Programs for High School Students

Options for High School Students

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers several different courses and options for current and graduating high school students. Make a selection below to find out which option is right for you:

Dual Enrollment

Do you want to get a head start on your college career while still in high school? Sure you do. At Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, you can earn college credit while completing your diploma in high school. Dual enrollment gives you the opportunity to earn a technical certificate of credit or technical college credits while working toward your high school diploma.

Classes are offered at your high school, or you may get to take classes at one of our college campuses. For more information on our dual enrollment program, see the Frequently Asked Questions section below to find out more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dual Enrollment?
Dual enrollment is a program that offers students the opportunity to earn college credit and high school credit at the same time. Qualified students of the Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes and Wilcox county and Valdosta City school systems earn post-secondary and Carnegie unit credit while enrolled in a high school class. Dual Enrollment allows students to experience post-secondary courses, facilitating a smooth transition as they graduate from high school and continue their education in college.

Who is eligible for Dual Enrollment?

  • Students who have successfully completed ninth grade or above and/or are currently enrolled in a career and technical education course at the high school level.
  • Students who have successfully met the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College admission requirements.
  • Students who have parental permission to be enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program.
  • Students who are interested in pursuing a technical degree after graduation.

How do I enroll?
See your high school counselor or contact us for the necessary application forms and information about the Dual Enrollment program.

What is the ASSET test?
The ASSET is a 90-minute placement test consisting of English, math, and reading. It is administered by the recruiter from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College who will come to your high school.

What score must I make on the ASSET or Compass tests to be accepted into the Dual Enrollment program?
Acceptable test scores vary from program to program. Your ASSET and Compass scores are good for five years.

What programs are available for Dual Enrollment?
Program availability varies from high school to high school so ask your counselor to find out if the program you want is available at your school.

How are my grades determined?
You receive a high school grade and a college grade. Both grades are based on your mastery of the subject matter. The high school grade you receive applies toward satisfying your high school graduation requirements. The grade you receive from the college is applied toward satisfying the requirements of a college certificate or diploma.

How are Dual Enrollment courses different from regular high school courses?
Dual enrollment courses must meet high school curriculum standards as well as college curriculum standards. More material is covered in dual enrollment courses, and they are led by a college instructor.

What does it cost?
For qualified Georgia students, tuition and fees are covered under the HOPE Grant. For more information on the HOPE Grant, contact your counselor or WGTC’s high school coordinators.

What is the HOPE Grant?
Georgia’s HOPE Grant program covers tuition and fees and pays a book allowance for students enrolled in certificate and diploma programs. HOPE will cover charges for 95 hours of coursework or the length of the program up to 130 hours.

Who is eligible for the HOPE Grant?
Georgia residents who are attending a technical college in Georgia to earn a certificate or diploma are eligible for a HOPE Grant regardless of their high school graduation date or GPA. Students must have lived in Georgia for at least 12 months. Full-time enrollment is not required, but you must make satisfactory academic progress to maintain eligibility. You are not required to maintain a "B" average to renew your HOPE Grant.

Does the HOPE Grant affect the HOPE Scholarship?
No. In 2008, the Georgia General Assembly passed State Bill 492, which introduced changes to the HOPE Scholarship and Grant Programs in Georgia.  It exempts Dual Credit Enrollment Hours, earned while a student is in high school, from being counted as HOPE Grant Paid-Hours or Combined Paid-Hours. Therefore your student will be eligible for FULL HOPE upon high school graduation.  This provision does not apply to Joint Enrollment students. For complete details on HOPE, please visit the Georgia Student Finance Commission website at www.gsfc.org

What costs are covered by the HOPE Grant?
The HOPE Grant covers tuition and mandatory fees. HOPE recipients also receive a book allowance.

Is there an application fee to enroll at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College?
No. The president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has waived the $15 application fee for high school students enrolling in the Dual Enrollment Program.

Joint Enrollment

Joint Enrollment provides high school students with the opportunity to take courses at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and receive college credit ONLY for the courses that they take at the college. Joint Enrollment students usually attend college classes in the afternoon or evening after they have attended high school an entire school day. Joint Enrollment students are allowed to take academic core and program courses for any technical certificate or diploma program in which they are eligible. Tuition, fees, and up to $100 dollars for books and other materials may be paid by the HOPE Grant for Georgia residents.

Joint Enrollment Student Requirements

A Joint Enrollment student must:

  • Fill out a Wiregrass Georgia Technical College application
  • Provide WGTC with copies of high school transcripts
  • Meet all technical college admissions requirements for the selected program of study (including passing the ASSET/COMPASS test)
  • Fill out a HOPE Grant Application form

ACCEL Program

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College provides an opportunity for eligible Georgia public and private high school students with the opportunity to earn college degree-level credit hours in English, math, social studies and other curricula as they simultaneously meet their high school graduation requirements. The ACCEL rule (160-4-2-34) can be accessed at www.doe.k12.ga.us.

