OVERVIEW 

ACCELERATING STUDENTS THROUGH CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT (ASCENT) is a 5th year high school program funded by the state that allows DPS to pay tuition and fees for one full year of college (fall and spring semesters) for participating students. Students can enroll at one of eight participating colleges and universities (see 'College Partners', below).

Passed into law in 2009 as an extension of the Concurrent Enrollment program, the purpose of ASCENT is to create a streamlined path for students to earn college credits toward an associate’s degree, bachelor's degree or industry certification...all while saving time and money. Any DPS student can participate in ASCENT the year after graduation if they meet the eligibility requirements of the program.

The DPS team provides ASCENT students wraparound services including academic, social-emotional and financial support throughout their first year of college to support the critical transition from high school to college. 

Who is Eligible for ASCENT?

Students with at least 9 credit hours of college coursework by graduation may be eligible for the ASCENT program. 

To be eligible for the program, a student must:

• Meet all DPS high school graduation requirements by end of senior year
• Complete and pass 9 credit hours of college coursework by the end of senior year:
  • 100-level or higher Concurrent Enrollment course w/a C or better and listed on a student’s high school and college transcripts; 
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams taken prior to senior year may count toward the 9 credits needed for eligibility with specific exam scores*
  • CLEP exam scores may count toward the 9 credits needed with specific exam scores*
• Apply and be admitted to the college or university you will attend during your ASCENT year (list of partners below)
• Be college ready in English and Mathematics in your desired career pathway (does not apply to students attending EGTC and PTC)
• Be in the Class of 2024 (cannot be a Year 13 or 5th year HS student)
• Be less than 21 years old as of October 1st after graduation
• Graduate from a traditional, pathway or charter school in DPS (not an Early College or PTECH HS)

*exams must be transcripted on a college transcript no later than June 30th of a student's 12th grade year.

ASCENT Program College Partners

Community Colleges
· Arapahoe Community College (ACC)
· Community College of Aurora (CCA)
· Community College of Denver (CCD)
· Front Range Community College (FRCC)
· Red Rocks Community College (RRCC)

Technical Colleges
· Emily Griffith Technical College (EGTC)
· Pickens Technical College (PTC)

University
· Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Work with your high school counselor or DSF advisor to complete the ASCENT application: ASCENT Application for 2025-26

Counselors: All forms and links posted in Schoology Course: DPS Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT. 

Important Dates

 - November 1st: ASCENT Application Opens

 - March 1st: ASCENT Application Deadline

 - April/May:  

• Official offer to join ASCENT emailed to applicants who have met ASCENT eligibility requirements, including those pending spring CE grades
• Students must attend a mandatory informational meeting in April/May prior to accepting a slot in the ASCENT program
• Students must provide the ASCENT team with their HS diploma and an unofficial college transcript no later than June 1st. Your diploma will be returned upon completion or exit of the program

 - June 1st: Deadline for students to accept/decline an ASCENT slot for the following school year.

• A student demonstrates college readiness if they meet any of the criteria listed on the College Ready Measures by College: Exams/GPA/Grade Waiver document for the college they will attend.
  
  
• A student demonstrates college readiness for English or Math if they have passed a CE/DE class listed on the College Ready: CE/DE Competency List document. 

• DPS ASCENT pays for all tuition, fees and textbooks for the Fall and Spring semesters following 12th grade. 
• DPS ASCENT offers chromebooks, hotspots and graphing calculators for students to use during the ASCENT year.
• ASCENT students are considered 5th year high school students and therefore cannot accept federal or state financial aid while in the ASCENT program. Students are allowed to apply for scholarships that do not require first-time undergraduate student status.
• ASCENT students continue to have full access to Denver Health clinics.
• ASCENT students participate in all high school graduation activities. 
• A high school diploma is held by ASCENT team until student completes or exits the program.
• The official graduation date on a high school transcript will reflect the date a student completes or exits ASCENT.
• Courses taken during ASCENT year will appear on the high school transcript however they will not impact HS GPA.
• Students may not be able to live on campus (it varies by campus).
• Early College, PTECH students cannot participate in ASCENT as they are excluded from the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act.