WCCS offers qualified high school juniors and seniors the chance to enroll in a special academic program. During the junior and senior years in high school, the student may take courses which fulfill college requirements. College courses earned through Accelerated High School program may not substitute for high school credit. Upon graduation from high school, the student may continue at WCCS or transfer the college credits to another postsecondary institution. An important point to remember is that the course content and teaching methodology of all classes is at the college level.
Students are eligible for the Accelerated High School Program if they meet the following criteria:
- The student must have successfully completed the 10th grade.
- The student must have completed any required high school prerequisites (for example, a student may not take English Composition until all required high school English courses have been completed).
- The local principal or his or her designee must certify that the student has a minimum cumulative “B” average and recommend that the student is admitted to this program. A letter must be submitted each semester that the student attends the college.
- WCCS will not officially award college credit to accelerated high school students until proof of high school graduation (an official transcript with a graduation date or proof of GED) is provided. In other words, college credits earned by the student and release of transcript information are held in escrow by the College until the student provides the necessary documents required for admission to the college.
- Exceptions may be made to requirement number one for students documented as gifted and talented according to the standards included in the State Plan of Exceptional Children and Youth. Permission must be obtained from the Chancellor of the Alabama College System.
Students who attend a non-accredited high school must meet the criteria listed below:
- Comply with items 1, 2, 3, and 4 noted above.
- Provide ACT scores with a composite of at least 16 or an SAT score of 790.
Students who are home schooled are not eligible for the Accelerated High School Program unless they are under the auspices of a cover high school and can provide proper documentation of all items noted above. Students enrolled in the Accelerated High School Program are not eligible for Dual Enrollment Credit.