The ACCEL Tuition Grant Online Form, and frequently asked questions can be accessed at www.gacollege411.org. For more information, contact your high school counselor, call us, or refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACCEL Program?
The ACCEL Program is a great way to get a jump start on earning post-secondary credit and Carnegie Units (high school credit) at the same time. Additionally, students may enroll in appropriate elective courses as approved by their high school counselor.

Who is eligible for the ACCEL Program?

  • Students who are completing requirements for a high school diploma from an eligible Georgia high school.
  • Home schooled students who have met accreditation as specified in the approved list of accreditation agencies or who have submitted documentation that includes a letter from the local school superintendent’s office showing the parents conformed to the requirements of the Georgia Department of Education.
  • Students who are classified as juniors or seniors, or are at least 16 years of age.
  • Students who meet the dual credit enrollment requirements of their high school and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

How are students selected to participate in the ACCEL Program?
All prospective students must complete the required paperwork and participate in an ACCEL advisement session at their high school. If you meet the local requirements and understand the advantages and disadvantages of ACCEL participation, then you must complete the application requirements to become a student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Once accepted for enrollment, you must complete and submit the online ACCEL Tuition Grant Form and submit it to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Get this form from your high school counselor, or you can find it online at: http://www.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/Scholarships/Grants_and_Scholarships/
Accel_Program.aspx.
Is there a specific grade point average (GPA) or SAT score needed to enroll in a Post-Secondary institution or technical college?
No. These requirements are specific to each post-secondary institution.

How is my high school notified of my enrollment, grades, and credits?
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will notify your high school counselor of your enrollment, grades, and credits.

How are Carnegie units awarded?
Local boards of education will award Carnegie units for hours successfully completed by a student in an approved post-secondary option course.

Do grades in ACCEL courses affect my high school GPA?
Yes. Grades for approved ACCEL courses are reported by Wiregrass Georgia Technical College to your high school and will count the same as grades earned at your high school.

What are the requirements to participate in the ACCEL Program?

  • Must be enrolled in a public or private eligible high school in Georgia.
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited or locally approved home study program. Please see www.doe.k12.ga.us for guidelines on home study programs. 
  • Be classified as a junior or senior.
  • Be at least 16 years old.
  • Approved by his or her eligible high school and an eligible postsecondary institution for participation in dual credit enrollment.
  • Be on track for high school graduation.
  • Complete all required paperwork.
  • Participate in an ACCEL advisement session at your high school.
  • Must abide by the rules of both the Eligible High School and the Eligible Postsecondary Institution.
  • Must not have already received a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) credential.

How do I apply?
Contact your high school counselor and/or WGTC High School Coordinator to apply for the ACCEL Program. Upon being accepted to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, you need to complete the online ACCEL Tuition Grant Form located at: http://www.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/Scholarships/Grants_and_Scholarships/
Accel_Program.aspx. Complete this form, print, and return it to your high school. Your counselor will guide you through the rest of the process.

When can courses be taken?
Courses may be taken in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Courses taken during the summer quarter are NOT reimbursable through the ACCEL Program.

What costs are covered in the ACCEL Program?
ACCEL covers tuition fees and any fees directly related to a particular course, such as lab fees. ACCEL does not cover books or fees relating to registration, application, security, activities, health, athletics, or parking. You are responsible for these fees, if they apply. ACCEL will not cover any costs beyond the coursework a student would normally have an opportunity to experience at the high school; i.e., six FTE segments, or 15 semester hours, for a full load at the Post-Secondary institution. For more information, refer to the Georgia Board of Education Rule, 160-4-2-.16, paragraph (2) (b) at www.doe.k12.ga.us.

What expenses are the responsibility of the students?
You are responsible for:

  1. Any instructional material that will become the personal property of the student (books, specialized tools, calculators, etc.).
  2. Fees not related to instruction (student activity, health, parking, etc.)
  3. Transportation (unless covered in a student's IEP).

Will the school system pay the student's tuition?
The Department of Education maintains a Post-Secondary Dual Credit Program grants account from which payments to eligible institutions are made upon receiving the student's ACCEL tuition grant form.

Are ACCEL students exempted from the state's assessment requirement for graduation?
No. ACCEL students must take the Georgia high school graduation test.

For more information on the ACCEL Program, contact your high school counselor or contact the Georgia Department of Education.  

Move On When Ready

Move On When Ready provides high school students the opportunity to “jump start” their postsecondary education during their high school years.

High school students will be free to “move on” earlier to the next educational level.  Students will have an educational alternative other than the traditional high school setting or school day structure. Students can save money on future college costs since most expenses are paid from the local school system funding.

For more information on the Move On When Ready program, see the Frequently Asked Questions section below to find out more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Move On When Ready”?
House Bill 149 (Move On When Ready) is an arrangement whereby an eligible student entering eleventh or twelfth grade, who spent the prior school year in attendance at a public high school in Georgia may take all of his or her courses at or through an eligible institution (college, university or public technical college) or a virtual course approved by the State Board of Education and receive secondary credit from his or her high school with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements.

