Students typically take 6 classes at a time.

Full-time students must take at least 12 credits and typically take three 5-credit classes per quarter.

Homework often due each class period; teachers often give homework reminders.

Faculty assign work that is due at various times.  Students need to independently track without reminders.

There might be dedicated time for homework during class time.

Dedicated homework time during class time is rare.

For every one hour of class time in high school, students can expect about 30 minutes of homework. This class time to homework time means that there’s a 2:1 ratio.

For every credit hour in college, students can expect two hours of homework. This 1:2 ratio means that for a 5-credit class, there is about 10 hours of homework in addition to 5 hours of class (in a classroom or online or split between both for hybrid classes) per week.

Parents can access their student’s Learning Management System (Schoology, Canvas, etc.).

Parents or any family member cannot access a student’s progress without the student’s explicit permission.  Faculty and college staff (advisors, enrollment, financial aid) cannot talk to parent/other without student’s explicit permission, on record.

Each HS has a standardized GPA/grade system which all teachers use.

College faculty may each use a different percentage to GPA scale. For example, a 94-100%=4.0 in one class, while 99-100% = 4.0 in another class.

High school classes traditionally meet at least 3 days a week.

College classes typically meet 1, 2, or 3 days a week, or 0 days if online asynchronous.

High School class modes are standardized across the school (all online/hybrid during pandemic but pre-pandemic classes met fully in physical classrooms).

College class modes vary, including online, hybrid, and web-enhanced (face-to-face).

Students can often get extra help from high school teachers during class time.

Students can often get extra help from faculty during faculty office hours.

Responsibility is shared (counselors, teachers, parents, and students).

Responsibility lies with the student.

High School Counselors offer support with academic achievement, college preparation, post-secondary options, and social/emotional support.

Academic Advisors offer support with academic degrees, plans, degree options, quarterly planning, transfer prep, and course selections.

Guardians instigate and manage student IEPs and 504s, which frequently roll over year to year without new documentation.

Students self-identify and provide medical documentation to request accommodations from Student Accessibility Services.

IEPs/504s focus on success measures.

Accommodations focus on access measures.

Mental Health Services are contracted through the school district, and students can access a variety of partnering institutions.

The College Counseling Center offers confidential, professional, and free psychological counseling. All students pre-pay for 6 sessions out of their student fees.