Early Post Secondary Opportunities

Courses and Programs for High School Students

From Advanced Academics to Earning a Licensed Skill in High School

Metro Schools students have many opportunities available to them to learn, explore interests and prepare for college or career.

Some classes and programs our high schools offer as part of our district's Early Post-Secondary Opportunities, also known as EPSOs, include:

rigorous advanced academics courses on topics such as microeconomics and human geography
rebuilding diesel engines
constructing skyscrapers using Computer-Aided Design software
earning college credit while in high school

Additionally, many MNPS seniors can begin college as a sophomore, based on their participation in an Early College program or earning college credits through other EPSOs.

Becoming a Tennessee Ready Graduate

MNPS guarantees every high school student the opportunity to participate in EPSOs to meet the Tennessee Department of Education’s definition of a Tennessee Ready Graduate, indicating a student developed the knowledge and skills for success in college, the workforce, or military service.

Early Postsecondary Programs

Advanced Placement (AP), including Tennessee's AP Access for All

College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program allows students to take courses in many different subject areas, then complete a comprehensive exam in May to potentially earn college credit or enroll in advanced courses depending on the university’s policies. All MNPS students can take AP courses either in person at their school or virtually through Tennessee’s AP Access for All option.

The benefits of taking AP courses include:

Potentially earning college credit while in high school depending on the policies of the university the student chooses to attend
Advanced Placement credits transfer, meaning less time to complete a degree
Saving on college tuition and fees
In-depth learning about topics that may lead to future career options
Building skills for college and career success
Strengthening high school transcript for college applications

AP Access for All

Funded by a combination of federal and state grants, AP Access for All provides students the opportunity to take AP courses not available at their school or that may not fit into their schedule. Courses are taught online, at the student's own pace, with the support of a certified teacher. There is no cost to participate nor to take the AP exam. Students are encouraged to participate in AP Access for All if their schedule or campus does not already provide an AP course with an MNPS teacher.

For more information and how to enroll in one or more AP Access for All courses, please contact the school’s AP Access for All liaison or your child’s school counselor.

AP Scholar Award

Every fall, the AP program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through their performances on multiple AP exams.

Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

AP Capstone Award

The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing.
The AP Seminar and Research Certificates are granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.

Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge programmes (CIE) combine an emphasis on mastering subjects in depth with the development skills for study and work in the future. They value deep subject knowledge as well as the conceptual understanding that helps students make links between different aspects of a subject. Cambridge schools encourage students to develop higher-order thinking skills - problem solving, critical thinking, independent research, collaboration and presenting arguments. These are transferable skills that will last a lifetime, preparing students for their future lives. They also make learning enjoyable and rewarding.

Cambridge Lower Secondary, typically for middle school students, prepares students for the next step of their education as they progress through the Cambridge Pathway in an age-appropriate way. This flexible program supports schools with delivering a broad and balanced curriculum that sets clear learning objectives and focuses on developing knowledge and skills with a global perspective.

MNPS schools with Cambridge programs include:

Croft Middle School
Donelson Middle School
Oliver Middle School
Thurgood Marshall Middle School

High school students who want an advanced course of study should pursue Cambridge Advanced. This flexible program offers courses that develop a deep understanding of their subjects as well as meaningful thinking skills and independent study skills. Students who complete this academically challenging program and pass the corresponding subject-area examinations can earn college credit based on the university’s recognition policies and can work toward the prestigious Cambridge AICE diploma.

MNPS high schools with Cambridge programs include:

Cane Ridge High School
McGavock High School
John Overton High School
Stratford STEM Magnet High School

Cambridge AICE courses are classified as Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Levels (AS Levels) and Cambridge International Advanced Levels (A Levels).

Cambridge AS is typically a one-year program of study and is half of the Cambridge International A Levels, while Cambridge A Levels typically take two years and provide the second half of the course after the first year of the Cambridge International AS Level. Students may select A or AS levels for stand-alone AICE-level courses or for earning points in pursuit of the AICE diploma. For more information, please refer to the Cambridge International fact sheet.

College Board CLEP Exams

College Board CLEP Exams are offered in 34 subject areas and allow students another attempt to earn college credits while in high school.

Students who were enrolled in an AP course or a Dual Credit course may want another shot to earn college credit if they did not earn a qualifying score during the academic year.

Modern States offers a free online curriculum that can be a useful tool for high school teachers wanting to borrow lesson plans or assessments to better prepare students for the course. There is a cost for CLEP exams, and there is a reduced cost for students with Free and Reduced School Lunch.

Dual Credit

Through the Academies of Nashville, MNPS students work toward college and career readiness. By taking courses that develop strong career skills and prepare them for a college credit examination, students get a head start on their college education while still in high school. Classes that provide this opportunity are called “dual credit” courses, and there are two versions: local dual credit and statewide dual credit.

