TA News

This fall, seven Thetford Academy students, in addition to their regular studies at TA, completed a course at Dartmouth College. These students took advantage of Dartmouth’s Community High School Program (CHSP), a unique opportunity for local juniors and seniors to take Dartmouth courses while still in high school – tuition free and for college credit.

As Isabelle Weed ’26 described it: “I loved the sense of independence I got. It was a great way to introduce myself to college life. I was in a large lecture class with over 100 students, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed. The whole experience was both challenging and inspiring.”

Enrolled students travel to Dartmouth’s campus during an open block to attend in-person classes, where they get a genuine taste of college life and challenging academics. This trimester, TA students took courses in a range of disciplines, including Calculus, US-Mexico Borderlands, and Neurosciences.

Senior Adam Crockett, who studied Portuguese, enjoyed his time at Dartmouth. “There’s a definite learning curve transitioning to a college environment, but I think it’s an amazing experience if you have the opportunity.” Students have also shared that they appreciate the rigor of the coursework, the peer relationships built with college students, and the access to areas of study beyond the high school curriculum.

Thetford Academy juniors and seniors interested in applying to CHSP should reach out to the Counseling Office to start the process. Students must have a strong track record of academic success at TA, the support of their school counselor, and have exhausted all available TA courses in their proposed area of study.

Dartmouth’s Community High School Program is a unique and valuable opportunity to explore new areas of study, further a student’s immersion along an already established academic path, and experience the rigor of a course offered at an elite college. For more information and details about the application process, visit the CHSP website.