For more than 20 years, Dartmouth College has been providing access to Dartmouth courses, free of charge, to academically prepared area high school students.
Community High School Program
WHAT IS IT?
Qualifying high school students can register for one Dartmouth College course per term, at no cost. Students receive real college credit on an official Dartmouth transcript and are held to the same grading, deadline, and conduct standards as any Dartmouth student.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Local High School Seniors: Eligible during fall, winter, and spring terms.
Local High School Juniors: Eligible during winter and spring terms only.
Key requirement:
- Your high school must be within 50 miles of Dartmouth College.
- Students are responsible for their own transportation and parking.
- Students must have exhausted all possible classes within their field of interest at their high school to take a course in that field through the Community High School Program at Dartmouth.
- Students must be recommended by a high school principal, counselor, or other school official with responsibility for the program at their school.
- Students who have completed the requirements for the high school diploma may continue to take courses through CHSP only if they are fully enrolled in a high school program during the entire corresponding term.
Not available in summer. The program runs fall, winter, and spring terms only.
Lifetime course limit: Students may take only 1 course per term up to a maximum of 4 courses total through CHSP while in high school.
Dates & Deadlines
Winter 2027—Juniors & Seniors
Oct 26 Courses live; Request process opens
Nov 20 Request process closes
Jan 5 First day of classes
Jan 6 Approved CHSP students register for their courses via Courses@Dartmouth
Spring 2027—Juniors & Seniors
Feb 8 Courses live; Request process opens
Feb 26 Request process closes
Mar 29 First day of classes
Mar 30 Approved CHSP students register for their courses via Courses@Dartmouth
Note: Registration for a course is an action you take on the second day of classes — not when you submit the form. Students must officially register for courses on the second day of classes via the Registrar's system if granted approvals and there is space remaining in the course.
Students should have a backup plan if they are not able to register for the courses they have requested. Classroom space is limited, especially during fall and spring terms, and priority is given to Dartmouth students.
How to Participate
Note: Counselors and students must complete the request process together. Steps 1-4 must be done before the request deadline.
- Counselors: Tutorial video and Course Exploration. Before searching for courses, counselors should watch the short tutorial video to best guide their students.
- Counselors & Students: Next, browse Courses@Dartmouth together to determine appropriate course(s). Please note, the Community High School Program is not available for summer term courses.
- Counselors & Students: Submit the Program Request Form together. List up to 4 courses/sections—use all available spaces to improve your chances. Counselors who don't have access to the form should email chsp@dartmouth.edu.
- Student and their Parents/Guardian: Read the Student Handbook and the Catalog/ORC.
- Student and Parent/Guardian: Sign the Permission to Participate Agreement. This will be sent to the parent/guardian email provided on the Program Request Form.
- Student: Approved CHSP students will receive an email prior to the start of the term from the Dartmouth Registrar with further instructions for registration.
!! Important !!: Completing steps 1-5 does not guarantee enrollment. Students must officially register for courses on the second day of classes via the Registrar's system if granted approvals and there is space remaining in the course.
Choosing Your Courses Wisely
Students will have the best chance of enrolling in introductory courses (generally courses with a lower course number) and courses with higher enrollment limits as listed on Courses@Dartmouth. Higher-level seminar courses are extremely limited in capacity and very popular with Dartmouth students, which make them unlikely to be available. Please take this into consideration as you select courses to list.
Courses You Cannot Take:
The following course types are not available to CHSP students:
- First-Year Seminars (any course beginning with 7)
- Government courses above level 10
- History 5.03, 72, 74, 95
- Humanities 1 and 2
- Mathematics 1 and 2
- Music courses 53-58
- Spanish 1, 2, 3, and 7
- Studio art courses
- Writing 2, 3, or 5
- Any course that meets arranged, whose Period Code is AR Arranged
We cannot approve students for a course that is not listed on their original registration form, even if they receive permission from the professor. Please thoughtfully choose the four courses that you list on the request form.
Employees interested in taking courses at Dartmouth should visit Human Resources' Educational Assistance Benefits web page for a full description of the programs available to faculty and staff.
Home-schooled students
If your curriculum is coordinated by a school or program, please have an official of that organization request access to the Program Request Form. If your curriculum is coordinated by a parent/guardian, please reach out to us on the day the request period opens by emailing chsp@dartmouth.edu.
Program Policies
COST AND LOGISTICS
Tuition: Free. Students are responsible for books, materials, transportation, and parking.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS & ELIGIBILITY
Seniors: Eligible during fall, winter, and spring terms.
Juniors: Eligible during winter and spring terms only.
- Your high school must be within 50 miles of Dartmouth College.
- Students are responsible for their own transportation and parking.
- Students must have exhausted all possible classes within their field of interest at their high school.
- Students must be recommended by a high school principal, counselor, or other school official with responsibility for the program at their school.
- Students who have completed the requirements for the high school diploma may continue to take courses through CHSP only if they are fully enrolled in a high school program during the entire corresponding term.
You're held to Dartmouth standards. Grading, deadlines, and the Code of Conduct are identical to what every Dartmouth student follows.
Minimum grade required: You must earn a C+ or better in each course. Falling below this means you'll need to petition the CHSP coordinator before requesting courses again.
ENROLLMENT PRIORITY
CHSP students may never displace a Dartmouth student from a course. That is why CHSP students register on the second day of classes.
REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT
After completing a course, students may request an official copy of their Dartmouth transcript. Contact Registrar@Dartmouth.edu for assistance.
WITHDRAWALS AND SPECIAL OPTIONS
Withdrawing from a course: Follow standard Dartmouth withdrawal procedures. See the Registration and Course Changes section of the ORC.
- CHSP students must complete a form in the Registrar's Office to drop/withdraw from courses in accordance with drop/withdrawal deadlines posted on the Academic Calendar. Contact Registrar@Dartmouth.edu for assistance.
Non-recording option (NRO): Students may choose the NRO following standard Dartmouth procedures. See the NRO section of the ORC.
Key Links
- Courses@Dartmouth: https://courses.dartmouth.edu/
- Student Handbook: dartmouth.edu/student-handbook
- ORC / Course Catalog: dartmouth.edu/~reg/catalog
- Faculty/Staff FAQ: https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/counselors/community-high-school-program-faculty-and-staff-faq
Contact Information
Jaclyn N. Pageau '18, CHSP Coordinator
Email: chsp@dartmouth.edu
Phone: 603-646-2875