JumpStart College Program

A tuition-free college credit opportunity for rising seniors and current seniors

JumpStart is a collaborative program between Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Buncombe County Schools that allows rising seniors to take college courses during the summer between the junior and senior year and the summer after the senior year to accumulate college credits before entering college. Students may earn up to 21 college credits depending on the number of courses they choose to enroll in, moving them closer to the college degree or certificate they plan to pursue. Transportation to A-B Tech is be provided by the student.

Three Programs:
College Transfer - Early Childhood - CNA

College Transfer

Enrollment Criteria:

  • Must be a rising senior or current senior

  • 3.0 GPA weighted

  • Committed to enrollment the summer before and/or the summer after senior year

  • Meets English, Reading and Mathematics testing benchmarks**

Summer 1
June 17-Aug 9

Days/Times

ENG 111 (3 credits)

TWTH/ 8-9:50 AM

PSY 150 (3 credits)

TWTH/ 10-11:50 AM

BIO 168 (4 credits)

TWTH/ 1-5:00 PM

ACA 122 (1 credits)

MON/ 1-2:50 PM

MUS 110 (3 credits)

TTH/ 1-2:50 PM

Summer 2 (TBD)

Days/Times

ENG 112 (3 credits)

TWTH/ 8-9:50 AM

SOC 210 (3 credits)

TWTH/ 10-11:50 AM

BIO 169(4 credits)

TWTH/ 1-5:00 PM

Early Childhood

Enrollment Criteria:

  • Must be a rising senior or current senior

  • 3.0 GPA weighted (can be waived by principal)

  • Committed to enrollment the summer before and/or the summer after senior year

  • Meets English and Reading testing benchmarks**

Summer 1
June 17-Aug 9

Days/Times

EDU 119 (4 credits)*

TUES/ 9-3:50

EDU 144 (3 credits)

WED/ 9-3:50

EDU 145 (3 credits)

THUR/ 9-3:50

ACA 115 (1 credits)

MON/ 1-2:50

Summer 2 (TBD)

Days/Times

EDU 146 (3 credits)

TUES/ 9-3:50

EDU 151 (3 credits)

WED/ 9-3:50

EDU 251 (3 credits)

THUR/ 9-3:50

* Students may be able to earn credit for EDU 119 by completing Early Childhood I and II in accordance with the RACE Alignment Agreement.

CNA

Enrollment Criteria:

  • Must be a rising senior or current senior

  • At the end of the summer take the license exam (A-B Tech pass rate is 95%)

Summer 1
June 17-Aug 9

Days/Times

NAS 101 (6 credit hours)

MON-THUR/ 7:30-3:30

**College benchmark testing as listed below is required to be eligible to take many, but not all, of the college level classes at A-B Tech.

College Readiness Benchmarks on Approved Assessment Tests

Test

PLAN

Pre-ACT

PSAT

(2014 or earlier)

PSAT

(2015 and later)

SAT

(pre- Mar 2016)

SAT

(March 2016)

ACT

 

English

15

18

45

26 / 460

500

480

18

Reading

18

22

47

26 / 460

500

22

Mathematics

19

22

47

24.5 / 510

500

530

22

What makes this program different?

Face-to-face instruction

  • Condensed content summer format

  • Courses scheduled during the BCS summer break

  • Supported within a structured cohort

  • Courses calculated in GPA

     

Who is a good candidate?

A student that is self-motivated

  • A student interested in accelerating

  • A student who is highly committed to future goals

  • A student who has demonstrated he/she is prepared for this challenge

  • A student who has excellent school attendance

  • A student who is committed to attending college courses in the summer

What are the criteria for selection?

GPA required by pathway

  • Completed application for program

  • Commitment to attend Monday-Thursday at scheduled hours

  • Rising seniors or current seniors in good standing

  • Meet college testing benchmarks in English, Reading, and Mathematics on the ACT, SAT

  • Clear indication that the program supports your goals (personal statement)

How will I be selected?
If all criteria are met and more students have applied than spaces allotted, students will be selected by lottery.

How can I get more information?
Contact your school counselor.

Once you have reviewed all of the information, click here to apply to the program.