Program offers college credit for high school classes

When Cole Chiumento chose his classes at the end of the sophomore year, he knew he needed to take the basics: English, gym, chemistry.  He signed up for Italian, too.

“I wanted to take more than two years of a foreign language so I had a better shot at college,” he said.

Another benefit to taking a third year of Italian? He’s earning college credit for it.

“My teacher told us we could earn college credit in italian 3,” Chiumento said. “Of course I signed up.”

This program is the High School Plus Program through Camden County College.

The program is dual credit, which means certain high school courses will give students transferable credits. The classes approved for the program by College faculty demonstrate College level curriculum and prepare students to pass challenging exams.

Financially, the program is beneficial. The typical cost of a freshman college course is over $600, and using the program costs only $150 per course. That is $450 a college student could put towards a four year supply of Pop Tarts and Ramen Noodles.

At Hammonton High School, the classes accepted to the program are AP classes and high level languages. Most courses offer 3 credits, with the exception of 3 classes that offer 4.

“I do what I can to make the class difficult,” said AP history teacher Mr. Siscone. “-more responsibilities and deadlines are the way to prepare them.”

A few courses require more material than what the typical school year has time for, meaning students sacrifice part of their summer to take the course.

“I was already in school for marching band for the summer,” said junior Grace Haley. “I chose to take AP History because of the convenience, I might as well earn college credit while spending time in school.”

For more information, students can visit https://camdencc.edu/about-1/for-school-districts/high-school-plus-program/.