College Prep

I. College Prep Experience

Throughout the Academics Plus Charter School (APCS) campus, classes and curriculum are developed and moderated so as to establish and reinforce the study, citizenship, participation, integrity and motivational habits required by today's competitive and successful colleges and universities. Instructors provide course syllabuses at the beginning of each semester so that the student will know what to expect to gain from the course and each new learning module is presented complete with a lecture, assignment, independent and community study. Projects are often team events which require total group participation in order to be successful. This provides each student with an educational system of learning, reinforcing, knowledge sharing and skills demonstration.

In keeping with our pledge to provide an academically rigorous college preparatory environment we expect all students to abide by high standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism or other violations of academic integrity will result in disciplinary action.

II. Concurrent Credit - College & University Studies

Beginning in the 9th grade, students who qualify may begin taking concurrent credit collegiate/university studies classes. University studies classes are offered on the Academics Plus Charter School (APCS) campus in partnership with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). University studies course expectations for APCS students are identical, in terms of student enabled learning objectives, terminal learning objectives and participation, as is expected of traditional UCA students. Participation in the concurrent credit program is offered free-of-charge to all eligible students.

In order to qualify for enrollment in the college and university studies concurrent credit program, students must take and achieve an overall composite scope of 19, or better, on the ACT; and, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. For students to be eligible to take a college literacy class, the student must score a 19, or better, on the literacy assessment of the ACT. Similarly, students wishing to take a college level mathematics class must score a 19 or better mathematics assessment of the ACT.

Once admitted to the college and university studies program it is very important that the pupil remains current with class expectations. Collegiate level classes tend communicate greater volumes of information throughout the term; subsequently, students who fall behind in assignments or required reading will have a difficult time keeping pace with the course. Lastly, it is important to note that as with any college level curriculum, independent study equaling approximately three (3) hours of home study to one (1) hour of classroom instruction is minimally advised in order to ensure the success of the student. Because of the exceptional commitment required of our college and university studies students, student loads are monitored by their instructors and the academic counselor to ensure that they avoid academic fatigue. Finally, the taking of multiple college level classes will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and only under the close supervision and approval of a school administrator to ensure the academic success of our students.