For both dual credit course options, students enroll in a dual credit identified course and complete the assignments and assessments as usual. At the end of the course, in addition to the teacher’s final exam, the student will register for and either take a state-level challenge exam or a challenge exam from a partner institution. Passing the challenge exam indicates the student has mastered the standards and will be awarded college credit or hours.

Local dual credit applies to agreements developed between a local school district and partner institutions. For MNPS schools, local dual credit options exist through many Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, as well as for Personal Finance through Nashville State Community College.

EDUC 2010 Teaching as a Profession
CRMJ 1010 Criminal Justice I
CULA 1320 Culinary I
CULA 1200 Culinary II
CADD 1200 Architecture & Engineering Design
CADD 1650 Architecture & Engineering Design
ARCT 1120 Architecture & Engineering Design
CIVT 1250 Residential/Commercial Construction
INFS 1010 Computer Applications
EETC 1313 Digital Electronics/Mechatronics
EETC 1314 Energy and Power Distribution
EETC 1321 Energy and Power Distribution
EETC 1322 Energy and Power Distribution
BUSN 1300 Personal Finance
BUSN 1305 Intro to Business
BUSN 2380 Marketing and Management Principles
BUSN 2330 Leadership/Business Management
LOGI 1000 Wholesale Logistics
ENTR 1600 Entrepreneurship
COM 1230 Digital Design
MST 1190 Music Industry Survey
MST 1130 Audio Production II
MST 1150 Audio Production III
MST 1190 Recording Industry I

In Statewide Dual Credit courses, high school teachers use curriculum and materials developed by a state-level committee to prepare students for the dual credit challenge exam. Currently, the Tennessee Department of Education provides statewide dual credit courses in the following areas:

HIST 2020 American History II
CRMJ 1010 Criminal Justice II
BUSN 1305 Intro to Business
MATH 1530 Intro to Statistics
MATH 1730 Pre-Calculus
PSYC 1030 Psychology
COMM 2025 Speech and Communications
HIST 1220 World History
AGRI 1030 Intro to Plant Science
EDUC 2010 Intro to Education
BUSN 2380 Principles of Marketing

Dual Enrollment Courses

Dual Enrollment, a partnership with approved Nashville colleges and universities to offer college courses to MNPS students, allows students to work towards an associate’s degree while enrolled in high school.

Students who meet the criteria for admission and for the Tennessee dual enrollment grant for financial aid can enroll in tuition-free college courses offered on their high school campus, in a virtual setting, or through a hybrid format, which is a combination of in-person and online learning. Students are only approved to take dual enrollment courses that align to high school graduation requirements, listed below. Learn more about your high school's dual enrollment offerings by viewing their Early Post-Secondary offerings at the links above.

Deadlines for Nashville State Community College

SUMMER 2025 Semester Deadline-Friday May 16, 2025
- Students must complete the online MNPS Summer DE Application
FALL 2025 Semester Deadline-Friday May 16, 2025
SPRING 2026 Semester Deadline-December 1, 2025

Dual Enrollment Participating Colleges

MNPS has existing dual enrollment contracts with the college partners listed below. Clicking the name of the college will redirect you to the institution’s dual enrollment information and application.

Better Together at Nashville State

Through the Better Together partnership between MNPS and Nashville State, all high school juniors and seniors with a GPA of 2.8 or higher can take courses to earn college credit at Nashville State Community College.

Students must meet the following criteria to participate in dual enrollment with Nashville State Community College:

Have parent/guardian permission to participate
Have written permission from school counselor or Executive Principal
Apply for admission to Nashville State Community College as a non-degree seeking applicant or dual enrollment student
- Deadline for fall semester: March 31
- Deadline for spring semester: January 15
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and/or ACT greater than 19
Complete the Dual Enrollment Grant scholarship application to access tuition-free dual enrollment courses
- Students and families who are not eligible for the DE Grant should consider tuition and textbooks costs for dual enrollment.

Nashville State Community College and MNPS high schools have approved the following courses to meet high school graduation requirements and most of the TN Transfer Pathway requirements. Students must have school counselor permission prior to enrolling in these approved dual enrollment courses:

DE English Composition I/II (ENGL 1010/1020)
DE Intro to Biology (BIOL 1010)
DE Personal Finance (BUSN 1300)
DE Microeconomics (ECON 2100)
DE Medical Terminology (BIOL 1000)
DE Basic Anatomy & Physiology (SURG 1304)
DE Macroeconomics (ECON 2200)
DE Early/ Modern US History (HIST 2010/2020)
DE Early/Modern World History (HIST 2310/2320)
DE College Algebra (MATH 1130)
DE Probability and Statistics (MATH 1530)
DE PreCalculus Algebra (MATH 1710)
DE PreCalculus Trigonometry (MATH 1720)
DE US Government (POLS 1030)
DE Spanish I/II (SPAN 1010/1020)
DE Lifetime Wellness (PHED 1010)
DE Psychology (PSYC 1030)
DE Sociology (SOCI 1010)
DE Physical Education (HHP 2300)

Early College

MNPS offers Early College campuses in partnership with Nashville State Community College - Early College High School on Nashville State's White Bridge Campus, as well as at Cane Ridge, Glencliff and Whites Creek high schools - where students have the opportunity to earn an associate's degree at the same time as their high school diploma or college credits towards an associate's degree.

