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As a mom to a high school junior, it’s been overwhelming to understand not only the graduation requirements, but all the options for advanced classes that Dare County Schools (DCS) offers. As I set out to figure out the differences and reached out to college admissions departments to make decisions for my own family, I knew I wasn’t the only one with these questions. Hopefully you will find my research helpful as you make educational decisions for your student, as well. 

This article shares my journey of figuring out the difference between honors classes, AP, dual enrollment, and early college, and explains the benefits of each. I talked with the district’s top officials and experts on the issue: DCS’s Superintendent Steve Basnight, director of secondary education Denise Fallon, and COA liaison John Hunting. We’ll look at what the university admissions offices want to see, crunch some numbers to find out how much money advanced classes can save you, and check out helpful tools to figure out the best path forward.

Weighted vs. unweighted GPA

When it comes to Grade Point Average (GPA), classes are weighted differently. Regular high school classes are weighted on a 4.0 scale.

So, if a student receives an A in a regular class, he will receive a 4.0. Honors classes are calculated on a 4.5 scale, awarding A students with an extra half point. For Advanced Placement (AP) classes or classes taken through College of The Albemarle, these are weighted on a 5.0 scale.

So, for example, let’s say a student takes regular History and makes a B. This will translate to a 3.0 GPA. If he’s taking Honors History and makes a B, he’ll earn 3.5 points. For a COA class or an AP class, a B will earn him 4.0 points.

These higher points for advanced classes are called a weighted GPA. On Dare County transcripts, both the weighted and unweighted GPAs are given. Some college admissions departments or scholarships will ask for an unweighted GPA. In this case, GPA is based on a 4.0 scale, with no extra points given for advanced classes.

Credit and what it means

There are two factors to consider when looking at classes. There is credit, and then there’s GPA. These are different.

Each semester course – because they are longer, blocked courses – earns students one credit. In Dare County High Schools, students must successfully complete between 22 and 26 credits to graduate, depending on entrance year.

Even within the “credit” conversation, there are really two different issues: (1) Receiving the credit needed to graduate from high school by taking COA classes, and (2) How those COA class credits transfer to 4-year universities.

Earning high school credit from COA classes

A junior or senior can satisfy some of their high school credit requirements by taking COA classes. This is also called dual enrollment, or the Career and College Promise program. When it comes to receiving high school credit at COA, different subjects have different rules and prerequisites.

Students can take Quantitative Literacy, Statistics or Pre-Calc through COA to meet their Math 4 high school requirement.

To satisfy a high school history requirement, students must take COA’s History 131 and History 132.

For science classes, while they will transfer to a UNC System school for credit, they won’t satisfy a student’s high school science requirement due to COA’s prerequisites that state that high school science courses must be completed before college courses are taken. A better option for sciences classes, then, might be the AP credit route (hang on, we’ll get there.)

English gets a little more complicated. High school students can opt to take English at COA, but there are some prerequisites that extend the process a bit.

For high school English 3, students can take American Literature (COA class English 231), and for English 4, students can take British Literature (COA class English 241). Seems pretty simple. However, at COA, there are prerequisites for both American and British Lit. In order to enroll in English 231 or 241, students must have completed COA’s English 111 and English 112.

Now, the good news is that all four of those classes will earn the student transfer credit to the 16 UNC schools (more on that below). But the “bad news” is that students would be required to take four COA classes to fulfill their two high school English credits.

 Earning 4-year university credit from COA classes

John Hunting, liaison between COA and Dare County Schools, said students receive transfer credit for any class they take within a college transfer pathway as long as they make a C or better in the class.

The college transfer pathway is designed to help university-bound students select COA classes that will easily transfer to any of the 16 UNC System schools. These can be taken while in high school or afterward.

As we stated above, if a student takes, for example, Precalculus at COA (Math 171), it satisfies not only her high school credit, but it also earns her 4 COA college credits if she earns at least a C. That class will transfer in as 3 or 4 credits at a UNC System school.

(Not all university programs require precalculus on a degree plan. For some fields of study that are more math oriented, precalculus may simply be a prerequisite for another class that is required. Even still, while the student has still saved herself from taking the prerequisite at university, that course may only transfer in for her as an elective credit. It’s important to look ahead to the degree requirements and choose classes carefully.)

For COA’s History 131 and History 132, again, to use NC State as our example, these two classes will transfer as History 251 and History 252, saving our student time and money when it comes time to pay for college.

Beyond the core class requirements, students can also take some electives at COA while in high school that can transfer in to a UNC 4-year university. Again, the best thing to do is to research degree plan requirements and find community college classes that will transfer and meet those requirements.

