AB Tech Career & College Promise

The AB Tech Career & College Promise dual-enrollment program is an opportunity for qualified Asheville High students to take tuition-free college classes, many of which transfer seamlessly to public and private universities in North Carolina. Participating students earn both high school and college credit.  Although all classes are tuition-free, the program does have some expenses, including textbooks and supplies.

Admissions criteria for the Career & College Promise program is different for Asheville High students and SILSA students. This is because SILSA has been designated as a Cooperative Innovative School by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Because of this state designation, SILSA students are able to access some courses for which Asheville High students are not eligible. The minimum entrance standards and general enrollment criteria include:

For Asheville High School Students:

    - College Transfer Pathways (courses transfer to UNC System and dozens of NC private colleges)

• Junior or Senior status
• Cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 or better
• Demonstration of college readiness on an assessment or

        placement test (PSAT, SAT, ACT, PLAN, or Accuplacer)

• Completion of all AB Tech mandated pre-requisites for any requested course.
• Completion of all required paperwork at both the college and high school sites.

   - Career-Technical Pathways (courses that can be applied to career-technical college degrees)

• Junior or Senior status
• Cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 or better, or permission of principal is GPA is lower than 3.0
• Completion of all AB Tech mandated pre-requisites for any requested course.
• Completion of all required paperwork at both the college and high school sites.

For SILSA Students:

    - BOTH College Transfer AND Career-Technical Classes

• Completion of all A-B Tech mandated pre-requisites for any requested course.
• Completion of all required paperwork at both the college and high school sites.

High school AND college credit is awarded upon successful completion of AB Tech courses.  

AB Tech courses use college textbooks, course syllabi, and grading policies, and are taught with the same rigor as those taught to college students.  Asheville High students are reminded that, all AB Tech classes are included on a student’s college transcript, which follows the student through his or her post-secondary years, regardless of educational goals.

Application packets are available in the Asheville High School Counseling Office during pre-registration in the spring. Courses are offered based on student demand.  The form asks for an alternate choice.  The choices made by students are binding for the semester or for the year.  Here are some things to consider:

• A few A-B Tech classes occur during Asheville High’s fourth period, but most are offered at several times of day.
• Some of the classes start after the high school semester has begun, but the majority begin before the first day of high school; therefore, students must start attending those classes before returning the Asheville High for the semester.
• Before classes start, and after registration, an AB Tech staff member emails each student his/her AB Tech schedule, and this includes the class schedule, starting date, and time of day.
• Most AB Tech classes do not meet every day of the week.  Students are dismissed from Asheville High School each day during their AB Tech period and are not permitted to be on the Asheville High campus without prior Administrative permission.  Students must provide their own transportation to and from AB Tech, although AB Tech is conveniently located about a quarter-mile from Asheville High, and students can easily walk to their AB Tech classes.  Student responsibility is a must to ensure the success of this program.
• Any student who withdraws from an AB Tech class without the approval of the Asheville High School principal receives a grade of F on his/her permanent high school transcript and is not allowed to register for future dual-enrollment classes.
• Students who want to register for AB Tech classes should speak to their school counselor; however, if you would like to speak to an AB Tech representative, contact Stephen Maag at (828) 398-7516 or stephenamaag@abtech.edu.
• Mr. Maag is often available in the Counseling Center to assist students.  Students may contact the Counseling Center or Mr. Maag directly to arrange a time to meet.

A list of available AB Tech courses can be found on the following pages (subject to change).

*Course is also offered in a career-technical pathway, **Course has a prerequisite course, ***Course is available late-start in fall semester only

*Course is also offered in a career-technical pathway, **Course has a prerequisite course, ***Course is available late-start in fall semester only