The Learning Journey: Career and College Readiness Programs for High School Students
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to ensuring that every child is prepared to thrive in college, careers, and the community. Readiness is a journey with milestones along the way that indicate when students are ready for the next part of the journey.
To this end, FCPS has developed robust high school programming to ensure every student is college and career ready (CCR) before they graduate. Every FCPS student will access personalized, future-focused CCR and Support Pathways throughout their learning journey. Supported by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, all students will have access to Post-CCR pathways in high school at no cost.
CCR Programs in Every High School
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school—whether they're learning online or in the classroom. And through taking AP Exams, students can earn college credit and placement. See your school counseling office for the specific CCR programs and courses available in your high school.
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs focus on inquiry-based learning that develop 21st century skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving to prepare students for careers and post-secondary education. See your school counseling office for the specific CCR programs and courses available in your high school.
Dual Enrollment (DE) courses allow students to earn college credits before they graduate from high school. Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a variety of dual enrollment options in partnership with Frederick Community College (FCC). Your goals determine which option is best for you. See your school counseling office for the specific CCR programs and courses available in your high school.
The Frederick County Public Schools Maryland Youth Apprenticeship program is a collaborative effort with the Maryland Department of Labor and local employers. The program is designed to provide opportunities for students to "learn while they earn". Most employers participate in the program to help grow their own work force.
County-wide Application Programs
The Academy for the Fine Arts (AFA) is a half day college and career program at Gov. Thomas Johnson High school for students in grades 10-12 who are interested in an arts based pathway to their post-secondary experience. Students select a focus area in either dance, theatre, music, musical theatre, or visual art.
The Career & Technology Center provides intensive, career-specific training in more than 20 career pathways for FCPS students in 10th-12th grade. Courses are taught in half-day blocks at the Career & Technology Center. Students attend their high schools the other half of the day where they complete academic course requirements.
Career Pathways at the Monroe Center allows students to explore career options and earn industry certifications or credentials by following a specific career track and taking courses at the Frederick Community College Monroe Center. The goal of Career Pathways students is to earn an industry certification or credential either before or shortly after high school graduation. Students must apply in the semester or year before their program
The Early College program at FCC offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree while still completing high school by attending FCC full-time during their 11th and 12th grades. Similar to traditional full-time undergraduate students, Early College students follow the FCC academic calendar and have the option to take day, evening, online, and weekend courses. Schedules are developed with the Early College Coordinator.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Urbana is a rigorous, pre-university course of study that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary students. The program "encourage[s] students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners" (IBO Mission Statement) who are prepared to contribute positively in their local communities and the greater world.
The Navy Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps program, hosted at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, was founded in 1916,hosts over 500,000 students in over 3,500 units across the country. Representing all branches of service, the mission is to instill the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.