How do AP classes fit into all of this? 

Ok – let’s get back to AP classes. AP classes are advanced classes that are taken in the high school building that have the potential to earn the student credits for college. At the conclusion of the course, students take a test that has been approved by the state. The tests are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. Generally, students who earn a 1 or a 2 will not receive any transfer credit (although they will still get a GPA boost). Students earning a 3 on the test may receive partial credit, or no credit at all, depending on the school. Students earning a 4 or 5 on the test are eligible for college credit.

Unlike community college transfer credit which is guaranteed if a student receives a least a C, AP credit is not guaranteed. With AP credit, the local community college does not act as a middleman granting credit. A student applies directly to the university of their choice to request transfer credit.

For students desiring to attend a private university, AP high school credits may earn them some college credit. Many universities offer an online tool to help students figure out AP transfer credits.

Each AP class has the potential to earn students college credit, and in some instances, significant credit. For example, a score of a 3 in AP Biology will earn a student 4 credits at NC State but 8 credits at Appalachian State; a score of a 4 or 5 will earn the student 8 college credits at both.

Each university has different transfer credit policies, and most are readily available with a simple online search.

The Coastland Times reached out to the admissions department at Duke University to ask about their process. For first year students, Duke accepts up to two credits from AP scores of 4 or 5, but they do not accept any transfer credit from dual enrollment programs with community colleges.

What’s better? … And what do colleges really want to see?

There is a lot of confusion among families about what’s better – AP classes or dual enrollment?

Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight said things have changed a lot in education over the years.

“AP came about at a time when dual enrollment really wasn’t a thing. So it was the best option to try and get college credit while in high school. But things have really evolved to the point that you can get college credit in high school with dual enrollment now,” he said.

Basnight said there’s still a lot of people “hanging on to AP” as the be-all, end-all, claiming that college admissions prefer AP classes over dual enrollment.

“That’s outdated,” he continued. “The greatest predictor of college success is college success. So if you’ve got a kid in high school that’s been successful and has college credits from a community college, that [success] is what the colleges want to see.”

My research confirmed this.

When asked if the school prefers AP courses or dual enrollment courses through one’s local community college, Jon Westover, associate vice provost and director of admissions at NC State, said: “There is not a preference between AP classes or college level classes offered through the local community college. Either show that students are challenging themselves within the curriculum available to them at their school.”

Responding to the same question, Beth Lutz, media relations manager at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that the admissions department “recommends that high school seniors take advanced coursework available at their schools, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or dual-enrollment courses. If these options are unavailable, students should seek other ways to broaden their knowledge through the courses offered. At UNC-Chapel Hill, admissions committees consider the context of each student’s educational opportunities.”

Similarly, a representative from Duke University admissions stated: “When it comes to admissions here at Duke, we are always looking at students within the context of where they are coming from. If students attend a school that offers honors, AP, or IB curriculum, we want to see that students took advantage of that and performed well. Often times when students have maximized the curriculum at their high schools, they seek challenging classes outside such as community college courses. There are also many applications we receive from students enrolled in dual enrollment programs, meaning they are simultaneously completing their high school diploma and their Associates degree.”

In terms of college admissions, what matters is that a student took the advanced opportunities offered, whether AP or community college classes. When it comes to credit received, some students might want to try for a high AP test score if it will earn them additional credits, while others may opt for a sure-thing at COA if they make a C or better in the class.

Does that mean that every Dare County high school student should be taking advanced classes? Not necessarily.

Basnight was quick to add that what’s “best” will differ from student to student.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” he explained. “At the end of the day, what’s best for that student? What’s a good fit?”

Factors may include scheduling conflicts, medical issues, or home life. “We’re trying, by every means possible, to provide every child with whatever they need to get to where they need to be,” Basnight said.

The superintendent stressed that his goal is to provide as many options as possible to students to help them be successful.

But the options alone aren’t enough.

Denise Fallon, director of secondary education at Dare County Schools, says it’s the district’s responsibility to make sure that parents and students know what those options and opportunities are.

While there’s currently no “one stop shop” online location where families can learn about all the various educational opportunities, there are many people who are willing to help and can point a student in the right direction.

And one of those directions may be to Early College.

What’s exactly is Early College?

Early College is new to Dare County, but there are 134 Early Colleges in the state. Early College is a completely separate high school that is designed for students to complete a full associates degree by the time they graduate high school.

It was originally created by the legislature as a way to encourage a demographic of students to attend college who were largely missing from university campuses. However, the program has evolved in recent years to appeal to students from every background and socioeconomic status.

