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College Credit and Honors Program

At St. Joseph's Academy, students can challenge themselves through courses that offer honors credit, college credit, or preparation for the Advanced Placement (AP) exam. 

Courses are classified as regular or weighted. Weighted courses include all Honors, ACC, ACP, AP, and CC options. These courses:

  • reflect increased rigor and a faster pace
  • expect higher levels of independent learning
  • carry an additional .5 GPA weight

Programs and Partners

  • ACC (Advanced College Credit) through the Saint Louis University 1818 Program
  • ACP (Advanced College Program) through the University of Missouri-St. Louis
  • CC (College Credit) through the University of Iowa College Credit Program
  • AP (Advanced Placement) prepares students for the College Board AP exams

The College Board administers AP exams and charges a fee for each test. This fee will be billed to April FACTS accounts, and registration is due in October. AP exams are scored on a 1-5 scale, and many colleges and universities accept scores of 3, 4, or 5 for credit or placement, though policies vary. Students should review each school's AP credit policy on the institution's website before registering. It is the student's responsibility to authorize the College Board to send official AP scores to her chosen college.

AP/ACC or AP/ACP courses carry both designations because the student has the opportunity to earn SLU or UMSL college credit directly or through scoring well on the AP exam.

Upon successful completion, students may request an official transcript from the partnering university, and the grade will also appear on the St. Joseph's Academy transcript. Because each college or university sets its own policies, students should check with potential schools to verify if the credit will transfer. These courses are considered dual enrollment, awarding both high school and college credit. 

The following are expected of all St. Joseph’s Academy students, but students enrolled in weighted courses should be ready for greater responsibility and higher academic expectations. Successful students typically demonstrate:

  • the ability to work independently
  • a strong work ethic and time management
  • commitment to significant work outside of class
  • advanced reading, writing, and critical thinking skills
  • active participation in class discussions

Teachers recommend students for honors, ACC, ACP, AP, or CC courses based on departmental criteria. Criteria for recommendations are determined and communicated to students by the teachers in each department.

More information is available in our Curriculum Guide.

honors

Honors courses are more challenging high school courses with greater expectations; they carry extra GPA weight, but they do not carry any college credit or potential for college credit.
 

acc/acp/CC

ACP, ACC, and CC courses carry extra GPA weight, and can provide college credit. An additional fee is required to be paid to the sponsoring university to receive college credit. 
 

advanced placement 

AP courses are more challenging, as they are taught using the College Board’s curriculum. Students should expect significant additional preparation outside of the course meeting time.