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Pinnacle gave me the chance to make my dreams come true...Azize K. Alumni, Class of 2021
- PA's Early College Program Benefits
- College Leadership & Readiness Program
- Program Requirements
- Dual Enrollment Degree Pathways
- AP & Honors Courses
- SAT Prep
- Alumni Testimonials
PA's Early College Program Benefits
Pinnacle Academy's Early College (also known as dual-enrollment) program is a unique educational opportunity that exposes high school students to many fields of college education and allows them to earn college credits for courses taken through NOVA college while still being high school students at Pinnacle Academy. Students in this program are enrolled simultaneously in high school as well as NOVA college. Major benefits of this program are as follows:
Earning College Credits: By taking college courses, possibly as early as 9th grade, and earning college credits while in Pinnacle High School, build students’ confidence and increases their chance to get admission to good colleges while giving them the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credits by high school graduation.
Better Chance for College Admission: Getting a head start by earning college credits also increases the likelihood that Pinnacle graduates will pursue a college degree program and finish it on or even before time. In addition, the rigor of courses at NOVA college enhanced the chance of college admission.
Customized Learning Paths: By working with our Pinnacle counselors, students have the opportunity to develop and pursue a customized learning pathway that matches with the student’s interests and goals. More details are provided below on [four] popular learning pathways.
Opportunity to Earn Two Diplomas: In addition to earning an advanced high school diploma, through our dual enrollment program, students will have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school if they choose that pathway.
Saving on College Cost: Pinnacle’s dual-enrollment program saves parents money and saves students time when compared to a regular high school diploma plus a 4-year college degree by using the credits they have earned for both their high school and college.
Increased Exposure to Different Fields of Study: As a high school student, you will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of classes at the college level including engineering, computer science, health sciences, and many other fields.
Pinnacle Academy’s dual-enrollment high school program provides Pinnacle high school graduates with a solid and cheaper transition to college without major stress that often comes from the changing environment. It also increases the chances of our graduates to complete a college degree.
College Leadership & Readiness Program
Pinnacle Academy proudly introduces you to our College Readiness and Leadership Program (CRLP) for 6th-12th grade students! Pinnacle Academy’s mission is to immerse our students in a dynamic STEAM-focused, college-oriented, community-embraced environment that fosters industry-ready and globally competitive leaders.
The college readiness and leadership program(CRLP) is a voluntary mentorship program designed to help qualified students improve their skills in:
- Social Networking
- Academics
- Extracurricular activities
- Personal development
We believe that students within a collaborative and cooperative environment will excel at academics while reaching their full intellectual, mental, physical and emotional potential. In this program, students have the opportunity to participate in leadership seminars, academic enrichment activities, volunteering opportunities, and fun activities with their peers and mentors…Plus much more!
Program Requirements
Studies have shown that students who earn college credits while attending high school are more likely to graduate and pursue a formal education. Dual enrollment provides Pinnacle students an opportunity to enhance their education by enrolling early in college courses.
In Pinnacle’s dual enrollment program, our students are able to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Pinnacle students are able to accumulate college credits before entering college, allowing them to graduate early. The dual enrollment program at Pinnacle Academy provides our students with a solid transition from high school to college without the overwhelm that comes from the changing environment.
In order to be enrolled in dual enrollment classes, all students must demonstrate college readiness by meeting one of the following placement or scoring criteria:
- SAT Critical Reading and Writing sections score of 500 or higher (before March 2016)
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing section score of 480 or higher (after March 2016)
- ACT score of 18 or higher on Reading and Combined English/Writing sections (before Sept. 2015)
- ACT score of 18 or higher on English, Reading AND Writing sections (after Sept. 2015)
- AP English Literature or AP Language and Composition Exam score of 3 or higher
- IB English score of 5 of higher
- Virginia Placement Test (VPT) – Qualifying score into ENG 111 for Transfer Course/ENF 1 for Non-Transfer-Oriented Courses
Students must meet one of the following placement or scoring criteria in Mathematics:
- Passing score on math SOL taken within last two school years
- PSAT Math section score of 52 or higher (before Oct. 2015)
- PSAT Math section score of 500 or higher (after Oct. 2015)
- SAT Math section score of 520 or higher (before March 2016)
- SAT Math section score of 530 or higher (after March 2016)
- ACT Math score of 22 or higher
- AP Calculus BC Exam score of 3 or higher
- IB Math score of 5 or higher
- Virginia Placement Test (VPT) – Qualifying placement out of one MTE unit
Be aware that certain courses, usually within the math discipline, have prerequisites or higher placement test requirements. In addition to meeting the college readiness standards for Dual Enrollment, students will need to meet the prerequisites or corequisites for the course. Students taking MTH 263 or higher cannot use PSAT, SAT or ACT math exemptions to qualify them to take the course. Students enrolling in higher level math courses must take the Math VPT, have a qualifying AP or IB math score, or have a C or higher in the prerequisite course. Check the course descriptions for the individual classes before enrolling.