How is Move On When Ready different from other dual enrollment programs?
Move On When Ready students take all their coursework at or through the college, not the high school.  Move On When Ready is a dual enrollment program that uses FTE funding to pay for the student’s college coursework.  Coursework taken through Move On When Ready does not count against HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant hours.     

Who is eligible for Move On When Ready?
To be eligible for participation in Move On When Ready, a student must:

  • Be a high school junior or senior seeking a high school diploma from an eligible Georgia high school
  • Be reported as enrolled in a public school for funding purposes during the  preceding October and March full-time equivalent (FTE) program counts
  • Be enrolled full time in an eligible college or university or public technical college as a dual credit student taking approved college-level courses
  • Be a legal resident of Georgia, and
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress towards fulfilling applicable high school graduation requirements
  • Meet all college admission and registration requirements

How do students enroll in Move On When Ready?
Eligible students should work with their high school and college counselors to select the appropriate coursework that can be used to meet both secondary and postsecondary program requirements.

How do students maintain eligibility in Move On When Ready?
A student must be enrolled full-time in an eligible institution as long as they are attending the school.  A full-time student is defined as one that is enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours or the equivalent quarter hours after the drop/add period of the eligible institution.  Students who drop below full-time status for any reason during the term forfeit their eligibility to continue in Move On When Ready and will return to their local high school. 

Who pays for the Move On When Ready student’s coursework?
Under HB149, dual enrollment funding for Move On When Ready students is provided through FTE, as arranged by the Georgia Department of Education.

How is the payment handled?
The eligible institution where the student is enrolled will request payment from the Georgia Department of Education three times a year if on the quarter system and twice a year if on the semester system.  For each Move On When Ready student, the local school district will receive an ensuing reduction in the total allotment of state FTE funds from the Georgia Department of Education. 

Are books and materials included in the payment?
The eligible postsecondary institution shall accept the FTE payment as full payment for tuition, fees and materials.  The student and parents/guardians would be responsible for all other possible expenses such as books, food, lodging, transportation, etc.

Do high schools lose money due to Move On When Ready students?
Out of the FTE allotment the local school system retains a records fee of $200.00 per year per Move On When Ready student for administration costs.

What happens if a student withdraws/drops out of any their course(s) during the semester/quarter?
If their hours fall below the required minimum number to be considered full-time then the student would have to return to the high school in the local school system since Move On When Ready students must always be enrolled as full-time.  As with all dual enrollments, the local school district is responsible for developing policies that provide for the assignment of high school classes to students who do not participate in the program after they have enrolled.  Students may lose credit and get off-track for graduation if they drop out of Move On When Ready.  FTE payments may also be affected.  No payment will be made to the college or university if the student is not registered full-time at the close of the drop/add period.   If the student drops out after the drop/add date, then the college would still receive the funding.

Can a student continue in Move On When Ready if they fail any courses? 
A decision would have to be made by the parents of the student and the high school counselors to determine whether the student could continue and be successful and still be able to meet graduation requirements.

Will students receive credit for coursework taken through Move On When Ready?
Students who successfully complete coursework taken under Move On When Ready will receive both secondary and postsecondary credit documented on the student’s transcript beginning in 2010-2011 as follows:

  • 1 to 2 semester hours will earn one-half unit while 3 to 5 semester hours will earn one full unit.  Postsecondary quarter hour credit shall be converted to high school unit credit as follows: 
  • 1 to 3 quarter hour credits will equal one-half unit and 4 to 8 quarter hour credits will equal one full unit. 

Can Move On When Ready students transfer to another USG institution during an academic term? 
Students cannot transfer to another USG institution during an academic term and receive credit.

Will college credits from one institution transfer to another postsecondary institution?
College credits earned while in the Move On When Ready program are transferable.  Students should be advised to consider the requirements of their post-high school institution when planning dual enrollment coursework.

What is the benefit of Move On When Ready participation?
Participation in Move On When Ready eases the transition from high school to college, provides students an early start on their college careers, and offers meaningful and challenging academic experiences to qualified students, including those who might not otherwise have access to early college opportunities. Students will have more flexible scheduling opportunities because courses can be taken anytime and on-line.

Can students still participate in high school extracurricular activities and sports?
Students participating in the Move On When Ready Program are eligible to participate in competitive interscholastic activities in grades 9-12, following the provisions of State Board Rule 160-5-1-18.  However, it is the student’s responsibility to be able to meet all the requirements, schedules, and conditions to be able to participate.  In some cases this may not be possible.

What colleges and universities are considered eligible institutions?  
All USG institutions qualify as an eligible postsecondary institution as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 20-3-519. All technical colleges in the state of Georgia qualify as eligible institutions.

Contact Us

Northern Region
Andrea Fletcher
HIgh School Coordinator
(229) 468-2049
andrea.fletcher@wiregrass.edu
Ben Hill-Irwin Campus
Ben Hill Hall, Room 628C
667 Perry House Road
Fitzgerald, GA 31750

Southern Region
Chiquita Jones
HIgh School Coordinator
(229) 333-2100, Ext. 3013
quita.jones@wiregrass.edu
Valdosta Campus
Berrien Hall, Room 303
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, GA 31602