How to Get High School Credits Over the Summer
Do you need to retake a class for missing high school credit? Or, do you hope to earn extra credit by taking a class outside of your high school?
We have the perfect solution: you can earn credit in high school by taking summer classes! Not only do summer classes help you fulfill graduation requirements, but they can also advance your academic and intellectual progress!
However, if the idea of taking classes over the summer seems unpleasant, we get it. You may be concerned that your daily routine will be filled with writing essays and reading. This could potentially make you feel like you have no time to relax or socialize with your friends.
But, summer classes don’t have to ruin your summer and take away your free time! If you balance your time, only a portion of your day will have to be spent on schoolwork. This leaves the rest of the day for you to spend as you wish! After a long school year of hard work, you deserve a break.
What are credits in high school?
Credits are essentially units that measure the number of courses you complete. The amount of credit that students must earn to graduate varies between schools.
For instance, let’s say that your school requires 23 credits to graduate. To graduate from high school, you must take 23 courses. Each full-year course is worth 1 credit, or 0.5 credits per semester.
However, a different high school may require 48 credits to graduate. If each course is worth 2 credits, a student at this high school would need to take 24 courses to graduate.
Your high school diploma is also dependent on the type of credit you earn. Your school may require you to earn 4 years' worth of credit for taking English, 2 years' worth of credit for taking science, and 1 year's worth of credit for taking a visual/performing art.
This means that earning the minimum amount of credit to graduate is not necessarily sufficient if you don’t take your school’s required classes.
Something to keep in mind is that simply taking a class isn’t enough to get credit; you must pass your class with a grade of D or higher. Additionally, 4-year universities may require you to earn at least a C in specific subject areas in order to apply.
The classes that a 4-year university requires may differ from your high school’s graduation requirements. If you’re hoping to attend a four-year university, you should look over the required (and recommended) classes of the colleges or universities you’re interested in.
To stay on track to graduate, familiarize yourself with your school’s credit requirements. You may find this information on your school’s website. It’s also helpful to meet with your school counselor, who can provide you with detailed information and more personal guidance.
We highly recommend meeting with your counselor if you need any help planning out your course schedule for the upcoming year(s).
How to Get High School Credits
If you performed poorly in one of your classes, you might be worried about not graduating on time or being ineligible for college admissions. Luckily, taking summer classes can resolve this issue! You can make up a class and improve a D or F grade.
On the flip side, you can take advantage of summer classes to get ahead in your credits. By earning extra credit, you can possibly graduate early, if that’s something you’re considering. Additionally, completing your required courses early on may give you more freedom when you pick classes for your senior year.
Rather than stressing about fitting your last required science class into your senior year schedule, you can take a class you’re truly interested in, whether it relates to science or not!
Summer School
Summer school is a convenient and free option for students. Through summer school, high schools provide remediation courses on campus or online.
Online programs such as Imagine Edgenuity for credit recovery have become increasingly popular among high schools. They’re especially convenient if you need a flexible schedule. As we mentioned before, talk to your counselor! They'll inform you about all of your school’s options and help you create a summer plan.
Dual enrollment
Your high school may offer dual enrollment, which is a program designed for students to take college-level courses in high school. Dual enrollment classes are generally free and offered as part of a partnership between high schools and community colleges.
Dual enrollment classes may be offered in the fall, spring, or summer, depending on your high school. Similar to AP classes, dual enrollment allows students to earn college credit and high school credit simultaneously! Except, with dual enrollment classes, you won’t have to worry about passing the AP exam to earn college credit. Earning credit is solely based on your final grade.
Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent enrollment, like dual enrollment, is a pathway for students to gain both high school and college credit. However, concurrent enrollment refers to taking classes at a community college independently from your high school, rather than through a designated program specifically for high schoolers.
Keep in mind that some high schools set a limit on the amount of credit that can come from off-campus institutions. Some community colleges waive tuition for high school students, but others charge a per-unit tuition fee. Reach out to your high school, as counselors and administrators may be aware of the best free or low-cost options.
One primary benefit of taking college classes is that they expose you to college-level content — this leads to greater college readiness! If you're interested in taking AP classes or honors classes, but not many are offered at your school, community college classes are a great alternative. Additionally, community colleges offer a robust range of classes that might not be offered at your high school. You can take unique classes that pique your interest or relate to your desired career field.
Final Thoughts on Summer High School Credits
After you pass your summer classes, it's time to transfer the credits. This will be added to your high school transcript. If you take summer classes at your school, you shouldn’t have to worry about this. However, if you take classes at a local community college, you’ll have to request your official college transcript to be sent to your high school’s registrar.
Are you ready to sign up for summer classes? We hope so!
Don’t let the idea of high school and college credits intimidate you. Remember to take the time to understand the credits you need before graduating. Then, you’ll be ready to go. You got this!
Do you need help with your summer classes or college applications? Sign up to get free help from an UPchieve tutor today!