ACA 25-26 School Year Dual Enrollment Information

Please read the entire page for all the information you may need about our Dual Enrollment program.

Atlantic Collegiate Academy is a Dual Enrollment school (taking college courses and also counting them for high school graduation requirements). Our goal is to offer students up to 60 college credits specifically selected to give students the opportunity to earn an Associates of Arts degree upon graduating from high school. 

To prepare students we offer an ALL HONORS curriculum:

• English I and II* Honors
• Biology Honors
• Chemistry Honors
• US History Honors 
• Government Honors
• Economics Honors
• Modern World History Honors
• Algebra I and II* Honors
• Geometry Honors

* Students muss pass English II and Algebra II with an 85% or higher to be placed in Dual Enrollment English or Math.

Once students pass these courses they are moved into Dual Enrollment courses according to our pupil progression plan. For example: once a student passes English II (with an 85% or higher) they are enrolled in Dual Enrollment ENGL 101 and then 102 to complete their English 3 and English 4 requirements for high school graduation and the Written Communication requirement for an AA degree. Similarly, once a student passes Algebra II with an 85% or higher they will be placed in Dual Enrollment MAT 110 and 120 to satisfy the 4th Math for graduation and two different AA requirements.

All current and incoming rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA** will be enrolled in Dual Enrollment courses (like Psychology, Sociology, Art History, Music Appreciation, Western Civilization I and II, etc.) For example, a rising 10th grader (current 9th grader) who has a 3.0 or higher GPA but has not taken English II or Algebra II has the opportunity to be enrolled in Dual Enrollment PSYCH 101, SOCY 101, SPAN 101/FREN 101 and/or MUSC 105 and ARTE 101 instead of Modern World History Honors and online (teacher led) Spanish/French.

A student with a 3.0 who has taken but not passed English II with an 85% or Algebra II with an 85% will be placed in an onine English III/Algebra II course (teacher led) and any appropriate Dual Enrollment courses. Once they pass English III and/or Algebra III with an 85% or higher they will move into the Dual Enrollment English and/or Math courses.  

** If you are a current student and unsure whether you meet the requirements outlined above, please see the Guidance Department ASAP. If you are an incoming student and are unsure whether your student meets these requirements, please send a copy of the most recent unofficial transcript for consideration to ckoontz@acaarmada.org. 

ACA is designed to enroll students full time in DE courses during their Junior and Senior years with the exception of required high school prerequisites. Students not participating in DE programming will be enrolled in online college prep high school courses. If your student is not prepared to enroll in an all-honors curriculum and dual enrollment college courses this may not be the school for you. We want every student to have the chance to succeed. Being placed in a high-rigor school like ACA is not for everyone. Students must be prepared to engage in their educations, advocate for themselves, and manage their time well. 

Partner College Application Information for the 25-26 School Year

All qualifying students must apply to the Horry-Georgetown Technical College for the 25-26 school year. 

Horry Georgetown Technical College

• If you are a CURRENT STUDENT at ACA and meet the above requirements, you need to apply to HGTC now!
• If you are an INCOMING STUDENT and meet the above requirements please apply to HGTC today so we can ensure you will have a spot on our Dual Enrollment courses for the 24-25 school year!
• Please READ THIS DOCUMENT to familiarize yourself with the HGTC process before starting.
• HOW TO APPLY TO THE HGTC PACE PROGRAM (Use this link to complete your online application.)
• Once you have completed your application HGTC will notify us. Once we verify your eligibility we will confirm with them and then enroll you in the appropriate courses based on our pupil progression plan. 

ACA Dual Enrollment FAQ

Does my student have to take Dual Enrollment courses if they attend ACA? Yes! Our school is designed to give students the opportunity to earn as many college credits as possible. If you are a student here it is assumed you are interested in earning the maximum number of DE credits we can offer. Therefore, once high school courses are completed satisfactorily, you will be enrolled in DE courses based on our pupil progression plan for your grade level if you qualify. This may mean a "repeat" of courses (high school Government and DE Government, for example). This is part of both the Carolina Core required programming for all college students and the Associates Degree pathway at the 2-year college level and are not optional. If we can double up (have students take only DE Government to satisfy both high school and the Associates/Carolina Core pathway) we will offer that option to qualifying students.

