High School Within A University

The High School Within A University (HSWAU) at Carleton is a pilot project for OCDSB high school students who may not have considered university studies as a pathway. The pilot is now in its second year.

Students in grade 12 take a university class for both high school and university credit. This creates a meaningful experience that encourages high school completion and lowers the threshold for postsecondary access.

At the same time, the students and their high school teacher have a dedicated space on campus as a home base for their exploration of campus life – from studying in the Library (and visiting with Therapy Dogs!), to working out in Athletics and grabbing a snack through Dining Services.

From its first pilot year, 6 of the 10 students applied to university after completing their dual credit. One student has applied to college, and the others took a gap year but have not ruled out post-secondary education. The average achievement of the high school students in the dual-credit university course was a grade of 85%. The students also identified increased knowledge, comfort on campus, and confidence in their abilities as important outcomes of their HSWAU experience.

Pilot funding for the High School Within A University continues for 2024-25 school year and is then no longer renewable. The CIE is raising money to enable us to continue this successful initiative. If you want to donate, please see our FutureFunder page and participate in our Giving Tuesday campaign on December 3, 2024!

Donations to the High School Within A University will pay for:

• Bursaries for the high school students participating.
• Honoraria for university students who work with the high school students while they are on campus.
• Expenses and school supplies for on-campus experiences, such as dining dollars, a trip to the Bookstore, and more!