College Credit Programs
Dual Enrollment Program
According to the U.S. Department of Education, dual enrollment is defined as enrollment in a class that offers both high school and college credit. It is promoted to help students prepare for college course work, as well as potentially saving on college costs. The terms “dual enrollment” and “concurrent enrollment” are often used interchangeably.
Dual enrollment can transform student outcomes in college, career, and life. The key to high-quality, successful dual enrollment programming is the partnerships between our high schools and colleges and/or universities. Paterson Public Schools has established partnerships with the following post-secondary institutions:
- Passaic County Community College
- Berkeley College
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Rutgers University
- Seton Hall University
- University of New Haven
- William Paterson University
Dual Enrollment courses provide an opportunity for qualified high school students to get an early start on their college education by earning college credits while still in high school. These college-level courses are taken in high school and may be used to fulfill college and university requirements at no cost to the student. The credits earned are recognized as high school credits toward graduation but are also entered onto the student’s permanent transcript from the college/university.
Students must receive a final grade of “C” or better to receive college credits for the course. Courses may be used for elective credits to meet college graduation requirements. Students may list courses as college courses on most college applications, and it will be at the discretion of the receiving institution to accept or deny these courses.
William Paterson University High School Dual Enrollment Program for Multilingual Learners
Provides multilingual learners from Eastside High School, John F. Kennedy Educational Complex the opportunity to take college courses and accumulate college credits from William Paterson University. Students in Grades 11-12 enrolled in the following two courses are eligible to earn three college credits per course.
| PPS HS Course | WPU Course/Credits |
|---|---|
| ESL IV Supplemental |
ESL 3100 Advanced ESL Reading |
| ESL IV Developmental | ESL 3110 Advanced ESL Writing 3 Credits |
Students must receive a final grade of “C” or better to receive the three college credits from William Paterson University for the course.
Students participating in this program will become acquainted with college expectations and sustain work/study habits that yield success in college courses.
Students participating in this program will have an advantage of accumulating college credits early as well as reap the financial benefit resulting from not having to pay tuition costs for courses they complete as part of this high school dual enrollment opportunity.
STEPS: Students Taking an Early Pathway to Success (Senior Year at Passaic County Community College)
Paterson Public Schools has partnered with Passaic County Community College to provide approximately ten students who have completed History, Science & Math requirements by the end of their junior year, an opportunity to complete their senior year on campus at PCCC while obtaining college credits. All tuition, fees, textbooks, and materials will be paid for by the district.
Details
- Current juniors in Paterson Public Schools will apply after the third marking period of each school year.
- A committee will review all applications as they are received. The committee makes the final decision as to which students qualify for the program.
- Students will complete their high school ELA & Physical Education requirements at PCCC while accumulating college credits.
- Students will still be allowed to participate in High School Sports, Clubs, and extracurricular activities. (DECA, NHD, etc.) In addition to all Senior Year Activities, i.e., Prom, Graduation, etc.
- Students will follow PCCC schedule.
- The students will meet as a cohort periodically throughout the year
The committee will be using multiple measures that include:
- Academic Transcript - GPA 3.5 or Higher (weighted)
- Teacher Evaluation Form
- Standardized Test Scores
- Attendance/Lates
STEPS students should demonstrate:
- STRONG WORK ETHIC
- EFFECTIVE STUDY HABITS
- CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE
- STRONG TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Successful students are those who are ready to work hard, manage the demands of their courses, and excel in the rigor of higher-level education.
Early College Program
Paterson Public Schools has partnered with Passaic County Community College to provide approximately ten students with an opportunity to complete their junior and senior year on campus at PCCC while obtaining an associate degree. All tuition, fees, textbooks, and materials will be paid for by the district.
Details
- Current sophomores in Paterson Public Schools will apply after the third marking period of each school year.
- EARLY COLLEGE requires applicants to PASS both the English and Math Accuplacer to demonstrate college readiness.