Dual Enrollment Degree Pathways
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Health Sciences
- Social Sciences: Teacher Education Specialization
- Business Administration
- Paralegal Studies
Engineering
Sample Pathway to an Associates Degree in Engineering
Purpose | This program is designed to prepare the student to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program in engineering fields such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture/marine engineering. |
Transfer Information | Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student. |
Recommended Preparation | High school courses: 4 units of English, 2 units of algebra, 1 unit of geometry, 1 unit of trigonometry, 1 unit of laboratory science (chemistry or physics) |
Completion Requirements | Grades of "C" and above are required in courses intended to be transferred for credit to a baccalaureate degree-granting college/university. |
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*Engineering/Technical Electives should be chosen carefully in conjunction with an advisor. Consult the requirements of the transfer institution.
Computer Science
Sample Pathway to Associates Degree in Computer Science
Purpose | The program is designed primarily for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree in computer science. The curriculum emphasizes the study of the science of computing and the use of computing in a scientific setting. |
Transfer Information |
Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet the requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student. |
Recommended Preparation |
Satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalent: 4 units of English and 4 units of college preparatory mathematics. |
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | |
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Students with prior computer science or programming experience should talk to a Computer Science academic advisor to determine the appropriate first course to take in the NOVA Computer Science course sequence. Students with no prior computer science or programming experience should begin with CSC 200.
Health Sciences
Sample Pathway to Associates Degree in Health Sciences
Purpose | The academic foundation in this degree will allow students to continue their education by applying to a competitive program at the Medical Education Campus or prepare for entry to a variety of allied health or health sciences baccalaureate programs. Students should consult an academic advisor in selecting electives to this curriculum. |
Transfer Requirements | Since four-year colleges can vary in their course and GPA requirements for a health science major, please consult a counselor or an academic advisor regarding specific requirements and course selection |
Recommended Preparation | Satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalent: 4 units of English; 2 units of mathematics (algebra and geometry); 1 unit of laboratory science; and 1 unit of social studies. |
Social Sciences: Teacher Education Specialization
Business Administration
Paralegal Studies
AP & Honors Courses
AP courses are offered on an open-enrollment basis through Apex Learning.
- AP Spanish Language & Culture
- AP French Language & Culture
- AP U.S. History
- AP U.S. Government and Politics
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Psychology
- AP English Literature & Composition
- AP English Language & Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Statistics
Honors Courses:
- English I
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Geometry
- Pre-Calculus
- World History
- Biology
- Spanish
- Turkish
- PLTW-Introduction to Engineering
SAT Prep
Master Teachers
Through use of the Princeton Review curriculum, our specially-trained, Master SAT Prep Instructors understand each test, question type, and strategic method. Our team converts this knowledge into comprehensive materials, content, and lesson plans that deliver results and make learning fun.
Flexible Learning
Now more than ever, flexibility delivering programs is essential to student success. Our courses allow for students to track and complete assignments online as well as in-person. Our teachers are well-trained and equipped to assist with all student needs as they navigate their coursework.
Study Planner
With nearly 40 years of analyzed data, The Princeton Review’s AI system interprets each student’s strengths and weaknesses to create an adaptive Study Planner with personalized prep for the greatest score improvement. By analyzing student performance, we provide tailored lessons and content to facilitate the most effective, efficient test prep.
Track Progress
Our Dashboard keeps you informed about your program’s progress and success every step of the way. Administrators have complete visibility into data for all test types—section by section, student by student. They can proactively monitor course and student data to assess student participation performance, track progress, and measure success.
Alumni Testimonials
Azize Kanberoglu, Class of 2021
My name is Azize Kanberoglu. I am 16 years old and from Turkey. I have been living in the United States for 3 years. I started 8th grade at Pinnacle Academy, then went to Fairfax High school for 9th grade to strengthen my English. In 10th grade I decided to come back to the Pinnacle Academy for the early college program. I graduated high school on 01/01/21, therefore, I finished high school a year and a half early. I am very happy that I chose Pinnacle Academy for the early college program because Pinnacle gave me the chance to make my dreams come true a year and a half earlier.
Dinara Nabiyeva, Class of 2020
Hello everyone, my name is Dinara Nabiyeva. I am 16, going on 17 and finished high school this past summer. I’m currently enrolled and taking classes from George Mason University. I’ve already had a couple of my peers ask me my age, and when I tell them, they all think that I’m in high school taking the dual enrollment program. When I correct them saying that I have graduated, they all think I’m a Megamind. The truth is, you don’t need to be a genius to graduate early. Hard work, dedication and determination is all you need. It’s not an easy road to go through, but it’s definitely worth the struggle. Completing high school in 2 years is not impossible, though it’s a challenge but if I can do it, so can you.