Recently, York became affiliated with Indiana University’s Advanced College Project (ACP), a program designed to give high school students the opportunity of taking actual college courses at the high school level.

The ACP began in 1982 with a small number of Indiana high schools, but today over 150 schools in Indiana and neighboring states offer 29 college- level classes to students wishing to expand their educational freedoms.

York is the first high school in Illinois to join the Advanced College Project.

Starting next year, four honors–level, one–semester classes will be offered at York.

Speech 101, Literature 101, and Composition 101 will be part of the English Department, and Personal Finance 101 will fall under the new Technology and Applied Arts Division, which combines the Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Industrial Technology Departments.

Dr. Covino, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction, said that the ACP is a “really good opportunity for high school students.”

The ACP courses are ‘dual credit,’ which means students can get credit from York, but also from Indiana University, which can then be transferred to the majority of other colleges and universities.

Compared to AP, which already has a large presence at York, the ACP is considerably different.

Many students will be happy to know that there is no test at the end of the course to see if one may get college credit, and it simply expands the opportunities available.

Plus, there are now two honors -level senior English courses; previously, the only option for seniors wanting an honors class was AP Literature and Composition.

Although the ACP is positioned for success, Dr. Covino said that York had no intention of phasing out AP, but is instead trying to supplement it. If the program prospers, it could grow in the future.

Support is widespread for the new program.

Ms. Mohan, counselor, said there were “lots of sign-ups” for the new classes during the recent course selection meetings, and many teachers seem excited to provide new learning opportunities to students.

Together with the new Tech Services and Career Internships, the ACP is part of a process that is rapidly expanding the reach of York’s various curricular choices, in an effort to amplify student opportunities.

“The administration tries to put an emphasis on students and counselors being able to design a pathway through high school and into college that’s best for them,” said Dr. Covino.