Nov 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

English as a Second Language (ESL) & High School Equivalency (HSE)



Build your skills in transitional education programs.

Our transitional education programs are designed to help you achieve the most from your college education and succeed in college-level courses. Students who place below college level may enroll in college-level courses, paired with a support course or into a transitional education level course. Speaking with your Student Success Team can help determine which courses are the best fit for success. Please visit the CMC Academic Support page to learn more about required testing, placement and academic support services that you may need alongside your classes. 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Instruction for English Language Learners is designed for limited and non-English proficient students. Classroom instruction focuses on developing a student’s life and work skills. Students improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in leveled classrooms from beginning through advanced. Our intensive level classes focus on reading and writing, listening and speaking, and vocabulary and grammar after our advanced level classes and can help with preparation for college-level classes. All students must be pre-tested upon enrollment to determine their appropriate instructional level. For more information, please visit the CMC ESL page.

Adult High School Diploma Program (AHSD)

A diploma earned in our Adult High School Diploma Program is a primary high school diploma, not an equivalent or secondary diploma. Complete the AHSD and earn your high school diploma, issued by Colorado Mountain College, by achieving the required scores in one of the following assessments: ACT WorkKeys (most common), Accuplacer or ASVAB. Students must also complete the Civics, Colorado History and Genocide portions of the program. For more information on the AHSD, please visit the CMC HSE page.

High School Equivalency (HSE)

A High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma is a secondary diploma that is equivalent to a high school diploma and is achieved by passing a battery of standardized tests. Both GED and HiSet test preparation classes and official testing are available at CMC. HSE preparation classes are provided at many of our campuses, with some campuses offering bilingual instruction. Our authorized testing centers offer delivery of the official tests in both English and Spanish. The GED test has four subjects (Mathematics, Social Science, Social Studies and Reasoning through Language Arts). The HiSET test has five subjects (Language Arts-Reading, Language Arts-Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). 

All official testing can be proctored at one of CMC’s authorized Pearson Vue Test Centers. Qualifying GED test candidates can choose to take official GED tests outside an authorized test center with an online Pearson Vue proctor through Pearson Vue’s OnVue online program. This option does cost more.

After successful completion of either the GED or the HiSET tests, the student will receive a Colorado High School Equivalency Diploma from the State of Colorado issued by the Colorado Department of Education.   

GED® College Ready and GED® College Ready + Credit FAQ

In January 2016, the GED Testing Service announced GED® College Ready and GED® College Ready+ Credit performance levels. These two levels signify college readiness and academic credit equivalencies, respectively. 

What are the Performance Levels on the GED® Test?

The GED® test has a range of 100 -­ 200 Scaled Score points and is subdivided into four performance levels:

  • Performance Level 1: Below Pass (Scaled Scores 100 -­ 144)
  • Performance Level 2: Pass/High School Equivalency (Scaled Scores 145 -­ 164)
  • Performance Level 3: GED® College Ready (Scaled Scores 165 -­ 174)
  • Performance Level 4: GED® College Ready + Credit (Scaled Scores 175 -­ 200)​

What do Scores at the GED® College Ready Level mean?

Students who score 165 -­ 174 (on any given subject test) have demonstrated college readiness skills. When students enroll in postsecondary education, scores at this level may enable students to qualify for a waiver from developmental education requirements and courses and/or a waiver from placement testing.

What do Scores at the GED® College Ready + Credit Level mean?

Students who score 175 -­ 200 (on any given subject test) have demonstrated skills that could qualify them for the benefits at the GED® College Ready Plus level, enabling them to earn a recommendation to receive college credits when they enroll in a participating postsecondary institution.

For more information on our HSE classes, please visit the CMC HSE page.