Do I have to pay for Dual Enrollment courses? No. We offer them free of charge (unless they do not pass with a 70% or higher) which will save them thousands of dollars in college tuition costs.

What grade does my student need to earn to earn college credit? A minimum score of 70% is required to earn college credit.

If my student does not pass with a 70%, do they still get high school credit? Yes! A student who earns a 60% or higher will receive high school credit. Any student who does not pass a Dual Enrollment course with a minimum of a 60% will need to retake the course at the high school level via Virtual SC.

If my student does not pass their college course with a 70% will I have to pay for the course? YES! The fee for any course your student does not pass with a minimum of a 70% will be standard cost for the class.

Is my student allowed to Drop or Withdraw from a course? Yes, but they must do so in writing to our Dual Enrollment Coordinator at least 48 hours before each colleges Drop date or Withdraw date. 

Does the partner college schedule align with the high school schedule? Not always. College courses start after our school year does (we use that time to orient students to building successful habits for college courses). They also end earlier. The biggest difference is Spring Break which usually does not line up. Students are responsible for completing college coursework during their high school spring break.

Are the Dual Enrollment courses run by high school teachers or college professors? College Professors certified by each partner college to teach a dual enrollment course.

How is the college curriculum designed? The partner college must approve all content taught at the high school level to ensure students are engaging in college-level work.

Will my high school student have to abide by the partner college rules regarding late work, absenteeism and plagiarism (including use of AI)? YES! All dual enrollment students are considered full college students. All Dual Enrollment course policies override any high school policies.

Will I be able to communicate with the college professor like I do with a high school teacher about my students grades? No. We suggest you require your student to share their login information for each partner college with you so that you can check on their academic progress. 

What is the FERPA form and what does it allow me to access? The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. In short, it only allows the parent to communicate with a college professor about your students general performance (not specific grades, behavior, or attendance) IF your student has given you permission to do so. the HGTC application asks students directly whether the want their parent to have access. USCL has a form (available in the office) for students to complete.

Who does my student talk with if they are having trouble in a dual enrollment course? They should reach out directly to their college professor.

Do the grades they earn in dual enrollment courses show up on their college transcripts? Yes! All Dual Enrollment courses become permanent records on their college transcripts. Does ACA have an on-campus Dual Enrollment coordinator.

What happens if my students is enrolled in an online Dual Enrollment course? They will be placed with a tutor teachers and assigned a class block to attend according to the A/B day schedule.

What is the A/B day schedule? College courses meet two-three times a week, depending on whether it's an A week or a B week (see the calendar link above for this year's schedule). Each course your student is enrolled in will have either an (A) or a (B) after it, indicating if they will meet on A days (Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday) or B days (Tuesday, Thursday, and every other Friday).

Why does my student's schedule have two Dual Enrollment courses assigned in the same block? Since courses meet every other day we are able to block them together so students meet with onr or the other course every day in the same block.

How many Dual Enrollment courses can my student take? Up to 5 per semester.

What if my student wants a course different from or in addition to what ACA offers? All courses we offer are part of our pupil progression plan and required for ACA students. We do not offer substitutions for individual students, though based on professor availability we may replace a course for everyone. A student may choose to enroll in additional courses, but they will be responsible for payment and enrolling on their own. ACA will not change their schedule to accommodate these additional courses. We do not offer substitutions for the courses listed

What if my student has an accommodations plan? Your student will need to reach out to each college to have their accommodations approved.
HGTC Accommodations Page.

I still have questions, who can I talk to at ACA? Please reach our to the Dual Enrollment Coordinator.