“It’s so much more than just a program,” Fallon said. “It’s a whole school culture that’s college and career ready, and it’s not a question of if you go to college, it’s when.”

Early College high schools begin in 9^th grade. And while students can opt to return to regular high school, they cannot return to EC once they’ve left, nor can students enter after the 9^th grade.

The school is purposefully small. In Dare County, enrollment will begin in the fall of 2025 with 50 9^th grade students. They will meet in a separate space at COA until a building is constructed on COA’s campus in the fall of 2026.

“It’s a different way of doing school,” Basnight said. “Early college really focuses on students from the very beginning starting to advocate for themselves – to be able to sit down and talk with their professor instead of just sitting in class and getting your grade. It’s a college culture at a high school level.”

And, unlike the regular public school where students are eligible in 11^th and 12^th grade to begin taking dual enrollment classes, EC students are able to begin those classes as soon as they’re ready.

EC students do not graduate earlier; in fact, students are allowed an extra year of high school if they need it to complete their associates degree.

An associates is a 2-year degree that covers all the core general education classes. Because it’s an actual degree, students enter university as a junior.

Why are we in such a rush?

Some parents have expressed frustration that there is so much of a push in high school to get ready for college. Can’t students just enjoy high school? This is a legitimate question, and the answer is: Of course they can!

All of this is optional.

Students absolutely can take regular classes and then, like in the old days, start thinking about college in the fall of their senior year.

And for some kids, that’s the right track.

For others, it isn’t. Some students are ready for a challenge earlier than others, and some are already thinking ahead to how they’re going to pay for college. The point of it all is to encourage success in the life of each student.

Advanced classes, especially in a community college setting, give students exposure to a different environment, encourage a greater level of independence, and, more importantly, teach them to advocate for themselves.

“What I see more often than not is our kids graduating after their senior year – they may be academically ready to move on but they’re not socially ready because that area has not been expanded,” said Basnight, who has had decades of experience in education in Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties.

“They’ve been in this environment and so they go off and all of a sudden they’re in this big world. If it was all about getting up and going to class and doing classwork, they probably could handle that, but it’s all the rest of the things that come along.”

Basnight said these educational options are not a way to cut high school short. Rather, he said, “they’re actually keeping them here and providing them more before we push them off [to independence].” 

What’s the first step? 

The first thing to ask to help guide a student in the right direction is the timeless (and often dreaded) question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If the student knows where they’re headed career-wise, it’s easy to chart a course to prepare for that path.

For students interested in earning money and getting into the workforce right away, there are trade and training certificates offered through COA to help them get there. Some students might not be ready to leave nest (either financially or emotionally), and will plan to live at home for a couple years and finish their associates degree at COA.

Westover from NC State offered this tip to high school students: “Do your research. Visit with admissions representatives when they come to your school. Visit campuses and ask the admissions officers your specific questions about the admissions process. Each college does things a little bit differently. College admissions websites offer helpful information. When you have questions be sure to reach out to an admissions officer.”

University-bound students who want to maximize their time and money will want to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible while in high school.

Just how much money are we talking about?

AP course credits and community college classes (including books) are free to Dare County high school students. Let’s break this down a little bit.

Tuition costs for UNC System schools are just under $300 per credit hour. So, if we’re just talking tuition, and not counting books or fees or housing (and these amounts are significant!), a three-credit class taken at COA for free is worth $900 at university. One semester – or 15 credit hours – (assuming you want to graduate in four years), costs about $4,500. A full year is $9,000. An associates degree completed while in high school could save a student $18,000 at a state university.

What could your student (or his parents) do with an extra $9,000? Study abroad? Buy a vehicle? Maybe not have a job through school and focus on classes and campus life?

For an AP class, the savings is equally if not more significant (though, again, not guaranteed like a COA class). Students may be able to save the equivalent of up to $2,400 if awarded 8 credits for an AP class, or $900 for 3 credits awarded.

Wrapping it up

Even after a deep dive into all the educational options, I’ll admit that there isn’t one best route, but I find myself thankful for the plethora of opportunities. And when I think I’ve figured it out for one child, no doubt the next one will have such different goals and abilities that I’ll be starting again from scratch in a few years.

The best thing to do is educate yourself. Ask questions and keep asking them until you understand. There are benefits to each option, depending on the student and his (not Mom’s) unique needs and desires.

Still have questions? Reach out to your school’s guidance counselor or Dare County’s COA liaison John Hunting (huntingjo@daretolearn.org).

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