High Schools in Phoenix Metro area (Glendale, Tempe: credit, transfer to, school district)

[Minniehips]

Moving to Phoenix area in 2009 and need to find out about high schools. My daughter is currently attending high school in NY where she can take college courses on the college campus and receive college credit(high school classes are taught at the high school's campus). She can graduate from High School with an Associates degree if she is diligent. Just wondering if there is a similar high school program in Arizona. She really enjoyed taking college classes at an actual college campus and I would love to find something similar for her. Any suggestions?

[CodyW]

Yes; we do have a similar program here;
It's called Ace Plus, and I believe is offered at most of the schools in the Glendale Union High School District; I believe it may involve other districts as well.

[fcorrales80]

It is similar, but not the same. In Arizona you cannot graduate with an Associates Degree while in High School. You must meet the minimum requirement for the AGEC (Arizona General Education Cirriculum) for community colleges which also transfer to the universities. However, because of the requirements of the AGEC, a student cannot receive a degree unless they have a high school diploma or equivalent. Also, the AGEC requires at LEAST College Algebra or higher. There are three different AGEC pathways, I believe, and only one allows a minimum of College Algebra...the other two require brief calculus and/or college level calculus. However, high school students can take some college credit classes with the permission of the high school and the college's advising department.

[Minniehips]

Thanks for the information. I will look into the Ace Plus program.

[fcorrales80]

Here is a look at the program:

ACE stands for Achieving a College Education. It is a scholarship based, college preparation program designed to expose high school students to the college environment, college course work, and teach them skills that will enable them to be successful in their college studies and personal life. The Plus stands for the many services, workshops and activities offered by the program in addition to the college classes.

Glendale Community College is committed to this program because it is helping students who might not have seriously considered the option of going to college (as full-time students) after high school. The program is showing students that college is attainable and that they can be successful in college. ACE Plus is a partnership effort involving GCC, local high schools, and State Universities.

GCC AZ: Ace Plus: ACE Plus Program

[Minniehips]

Thanks for the info. The ACE Plus program sounds very similar to the program my daughter is currently enrolled in. She's not to keen on the idea of leaving NYC and I'm hoping that if I find a school with college classes, she'll feel better about the move to Arizona.

[moughie]

Many Tempe Union District Schools offer a dual enrollment program through the local Rio Salado Community College whereby for CC tuition, you take the usually Honors or AP classes at HS and earn college credit that is transferable to all instate Universities and possibly to out of state schools as well.

Our daughter graduated last year from Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee ( part of Phoenix) and had 48 credits transfer to ASU!