Middle College Program

The Montgomery College and Montgomery County Public Schools partnership is offering the Middle College Program to qualified MCPS students.  The Middle College program is offered to MCPS students enrolled at Clarksburg, Northwest and Northwood high schools.  Through integrated course sequencing utilizing a combination of Advanced Placement courses, CLEP examinations and Montgomery College coursework students experience a progressive transition during their high school careers. 

Students begin with a traditional high school experience, transition into MC coursework at their high school, and end their senior year realizing a full campus experience at MC.  Information sessions are held at participating MCPS high schools, where students can learn more about the program and degree options available.

Qualifications

In order to participate in Middle College, students should be able to satisfy the following requirements:

• Be a rising 9th grader, planning to attend an eligible MCPS high school offering the Middle College program.
• Passed Mathematics and English state assessments. Depending on the pathway, advanced placements may be necessary.
• Have an unweighted 2.75 high school GPA or higher.
• Belong to a select MCPS high school cluster, based on the high school locations where Middle College is held.

Eligibility

The Middle College program is currently offered at Clarksburg, Northwest and Northwood high schools.  Each school offers a unique degree pathway, managed by their select high school.  Contact the school's Dual Enrollment Program Assistant (DEPA)new window for more information.  All pathway programs are competitive, and due to demand a lottery may be held to determine the students who will participate.

Admission

The Middle College schools, pathways and the eligible high school clusters are below.  Students should review the pathway and degree information carefully before submitting their Middle College interest form.  Upon acceptance into the program, the DEPA will reach out to the student and assist in admission and registration each semester.  

• Clarksburg HS Cloud Computing and Network Technology Pathway (PDF, )
• Open to the Clarksburg, Seneca Valley, Damascus, or Watkins Mill high school cluster

Clarksburg Program Admission

• Northwest HS General Engineering Pathway
• Northwest HS General Studies Pathway 
• Open to the Clarksburg, Damascus, Gaithersburg, Magruder, Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, or Watkins Mill high school cluster

Northwest Program Admission

• Northwood HS General Studies Pathway 
• Open to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Churchill, Downcounty Consortium, Northeast Consortium, Walter Johnson, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood, Walt Whitman, or Wootton high school cluster

Northwood Program Admission

Program Benefits

• Earn transferable college credits and a 2-year degree at no cost.
• Engage in academically challenging college level work while still in high school.
• Students are able to gain experience and familiarity with the professors and homework they will receive and therefore have a smooth transition to a 4- year college and college-level coursework.
• College campus offers opportunities for events, clubs and experiences which students can take part in these college life activities.
• Completing the four-year degrees in less time while saving tuition money and presumably incurring less student debt.
• Access to college academic support programs.
• Exposure to college while in high school may provide student with more opportunities to change their future and pursue a career that they did not know about or, believe was available to them in a “standard” schooling format.
• Allows students to overcome some of the biggest struggles that college student will face in their first few months of attending a 4-year university which is the shift in studying responsibilities and establishing good, independent studying habits from the very beginning.
• Avoids the problem of accommodating bored seniors who have maxed out what their high school can offer them.
• Can provide more flexibility in later college years. Student might be able to graduate early and enter the career field sooner than your peers. Or, instead of graduating early, student might choose to add another major or minor to diversify their degree.
• Opportunity to practice skills like time management, communication, organization, and relationship building in a college environment, while you still have your high school support systems.
• Convenience of taking college classes at the high school, on campus and through distance learning.
• Student may have the opportunity to participate in college level research and internships.
• Research shows that these students are also more likely to earn four-year bachelor’s degrees. (American Institutes for Research (AIR), a nonprofit research organization).

Contact Us

Comprehensive information and additional links can be found on the Montgomery County Public Schools' Middle College websitenew window.  If you have any additional questions about Middle College, please contact middlecollege@montgomerycollege.edunew window for more information. 

4-Year Institution Acceptances for Middle College Students