How Modesto City Schools offers college credit opportunities for high school students
In Modesto City Schools, there are three opportunities for students looking to graduate college a little early or save a little money on tuition.
Students can earn college credits through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment courses.
IB Courses offered at Modesto High
International Baccalaureate is a four-year program done in two phases at Modesto High School . The first is the Pre-IB courses for grades nine and 10. The goal for the preliminary courses is to prepare those students for their junior and senior years in the program. Students in grades 11 and 12 take the IB curriculum.
Students complete work in six subject areas — language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts — and a course titled "Theory of Knowledge." They also must write a 4,000-word essay reflecting their independent research and analysis. Lastly, IB students have to complete over 150 hours of community service.
Once students complete all of their requirements, they are eligible to get an IB diploma.
General program guides, standards and final exams for the diploma are designed and monitored by the IB offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
To get the college credit, examination results must be sent directly to college enrollment offices for consideration. Local universities, like Stanislaus State, accept for a minimum score of 4 or 5 depending on the courses, which are equivalent to honors classes.
Modesto Junior College also accepts IB program courses for college credit. IB scores must be sent to MJC's enrollment services. Scores of 5, 6 or 7 will automatically apply as elective unit credit or be used to satisfy general education unit requirement.
Admission for the Modesto High School IB program is based on standardized test scores in reading, math and language, grade point average and course level, teacher recommendations, a writing sample and math placement test.
AP courses at all high schools
Advanced Placement courses let students gain college credit if they pass a year-end test in that subject. All tests and courses are created by College Board, which also conducts SAT and ACT tests.
There currently are nine college-level courses and examinations in 16 academic disciplines.
AP classes are available at all high schools in Modesto City Schools.
For students to qualify for some AP classes, a teacher recommendation and a written screening process may be required. In addition, a grade of an "A" or "B" in prerequisite courses may be required.
Dual enrollment with MJC, UC Merced
Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses while still in high school, through teachers with the qualifications to teach higher education.
Modesto City Schools teamed with Modesto Junior College and UC Merced to offer dual enrollment courses to students.
Dual enrollment courses are set up three ways at Modesto Junior College. The first option is the Enrichment program, which requires students to take MJC courses outside of their typical high school schedule.
The second is the College and Career Pathway program. These college-level courses are taught during the normal school day on high school campuses. Students interested in this pathway will need to get their parents' or guardians' permission.
Beyer, Davis, Enochs, Gregori, Modesto, Johansen and Downey have classes available for students interested in this option.
The final option for students to earn credit from Modesto Junior College is the High School Articulation program.
This is an agreement between instructors from Modesto Junior College and local high schools that allows students to earn college credit for completing an approved high school course if criteria is met.
UC Merced's dual enrollment program is specific for students looking to enter child development and care coursework.
Through the program, students will be able to receive their California Teacher's Credentialing permit and Child Development Associate Teacher Permit by passing four classes.
