Frequently Asked Questions

College Pathways offers both part-time and full-time options for families who are seeking academic excellence. Our college-preparatory curriculum is delivered through a hybrid-online model, combining both face-to-face classroom and online instruction. This prepares students for high school and college level content. College ready high school students can also qualify for concurrent enrollment college level courses at Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) to earn high school credits towards a diploma as well as tuition-free college credits toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.  

College Pathways is an innovative alliance between TCA and PPSC. Because our campus is co-located with PPSC, we deliver an educational experience with unique scheduling flexibility and college & career preparation in a safe and supportive learning environment, with access to a seamless, tuition-free transition through high school to college.  

• Honoring, trusting, and respecting student choices  
• Transitioning students seamlessly through high school to college  
• Funding free college tuition through Pikes Peak State College  
• Ensuring safe and supportive learning environments  
• Launching students into meaningful careers  
• Inspiring students to live with purpose  

Beginning in the spring College Pathways opens registration for the coming school year. CP does not accept new students once the school year begins. Please navigate to the TCA website (http://www.tcatitans.org) and select the Registration Tab to link to the College Pathways waitlist application.  

For 12th grade, only current TCA traditional program students and staff children may waitlist for a spot at College Pathways.  All other applicants who do not receive an offer by 11th grade are automatically removed from the College Pathways’ waitlist.  Incoming juniors must be college ready in either English or math. Because College Pathways is based on an early college model, 12th grade high school level class offerings are limited, as the expectation is that nearly all seniors will be college ready.  

Colorado law requires that all students seeking entrance to a community college submit appropriate SAT or ACT scores, or be tested in reading, writing, and math to measure whether a student’s academic skills are at a college level. High school students who have not taken the SAT or ACT and are interested in taking college level courses and participating in the Concurrent Enrollment program through College Pathways will be required to take the Accuplacer college entrance exam. This test is an assessment of basic skills in English, reading, and math. The test takes about 2 hours and is administered in the PPSC Testing Center. A suggested test prep review site is: http://www.testprepreview.com/accuplacer_practice.htm   

Since College Pathways is identified by Academy District 20 (ASD20) and the Colorado Department of Education as separate school with a unique CDE identification number, CP may issue transcripts as well as diplomas. To comply with district requirements, CP students who wish to earn a high school diploma must meet minimum graduation requirements set by ASD20. Graduation requirements are available in the CP Parent-Student Handbook, located on the College Pathways website. We recognize that some students wish to remain part-time and those students will receive a transcript identifying all the coursework they have completed through College Pathways. PPSC provides college transcripts to students for completed college courses.

A hybrid-online class combines on-campus class time with independent online work from home. Students will meet with the instructor in the classroom once or twice a week (2 hours per class) for instruction, labs, hands-on learning, and face-to-face group activities.  Assignments are addressed on the remaining days by working online from home. All CP junior high and high school courses are offered in the hybrid-online format.  

Junior high and high school classes are taught by highly qualified secondary teachers.  For all college-ready students, college courses are taught by Pikes Peak State College faculty and adjunct professors at the respective Pikes Peak State College campuses.  

Yes. CP teachers maintain posted office hours both at the school and online.  In addition, teachers have scheduled hours in our Success Center for students to drop in or make appointments for tutoring. Teachers are also available during times when they are monitoring study halls.  

Yes. Junior high and high school level classes meet in the classroom one day per week for approximately 2 hours, while other classes meet two days per week for about 1 hour each session. College level classes are offered on various days and at various times throughout the day and even into the evenings – as per the current PPSC schedule of classes. 

CP schedules our pre-collegiate class size to be from 16-22 students.  College classes are typically 24 students or less.  

Yes.  CP provides textbooks for junior high, high school, and college courses. College Pathways does not, however, provide computers for use at home or pay for online service fees.  

Each CP teacher posts a supply list on the CP website prior to the start of classes. Designated course and material fees are attached to some classes and must be paid in full at the beginning of the school year.  

Yes. Junior high and high school students are required to adhere to the current TCA dress code, as described in the current CP Parent-Student Handbook. The TCA dress code is intended to promote safety, improve discipline, and enhance the overall learning environment. For college ready students, a modified dress code will apply, managed collaboratively through parental involvement, guidance and oversight.  

Students may bring their lunch and eat during a designated lunch break time, mid-day, in the classroom. Cafeteria service is not available to CP students, although PPSC has a snack store on the Rampart Range Campus, for college-ready students enrolled at PPSC.  

