus their junior and/or senior year, while simultaneously fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. Participating students will earn their high school diploma while learning a Transfer Certificate consisting of 34 or 60 credits at CSM. Aligning with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, this program is open to rising juniors and/or seniors.

Early College Program

The following high school course work requirements apply to students seeking admission to four-year public colleges and universities in Maryland:

SUBJECT

• English - 4 credits
• Social Science/History - 3 credits
• Mathematics - 4 credits (Students must complete Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Students who complete Algebra II prior to their final year must complete the four-year mathematics requirement by taking a course or courses that utilize non-trivial algebra.)
• Biological and Physical Sciences (two must be lab sciences) - 3 credits
• World Languages (other than English) - 2 credits of the same language

Each institution shall publish its own decision criteria, which may be more rigorous than the system-wide requirements listed above. Additionally, individual schools may choose to accept Advanced Technology coursework in lieu of the World Language requirement.

All students are encouraged to exceed the minimum entrance requirements by taking honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses, as well as additional academic electives including a fourth year of all core subjects and a third year of World Language.

The following Charles County high school courses are articulated (may be eligible for college credits) with the College of Southern Maryland, University of Maryland, Towson University, Stevenson University, or other post-secondary institutions.

• Academy of Health Professions
• Advanced Algebra with Trigonometry
• Advanced Business Management
• Advanced Computer Applications, Integration, and Development
• Automotive Technology
• CASE: Natural Resources
• Collision Repair
• Composition and Rhetoric
• Computer Internship
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Arts
• Cyber Security
• Drafting and Design Technology
• Early Childhood Education and Childcare
• Engineering Concepts
• Graphic Communications
• Introduction to Advanced Math
• Interactive Media Productions (IMP)
• IT Networking (CISCO)
• Manufacturing Technology
• Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI)
• Pre-Calculus
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering
• Prostart- Food and Beverage Management
• Teacher Academy of Maryland

For more information on which schools offer these programs, please visit their schools’ website.

Individual high schools may offer approved pilot courses in addition to those listed in the Program of Studies. Please see your counselor and course selection sheet for more information.