AP, CLEP, and Dual Credit Choices for Homeschool High School

It is common folklore that the oldest child is always the parents’ guinea pig, a child to “practice” on and see what may or may not work.

My oldest will tell you that homeschooling is no different. She was definitely the “guinea pig”. But your kids don’t have to be!

Here’s a brief explanation of three of the choices college-bound high school students have for earning college credit while still in high school, along with some of the advantages and limitations of each.

The more children you homeschool, the more you learn about what does and does not work.

Being connected to other homeschooling parents to learn what they did can reduce some of the trials and errors, but only if you know what to ask and how to listen.

I attended a very small, rural high school that didn’t even have “honors” classes, so when my oldest daughter began high school, I was only vaguely aware of the concept of “testing” out of college classes.

I’ve researched and paid close attention to what other homeschooling parents had to say regarding the resources in our community for dual credit homeschool high school.

But at times it felt as though I were wading through muddy, uncharted waters to learn the differences between Advanced Placement (AP) classes, CLEP testing and dual credit classes.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes :

• Many high schools offer “AP” classes. The course classes must be approved by College Board (a testing company that also administers the SAT) in order to say AP on the transcript. Homeschoolers can simply prepare at home using AP study guides in addition to a high school course. Parents could submit a detailed syllabus and course description to College Board for approval if they wished to state AP on the transcript, but a passing score on the AP test is sufficient for credit.
• Register by March with AP Services to take the test in early May alongside other high school students. The test takes 2.5 hours.
• No letter grade is given; only a score. Scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.
• The cost is relatively inexpensive compared to tuition for the same number of credits.
• AP test scores are more widely accepted at colleges than are CLEP tests.
• Usually, a score of 3 or above is needed to receive credit but some colleges require a 4 or 5.
• You must make sure that the college(s) that your child is considering will accept your child’s’ AP test for credit. Either look at each college’s website or check here.

CLEP (College Level Examination Placing) Testing:

• This testing service is also administered by the College Board.
• Tests are typically much less expensive than tuition.
• Tests can be scheduled at any time; usually with only two days to two weeks notice.
• Tests are typically administered at local colleges and take 90 minutes.
• CLEP is considered to be less rigorous than the AP, but also less prestigious.
• CLEP is intended to be a self-study program, unlike the AP, which is typically a two-semester course.
• CLEP was originally designed for non-traditional students to earn credit for knowledge they had gained in the workplace or military.
• Students must be very careful to ensure that a particular college will accept that particular CLEP test for credit in his or her desired degree program.
• Some colleges won’t assign credit for a CLEP test until after the student has “proven” competency in that area by passing the next class. For example, a student who CLEPs out of Biology, and subsequently received a passing grade in Biology 201, will receive credit for Biology 101 and 201.
• Many colleges won’t give credit for a CLEP test taken in your major subject area. For example, if you are pre-med, credit might be given for American History, but not for Biology and Chemistry.

Dual Credit classes:

• Also known as dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment
• Basically, dual credit means that a student enrolls in a course and receives credit towards high school graduation and towards their college degree.
• Courses are available in high schools, community or local colleges, satellite campuses of larger universities or online.
• Cost varies. In my area, typical costs are from $70 per credit hour to half-price of regular tuition. In some states, dual enrollment through public high school is free.
• The student’s grade goes on his or her college transcript and becomes a part of the college GPA.
• Credit for the class is based on the entire semester’s work, not solely upon one test.
• Colleges usually will give credit for some courses taken at other institutions, but not all. College ABC may give credit for Art History taken from College XYZ, but not for Composition I. For example, if a local college is not accredited, other schools may not accept any of their classes. Check first with the colleges from which your student is interested in obtaining her or his degree, then see which courses they will take.
• The community college environment is meant for adults and may not be compatible with your belief system. It is a good idea to research your professor before signing up for a class.

Whichever method or combination you select to reduce your student’s tuition costs and time in college, it is sure to be a learning opportunity.

Your student will get to experience college-level work before they leave for college while still having the benefits of being at home with her or his family.

Also, current research indicates that students who do well in college-level classes while still in high school are more likely to complete a college degree.

And, hopefully, as you help your teen prepare for a post-secondary experience, you both will be able to navigate the ocean of college credit acronyms with more ease.

Get more help and resource links with this article written by my friend Debra, who has even more experience her kids earning dual college credit while in high school.

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