Enrichment Opportunities

Consider these opportunities for enrichment, learning support, and expanded career and continuing education. When you consider a course or a program, think about the college and career readiness skills that it offers beyond what seems to be the career pathway. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has identified Learning and Thinking Skills for College and Career Readiness. As much as students need to learn academic content, they also need to know how to be lifelong learners and how to make effective and innovative use of what they know throughout their lives.

Learning and Thinking Skills are comprised of:

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • Communication skills;
  • Creativity and innovation skills;
  • Collaboration skills;
  • Information and media literacy skills; and
  • Contextual learning skills.
Arts and Letters Pathway

The Arts and Letters Pathway, offered at Albemarle and Western Albemarle high schools, provides opportunities for Fine Arts students to gain additional recognition, rigorous experiences, and college and career skills. The Pathway enables students to choose among several areas of concentration and, in addition to course study, students participate in internships (or mentorship), job sharing/shadowing, and a capstone project during their high school career. Students are eligible to enter the Pathway in either 9th or 10th grade and should speak with their counselor to learn more about this opportunity.

Albemarle High School Arts and Letters Pathway »

Western Albemarle High School Arts and Letters Pathway »

AVID 9, 10, 11, 12

AVID provides scaffolded support that educators and students need to encourage college and career readiness and success. AVID 9 and 10 are designed with a focus on organization and academic skills to help students transition into high school and to be successful in rigorous college preparatory classes. AVID 11 continues to build on academic skills, but the focus changes to college readiness. Students review career goals and begin to design education plans that involve college exploration, test preparation, and financial aid awareness. AVID 12 begins the transition to post-secondary educational planning. Students focus on taking the SAT/ACT, exploring college, and completing college and financial aid applications.

Prerequisite: Students in AVID 12 must have completed a previous AVID class.

Core +

Tutorial courses provide students with the assistance they need to successfully complete their coursework. Students may receive help in one or several subjects.​

Early College Scholars Degree Program

In partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), eligible students can earn an associate degree in General Studies while in high school. Monticello High School serves as the Early College Scholars Degree Program “home” due to its close proximity to PVCC; Dual Enrollment college-level courses are offered on both campuses. All students, regardless of their base school, can participate. Eligibility includes GPA, maturity and skills to succeed in college-level courses, and capacity to complete 63 credits for the associate degree. The benefits of Early College include transferability of college credit to a four-year college/university, college tuition savings, and ability to competitively join the workforce immediately upon high school. Students can meet with their school counselors to learn more and/or contact the Monticello High School Counseling Department.

Independent Study

Independent Study courses, typically organized as a mentorship with a teacher or outside professional, enable students to conduct investigations related to their field(s) of interest.

Seminar (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)

The overarching mission of Seminar in each year of high school is to support students with their successful transition to high school; development as learners, community members, and friends; and progression to post-secondary plans. Seminar content includes understanding of the relationship between social, emotional and academic learning; faculty mentorship and guidance; and professional skill development so that students become caring, confident and competent citizens and workers.

Senior Study Hall

Study Hall courses provide students with the opportunity and time to complete classroom assignments or school projects. Students typically work on their own, without the help of a tutor; however, they are supervised and usually remain in the classroom.

Study Hall

Study Hall courses provide students with the opportunity and time to complete classroom assignments or school projects. Students typically work on their own, without the help of a tutor; however, they are supervised and usually remain in the classroom.

Study Skills

Study Skills courses prepare students for success in high school and/or for postsecondary education. Course topics may vary according to the students involved, but typically include reading improvement skills, such as scanning, note-taking, and outlining; library and research skills; listening and note-taking; vocabulary skills; and test-taking skills. The courses may also include exercises designed to generate organized, logical thinking and writing.

Work-Based Learning

Work-Based Learning (WBL) is a method of instruction that integrates an applied professional experience within a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course. Students investigate careers and gain insight into their strengths, interests and values through a range of WBL experience options, from short-term job shadowing to longer duration experiences such as internships, apprenticeships, service learning, and more. WBL brings relevancy to academics and helps students gain direction for future educational and career choices. WBL experiences are developed in partnership with local industry and community organizations in alignment with VDOE standards; students can also source WBL experiences. More information is available through each school’s Career Center and Career Specialist.