College Pathways does not offer an athletics program. CP students who wish to compete must comply with the participation requirements of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) as well as their district of residence or their district of attendance.  Additional info can be found on the College Pathways Athletics and Activities page. 

By design, College Pathways is not intended to be a comprehensive high school. Although CP offers Theatre, we do not have a performing arts program that includes band or choir. Students interested in CHSAA-governed activities may participate at TCA North, through the assignment process coordinated by District 20, or at their school of residence. Non-CHSAA regulated after-school organizations are offered at CP for CP students. Additional info can be found in Policy IGDJ-TCA-CP/CSP. 

College Pathways provides an opportunity for qualified, college ready high school students to take academic college classes and earn both high school and college credits through the Concurrent Enrollment Program at PPSC. The tuition will be paid by TCA for successfully completed course work (“C” or above). For students who qualify for college by 10th grade, it is possible to complete sufficient college credits to earn an Associate’s degree (generally 60 college credits or approximately 20 college courses) by high school graduation. Students who are concurrently enrolled can accumulate high school credits at an accelerated pace, as most college level courses equate to two semesters of high school credit. (Exceptions: 1-2 college credit PE or Music classes at PPSC equate to one high school credit)  

Yes. Generally, college courses designated as Guarantee Transfer curriculum (GT Pathways) must transfer to Colorado public four-year universities or colleges. Furthermore, adherence to the Colorado Community College System’s (CCCS) full 60+60 Bachelor’s Transfer Program guarantees that at least 60 hours will transfer completely, upon admission, to a Bachelor of Arts major in Colorado’s public four-year institutions, where students are guaranteed to be able to finish the BA degree with additional 60 credit hours of study. Additional courses may transfer depending on individual articulation and transfer agreements between PPSC and four-year colleges. For students planning to attend out-of-state colleges or universities, it is highly recommended that they communicate with the respective admissions offices to determine individual course transferability prior to registering for concurrent enrollment college courses each semester.  

Junior high students and parents are expected to attend Pre-High School Advising sessions, and high school students and parents are expected to attend group Pre-College Advising Sessions each year, to discuss academic and career planning topics and resources. Concurrent Enrollment college level students and parents attend individual college and career counseling at College Pathways. Career Planning & Advising at PPSC is available to CP concurrent enrollment students upon successful completion of 30 college credits.  Additionally, Concurrent Enrollment students have free access to PPSC Writing Centers, Math Centers, Science & Health Learning Centers, and Computer Labs. Students are encouraged to do their math homework in the PPSC Math Center and receive free, individualized tutoring. Students will receive assistance with the writing process, topic focus, and content development, organization, and research strategies in the PPSC Writing Center. PPSC help centers are staffed by PPSC faculty.  

Yes, provided the student is not currently enrolled in a state funded home school program. All CP students must be registered with ASD20 whether part-time or full-time, prior to the start of the school year.  

The Cottage School Program supplements home education for grades K-6, providing part-time, one-day per week classes, offering Language Arts instruction with Art, Music, and P.E. electives. Please contact CSP Principal Justin Peterson for more information at jpeterson1@asd20.org.  

Yes. CP students will take the regular state standardized exams, including the PSAT during their 9th and 10th grade years.  Underclassmen will also have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT in October.   

Yes. CP students are required to take scheduled state/national exams.  7th and 8th grade students will take the CMAS exams in April; 9th and 10th grade students will take the PSAT exam in April; and 11th grade students will take the SAT exam in March.   

Yes. All College Pathways junior high and high school level students must take a Basic Math Skills exam and an English placement exam to enable scheduling in course levels that will ensure both challenge and opportunity for success.  Families will be notified of testing dates and will be provided test result details.  

The TCA East Campus is located on the PPSC Rampart Range Campus off the Interquest exit, about a mile east of I-25. 12201 Cross Peak View, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. 

Of utmost concern to College Pathways is providing our students and their families the assurance of a safe and supportive learning environment. TCA East Campus employs a full-time armed security officer.  Additionally, students taking College Pathways junior high and high school level courses will be attending classes in College Pathways classrooms with College Pathways instructors, physically separated from the college wing by a secured corridor. The TCA East Campus front entrance has a manned security kiosk; all students must show their TCA badges, and all visitors are required to sign in before entering the building. Concurrent enrollment college level students take college level courses taught by PPSC faculty on PPSC campuses. PPSC has its own police department.