- A committee will review all applications as they are received. The committee makes the final decision as to which students qualify for the program.
- Students will complete their high school requirements at PCCC while accumulating college credits.
- Students will still be allowed to participate in High School Sports, Clubs, and extracurricular activities. (DECA, NHD, etc.) In addition to all Senior Year Activities, i.e., Prom, Graduation, etc.
- Students will follow PCCC schedule.
- Mentors from PCCC and from Paterson Public Schools will be assigned to meet with the students.
- The students will meet as a cohort periodically throughout the year
The committee will be using multiple measures that include:
- Academic Transcript - GPA 3.5 or Higher (weighted)
- Teacher Evaluation Form
- Standardized Test Scores
- Attendance/Lates
STEPS students should demonstrate:
- STRONG WORK ETHIC
- EFFECTIVE STUDY HABITS
- CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE
- STRONG TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Advanced Placement Program
During the 2017-18 school year the Department of Accelerated Programs made a commitment to enhance the Advanced Placement program in the district. As a result, we restructured the AP process, expanded course offerings, and identified more students for Advanced Placement coursework, as well as offered professional development through the College Board to existing and new AP teachers.
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a nationally recognized rigorous course of study, with a higher level of expectation than Honors and college preparatory courses. Students study advanced material, more in-depth and at an accelerated pace. The classes are designed for students who want to experience challenging, college-level material and give students a head start in college.
Upon completion of these courses, students should plan to take the appropriate AP Exam distributed and scored by Educational Testing Service. A score of 3 on a scale of 1-5 may result in placement and/or credit at the college level.
AP courses offered by Paterson Public Schools include AP African American Studies, AP 2D Art & Design, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Human Geography, AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition, AP US History, AP Physics, AP Precalculus, AP Research, AP Seminar English 10, AP Spanish Language & Culture, and AP Statistics.
According to the College Board, taking AP courses and exams can help students:
Stand out on college applications. AP courses on a student’s transcript show that they have challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available to them. Additionally, success on an AP Exam shows that they are prepared for college-level coursework.
Earn college credit and/or skip introductory courses in college. Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States—as well as many institutions in more than one hundred other countries—grant students’ credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores.
AP students who earn a score of 1 or 2 or average a score of 1 or 2 across their AP Exams in high school have better college outcomes than academically similar college students who did not take an AP course and exam.
Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma Program
In keeping with the district’s mission of preparing students for college and career, select high schools began to offer the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma Program at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. These schools are among approximately 1,800 schools worldwide that offer programs that allow students to develop research, collaboration, and communication skills to help them achieve success in college and in their careers.
The AP Capstone Diploma Program consists of two courses taken in sequence:
AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who score three or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP exams of their choice earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (but not on four additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
AP Seminar, typically taken in 10th or 11th grade, is a project-based learning course. Students choose and evaluate complex topics. They identify credibility and bias in sources. They develop arguments in support of a recommendation. Official AP Seminar assessments include research reports, written arguments, and presentations completed during the academic year.
Beginning in 25-26, we introduced AP Seminar English 10. This course allows students at Eastside, International, John F. Kennedy and Paterson STEAM high schools to meet the New Jersey English Language Arts standards while giving them valuable cross-curricular exposure through evidence-based reading, writing, and speaking. This course fulfills the core English requirement.
AP Research is also a project-based course. Students design, execute, present, and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. They build on skills developed in AP Seminar by learning how to understand research methodology and employ ethical research practices. They also collect, analyze, and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Each student’s official AP Research score is based on their academic paper, presentation, and oral defense.
William Paterson University Aspiring Educators Summer Program
The Aspiring Educators program is a unique 4-week program directed by William Paterson University’s College of Education. High school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in education can gain valuable experience both academically and professionally.
Students spend half of their day in a career-focused course on the university campus, earning three college credits before they have even finished high school.
They spend the other half of their day applying new knowledge while working as assistant teachers in the district’s Summer Programs - earning a $2,000 stipend.
