High School Academic Options

Career Center Programs

A contractual agreement between the Upper Arlington and Columbus Boards of Education allows a student at Upper Arlington High School the opportunity to attend Career Centers on a half-day basis for career tech education programs not offered at Upper Arlington High School.

Students apply during their sophomore year and attend during their junior and senior years. For complete information, contact your school counselor. Students can combine their chosen career center choice with the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme.

Programs take place at Columbus Downtown High School or Fort Hayes Career Center. For information about available programs, please visit the Columbus Career Centers Career-Technical Education Pathways webpage.

College Credit Plus (CCP)

College Credit Plus (CCP) is a program that gives high school/middle school students in grades 7–12 an opportunity to be enrolled in both high/middle school and college course work at the same time. Students must qualify academically and be accepted to participate in College Credit Plus. The tuition will be paid by Upper Arlington City Schools. By taking college credits, students will earn high school credit while taking college courses.

For the student who is eligible for College Credit Plus, he/she must be academically ready for college level

courses and be willing to follow the procedures outlined by the university while still in high/middle school.

Potential benefits of enrollment in CCP courses are the following:

• Students may earn (transcripted) college credit and high school credit upon successful completion of the course
• Accelerate achievement of educational goals
• Eliminate duplication of high school and college course content
• Increase the rigor and challenge of course offerings while in high school
• May decrease time and cost towards an Associates or Bachelor’s Degree

Students must also be aware of potential risks or consequences with CCP enrollment:

• Increased responsibility for learning
• Reduced opportunities for participation in high school activities
• Affects GPA (high school and college)
• Increased time for travel • Potential scheduling conflicts between high school and college courses
• Potential Athletic Eligibility issues- must be scheduled for five credits per semester
• Reduced parent involvement, due to FERPA restrictions

English Learners (EL)

English Learners (EL) is designed for limited English-proficient students for whom English is not their first language.

The focus of instruction is to help students develop and improve skills in the four communication areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students receive intensive review of English grammar as well as instruction in vocabulary building, essay writing, multicultural literature, and oral presentations. Eligible students may elect this course in lieu of a regular English course for a maximum of two academic years.

Flex Credit

We have developed and implemented a state-mandated “flexible credit” option for our students. With flex credit, students will be able to show what they know and move on to other more advanced classes or take elective courses in other departments. They will be able to earn course credit in ways not limited to “seat time” or the walls of our school building. They will be able to customize aspects of their learning around their interests and needs, which might include flexible scheduling, a choice of modalities (i.e. online learning and community-based projects), as well as options to pursue niche interest areas, combine subjects, or even graduate early. All high school students have the opportunity to submit an application for flex credit. Graduation requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Electives may choose letter grade or pass/fail. Seniors must complete all flex credit by the end of first semester.

With flex credit, students can earn credit in three ways, or in a combination of these ways:

1. Complete traditional coursework

2. Credit through testing out: Testing occurs twice a year – December during exam week (deadline to register is October 15) and May, also during exam week (deadline to register is April 15). The week after registration closes, students will receive a course information sheet and any pre- exam assignments. Requirements vary by course. Most have an exam portion coupled with a written paper or lab activity. You may only take a flex credit exam once per subject.

3. Credit by educational option: The committee meets quarterly to review proposals and products. Consists of a student developing his/her own proposal describing in detail how they will demonstrate mastery of the academic content standards/ grade level indicators of the identified course. Examples may include but are not limited to – distance learning, educational travel, independent study, internship, music, arts or non-school sponsored athletics. Physical Education proposals must cover state standards and include the following five areas of fitness – cardiovascular, endurance, flexibility, nutrition and strength. Students develop a product (for example, portfolio or video) of evidence and present it to a committee of school counselors and multiple content area teachers.

For additional information and resources, please visit the Upper Arlington School Credit Flex page.