Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment

  • What is ASCENT?

    ASCENT stands for Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment. It is a “5th Year Program” that allows seniors to remain enrolled at the high school and take a fifth year consisting entirely of college classes if they have met all their high school graduation requirements and have taken 12 credit hours of college classes prior to the end of their senior year. How do students qualify for the program?

    Students must:

    • Remain enrolled at the high school for a fifth year (they do not attend classes at the high school).
    • Be under the age of 21.
    • Have a GPA of at least 2.0.
    • Be on track to meet all high school graduation requirements by the end of their senior year.
    • Have completed, or be on track to complete, at least 12 credit hours of college coursework prior to the completion of the 12th-grade year (AP classes do not count as they are high school classes. CU Succeed and Concurrent Enrollment classes count).
    • Not be in need of basic skills or remedial course work as defined by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s (CCHE) remedial education policy.
    • Have satisfied the minimum prerequisites for the college courses before enrollment in the course, including having the required ACT or Accuplacer scores.
    • Complete an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) with your high school counselor.
    • Apply to and be accepted into the Colorado postsecondary institution where they plan to take college classes.
    • Have not participated in the ASCENT program in previous years.
    • Courses earning Developmental Ed credit do not count towards ASCENT.

    More information can be found here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can a student participate in college activities and athletics?

    Posted by:

    Students may participate in college activities and club sports, but are not eligible to participate in inter-collegiate athletics. Students who plan to play NCAA athletics should not participate in ASCENT.
    Comments (-1)

  • Where can students take college classes?

    Posted by:

    Students can take classes at any two-year or four-year Colorado school that has an ASCENT agreement in place with
    Cherry Creek Schools. The agreements are currently under development.
    Comments (-1)

  • Will students be able to participate in a high school graduation?

    Posted by:

    Yes! Students will still participate in the graduation ceremony with their high school class. Students will receive certificates stating that they are ASCENT students for the 2018-19 school years. At the completion of the ASCENT year, they will receive a high school diploma.
    Comments (-1)

  • How much college tuition will Cherry Creek pay?

    Posted by:

    Cherry Creek will pay tuition at the local community college tuition rate. If a student attends a school other than a community college, they will only be eligible for the amount of tuition at the local community college tuition rate. The payment of any tuition charged above the community college rate would be the responsibility of the student. Online classes and summer classes are not covered under the ASCENT program.
    Comments (-1)

  • If students stay enrolled for a 5th year, when will they be considered a high school graduate?

    Posted by:

    Until students complete the 5th year ASCENT program, they will still be classified as a high school student. High school transcripts will show high school graduation requirements have been met and students are considered enrolled in ASCENT for a 5th year. Once students complete or stop participating in the ASCENT program, they will receive their high school diploma and classified as a high school graduate.
    It is important for families to weigh all their financial options before committing to the ASCENT program.
    Comments (-1)