ACA graduates posing for picture

Goochland High School Students Earn Associate Degrees

Over 3,000 College Credits Earned While in High School

May 17, 2022 – Fifty-two Goochland High School students celebrate two graduations this year – one in June from GHS and a second from Reynolds Community College.

At the community college’s May 15 graduation ceremony, 52 current GCPS Advance College Academy (ACA) students were recognized for earning their Associate Degree in Social Science. Nearly 90 percent of those students earned their degrees with honors. “Our ACA program is thriving, as evidenced by the 52 seniors who graduated from Reynolds on Sunday afternoon with an associate degree two weeks before receiving their high school diploma at Bulldog Stadium,” GCPS Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Stephen Geyer, Ed.D., said.

The 52 senior GHS students who graduated accumulated over 3,200 transferable college credits through courses taught by certified GHS teachers in the high school’s classrooms. “We invested in our team to ensure our students had the benefit of receiving rigorous instruction from Goochland High School teachers who know and care about them as individuals,” he said.

“We have worked hard to make sure our instructional program delivers meaningful learning experiences to every student – experiences that challenge, support, and prepare students for success after high school,” Geyer said. Earning college credits in high school gives students a head start after graduation, either at a four- year college or at a job that requires a higher education degree. Students who attend college with transferable credits can graduate early or take advantage of other programs during their time at school.

Students apply to ACA in the eighth grade, and the program is open to students with a 3.0-grade-point average or higher who have taken Algebra I by the ninth grade. “When we developed our ACA program in partnership with Reynolds Community College back in 2014, we were purposeful in our decision to err on the side of open access for every student who demonstrates the potential for strong performance within a college-level program. We didn’t create gatekeeping structures; we created support structures,” he said.

ACA students enroll in advanced high school courses in the ninth and tenth grades and take required college coursework for the associate degree during the eleventh and twelfth grades. Students in the ACA program must also attend a three-week session of college courses during the summer between their sophomore and junior year. Interested students should contact their school counselor for more information.

Contact: Dr. Beth Fowler, bfowler@glnd.k12.va.us

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