Laurel Program

Our students will be exposed to college-level material and assessments, which will better prepare them to succeed after they graduate. Our students can gain college credit for Phelps courses. Even when these credits do not transfer, the class will strengthen our students’ college applications. 

The program will hopefully do a better job of addressing our students that require accommodations than the AP classes can since it does not require standardized testing.

The program comes at no cost to Phelps or its instructors, and our students only see an extra fee ($225-300) per class if they want the college credit.

Students have the opportunity to register with the University of Pittsburgh or Immaculata University (and pay the appropriate fee). If they register and then pass the class, the student will receive a transcript from the partner university with the class credit and grade. 

Dual credit is not intended to replace any classes at Phelps with an AP option. Dual credit classes, however, may offer a more attractive option than AP for many of our students. Unlike AP classes where college credit is test-based, dual credit is based on a passing grade in the class.

The instructor of an eligible class applies by submitting their resume, copies of their transcripts, a letter of recommendation from the headmaster, and a class syllabus, which is then approved by CHS.

If a student with accommodations is interested in a dual-credit class, we send the information to the partner university. They will then make a determination and notify us and the student of their decision.

Just as with our existing Honors classes, a dual credit class may not be appropriate for every student, but we hope that most juniors and seniors will be able to take advantage of the program. For some students, they may be best served by taking an adjusted version of the class that does not qualify for dual credit.

Students interested in participating in the NCAA in college need to stay below 12 credit hours per semester. All of our dual credit courses award their credits (3-4 each) in the spring semester, meaning that such students should not take more than three dual credit courses in one year at Phelps.

Contact Jack Hasler, Associate Dean of Academics, at jhasler@thephelpsschool.org.