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  Career and Postsecondary Partnerships → Dual Enrollment → Early College Programs

Early College Programs

 

Please be sure to review informaiton about current information sessions that begin in October 2024, the Early College degree pathways, student qualifications and requirements, along with other importnat information HERE.    

The deadline to apply to Early College for the 2025-2026 school year has past.  Students interested in participating in dual enrollment should see options available on the MCPS Dual Enrollment webpage HERE.

  • Students completing the Early College Application by November 1, 2024 deadline will be informed of eligibility status from MCPS in December 2024
    • Eligible students will receive specific details on requirements to participate and full application process and deadlines.​

The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery College (MC) Early College (EC) program is offered at each MC campus, and provides qualified students the opportunity of earning an Associate Degree in a specific content area.  Participating students will complete their 11th and 12th grade years of high school while simultaneously completing their first two years of college as a full time MC student.  They will graduate with an Associate's degree from MC as well as a Maryland State High School diploma.  

To participate in the program students must have at least the following at the time of application (additional requirements vary by degree program):  

  • Be enrolled in 10th grade at an MCPS high school during the current school year;  
  • Passed mathematics and English state assessments; 
  • Completing the required mathematics courses for the pathway and be on track to complete the final semester of the course by the end of the 2nd semester of 10th grade (All pathway programs require at the completion of all semesters of Algebra 2 or higher. Specific pathways require the completion of all semesters Precalculus. Please see the list of Early College pathways HERE for details).
  • Have an unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher at the time of application to the program;  
  • Meet all required assessment scores by the stated deadline (students will be given one opportunity to complete the required assessments by the deadline);
  • Met or be near completion of required SSL hours; 

Students applying to the Early College program in the fall of 10th grade MUST be on track to successfully complete, and successfully complete all of courses below by the end of the 2nd semester of 10th grade.

Students applying to the Early College program in the fall of 10th grade MUST be on track to successfully complete, and successfully complete all of courses below by the end of the 2nd semester of 10th grade.


Grade

Semester

English

Math (Required each year of high school)

Science

Social Studies

Fine Art/Art

Physical Education, Health, Technology *

Completer Option/Foreign Language

Electives

Grade 9 (MCPS High School)

Fall

English 9 A/B, any level**

High School Math**

NGSS Physical Science or NGSS Earth/Space**

U.S. History or NSL, any level**

  

General P.E. A/B*
MCPS Tech Credit A/B*

World Language **

  

Spring

  

Grade 10 (MCPS High School)

Fall

English 10, any level**

Algebra 2 A/B or higher, depending on degree pathway chosen during applicaiton**

NGSS Physical Science or NGSS Earth/Space**

U.S. History or NSL, any level**

  

Health A/B*

World Language **

  

Spring

  

Summer

          

P.E., MCPS Tech, Health, or World Language if needed. ** & *

  

* 2 or more graduation requirement credits from P.E, Health, and Technology REQUIRED by the end of 10th grade.    

** Courses REQUIRED by the end of 10th grade for all students

Financial Information

  • Early College (EC)
    • MC college courses approved at Montgomery College and required for High School graduation and/or EC degree attainment will be available for MCPS Early College students at NO COST during the fall, winter, spring, and summer MC semesters.
    • All required costs related to college tuition, fees, required textbooks, and required instructional materials for each approved course at MC will be covered by MCPS and MC during the MC fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters for EC students. 

  

Transportation

MCPS will provide transportation from various centralized locations to Richard Montgomery High School and then to the Rockville College Campus.  Students may also utilize the Ride-On bus system, or the MC shuttle bus system between campuses, as part of their MC student benefits.  Students may also provide their own transportation. 

All interested MCPS 10th grade students who complete the Early College application by the fall deadline will be invited to participate if they meet all MC requirements and program qualifications, such as testing ready on the ACCUPLACER, passing all mathematic courses, maintaining 2.75 or higher GPA, and others as determined by MC.  Please note seats are limited.  If there are more eligible students who apply than seats available in the program a lottery will conducted.

DUAL ENROLLMENT: MCPS AND MONTGOMERY COLLEGE (MC) PARTNERSHIP

 

Past webinar:  Early College Information Webinar: Fall 2023 

Early College Video