Graduating is something that every high school student, no matter the school, can understand. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, the first real taste of freedom. Most students take the conventional path, doing four years of high school to get their diploma. But for some, the road is shorter, and they can finish high school after only three years! Of course, it requires considerably more effort and planning than the traditional course, but it can be worth it if you want out earlier.
Accomplishing this requires some basic understanding of the graduation requirements, which you should have some knowledge about, but we’ll review anyway. Getting a diploma requires quite a few criteria to be met, as detailed on the CORE Butte website, such as four years of English, three of Math, two of science, and so on. The amount of coursework required differs if you take the A-G route, which is needed to get into a CSU or UC. Regardless, it still poses the question: how do you fit four years of English into three years of high school?
The answer to this question lies in the great Concurrent Enrollment program, which allows CORE students to take courses at Butte College. One semester of a Butte course translates to a full year of a high school class. Thus, for example, the English 2 concurrent enrollment class offered here would allow you to get a year’s worth of credits in one semester, helping to fulfill your graduation requirements.
Another option is the dual enrollment system, which allows you to take online classes from Butte, giving you an additional option to get all the credits needed.
But what does the workload look like for a student trying to do this? CORE student Jett Young, a sophomore hoping to graduate next year, took a whopping nine classes last year. Roman Nystrom, a Junior graduating this year, says that he had a full schedule for all three years and has had to take summer and winter courses. Clearly, it’s a path not for the faint of heart, though the benefits may make the time and effort worth it.
Whatever path you may take, graduating is a big milestone, and whether you reach it in 3 years or 4 years, what matters is that you reach it. Don’t be discouraged if you see others progressing faster than you, and remember to have fun in however many years you are here. And of course, ensure you talk to your PLT to plan this out.