Tallmadge High School has offered College Credit Plus (CCP) classes and Advanced Placement (AP) classes for many years. These classes have given students at the school the opportunity to earn college credit while they are still completing high school. 

     Even though both class types are readily available to students at the school, one appears to be the better option for those who are choosing to be in-state for college. I believe that College Credit Plus classes are superior to Advanced Placement classes. 

     For a student who chooses to stay in-state for college, their CCP class college credits will transfer smoothly. College Credit Plus credits transfer easily because even if you get a D in the class, you can still earn the college credit and it is still transferable. However, with Advanced Placement classes, the credits do not transfer unless you get a 3 or above on the mandatory exam. Therefore, taking CCP guarantees you the college credit if you pass the course while AP credit is determined by your capability to do well on the exam. By taking CCP instead of AP, this decision can make their college experience finish more efficiently and smoothly. 

     While AP classes begin in high school, CCP classes can begin as early as middle school. This means that CCP students can earn more college credits than AP students in a shorter time span. For example, senior Hannah Eyre has been taking CCP since seventh grade and has now accumulated a total of 44 college credits hours (she will have 57 by the end of this fall semester).

     CCP can be more budget-friendly for those students who are unable to pay for certain college fees. Students taking CCP classes do not have to pay the typical college fees for tuition, books and supplies. The district covers the cost for College Credit Plus courses. AP students must pay for their final exam and book to complete the course for college credit. If a student takes multiple AP classes, then the fees begin to add up quickly. The fees for Advanced Placement courses are not paid for by the district.   

     When interviewing previous Advanced Placement Human Geography Teacher Alana Treen (who now works as a world history teacher for an Akron High School), she said, “Comparatively, AP doesn’t make sense. Most students have to pay, and if you get anything below a four then you typically won’t receive college credit (Side note: most colleges are looking for a score of 4 or 5). On the other hand, CCP is free, any local college will accept the credit, and most courses are offered remotely/digitally.”

    College Credit Plus offers more variety to students wanting to earn college credit while they are still in high school. It provides them with the opportunity to earn high school and college credits at the same time. Students are able to make a jumpstart on their future while still participating in their high school experience. College Credit Plus classes, according to the information above, remain more advantageous than Advanced Placement Classes. My recommendation is for students to take advantage of the opportunities that college credit plus classes offer by taking as many as they can during high school, so that they are already prepared for college after high school.