At Early College High School at Nashville State's White Bridge Campus, all students take courses on campus and take dual enrollment courses in the same classrooms as other Nashville State students. Students have degree options in seven different pathways. Students must apply for admission to this campus during the school options window.

The Early College program at Cane Ridge High School, Whites Creek High School and Glencliff High School provide students the opportunity to obtain college credits toward a Nashville State associate's degree while fulfilling the requirements for a high school diploma.

Early College Programs

Metro Schools students can earn their associate’s degree through one of our Early College programs, offered in partnership with Nashville State Community College.

The option currently is offered at six zoned high schools and one middle school offers an Early College magnet program to prepare students for the rigor of the high school Early College program.

Learn more about Early College programs offered at local schools.

Industry Credential

An industry credential (IC) certifies that a student developed specialized knowledge and skills in a specific career area and passed a nationally recognized exam. Typically, students earn an industry credential by focusing their elective courses in one of the robust, career-aligned options available through the MNPS Academies of Nashville schools and completing the certification exam at the conclusion of the corresponding course. The classes in these programs include rigorous academic instruction in career-specific technical knowledge, skill development through hands-on learning opportunities, and the potential for work-based experiences in businesses across Nashville. There is no cost for the certification test for students who pursue this option.

While the most common path toward earning an industry certification includes completing a formal course of study, any student who develops an equivalent level of knowledge and skills through other options can take an industry certification test as well. Students who pursue this option should contact the MNPS CTE Director for information about accessing the certification exam.

The Tennessee Department of Education’s Promoted Student Industry Credentials webpage provides a detailed outline of available certifications that align with high-demand employment opportunities and may provide credit hours toward earning a postsecondary degree or license. While all MNPS Academies of Nashville schools provide options from the state-approved list, the district does not offer all options included on the state website. Students who wish to pursue an option listed on the state website may do so independently.

International Baccalaureate

The rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) develops inquisitive, knowledgeable, caring students who want to help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. MNPS offers IB options in two elementary schools and several middle and high schools.

Diploma Programme

Grades 11 and 12

The benefits students experience by choosing the Diploma Programme (DP) include developing an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge. Students flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. Students who complete this academically challenging program and pass the corresponding subject-area examinations can earn college credit based on the university’s recognition policies and can work toward earning the prestigious IB diploma.

High Schools offering IB DP:

Antioch
East Nashville
Hillsboro
Hunters Lane

Career-Related Programme

Grades 11 and 12

The Career-Related Programme (CP) provides a framework of international education designed to address the needs of career-minded students. CP prepares students either for postsecondary education or for apprenticeships and employment. As with the Diploma Programme, students who complete this likewise academically challenging program and pass the corresponding subject-area examinations can earn college credit based on the university’s recognition policies and can work toward earning the prestigious CP certification.

High schools offering IB CP:

Antioch
Hillsboro

IB Diploma courses are classified as Higher Level (HL) and some at Standard college Level (SL). HL and SL courses differ in scope but are measured according to the same grade descriptors, with students expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills at higher level. Each student in the full diploma must take at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level. Standard level subjects take up 150 teaching hours. Higher level comprises 240 teaching hours building from the SL courses. Students in CP or taking stand-alone IB DP courses may take at either SL or HL options.

For more information, please refer to the IB Curriculum Requirements webpage.

Middle Years Programme

Grades 5 to 10

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) includes an academically challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. Inclusive by design, MYP creates an educational atmosphere where students of all interests and academic abilities can benefit from participation.

Schools offering the Middle Years Programme:

Bellevue Middle School
East Nashville Middle School
Goodlettsville Middle School
JT Moore Middle School
West End Middle School
East Nashville High School
Hillsboro High School
Hunters Lane High School

Primary Years Programme

Grades Pre-K to 4

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) prepares students to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them. It focuses on the development of the whole child.

Elementary schools offering Primary Years Programme:

Eakin
Julia Green

What Courses are Offered at Your High School?

When students engage in rigorous instruction centered on their unique academic interests, they are more prepared to enter college and career with confidence. Take a look at the courses available to students in each Metro Nashville high school.