Double-Dipping Credits

WHAT IS DOUBLE-DIPPING?

Double-dipping is the term for using a college course to substitute for a high school course. Double-dipping allows a student to skip the high school course if he takes a similar course at the community college.

DOUBLE-DIPPING: A HOMESCHOOL PRIVILEGE

In NC, homeschoolers are allowed to double-dip credits in contrast to students at public high schools. Students in public schools who dual enroll at a community college have to take the class in high school and at the college. For example, public schooled students who want to take American Government at college have to take it in high school too, while a homeschooled student can simply take the course in college and apply the credits to the high school transcript. A college American Government course worth 3 college credits can serve as 1 high school credit on the high school transcript. Furthermore, this rewards the student with a 1/2 credit more than he would have earned with a one semester high school level course in American Government.

CONVERTING COLLEGE CREDIT INTO HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT

The typical college class is one semester in length and usually worth 3 credits. Three college credits are equivalent to 1 high school credit or 1 year of high school credit. If a home-schooled student takes English 111 for 3 credits at the community college, it can count as 1 credit (1 year) of English on the high school transcript.

TYPES OF EARLY CREDIT

Community colleges are an excellent source of early credits. Credit by exam is another way to earn college credit in high school and beyond. Examples are AP, IB, CLEP, Dantes, and Cambridge. Read about CLEP testing in my post CLEP Overview and CLEP Q & A. To find out how to use CLEP credits on the high school transcript read CLEP Credits on the High School Transcript.

Disclaimer. Creating homeschool transcripts can be tricky. Colleges may have specific requirements. My thoughts and ideas on transcripts are just that – thoughts and ideas that have served my kids through the college application process. Your experiences may be different. Find out from target colleges what they expect on a home-school transcript.

My experience with CLEPs. I have coached my kids and their friends through 16 different CLEP exams over a period of 9 years. Collectively, they have passed 39 CLEP exams and earned over 159 college credits. I’m still coaching my younger son through his CLEP journey. My high school graduates have received full-ride merit scholarships.