Accelerated Summer Online (ASO)

When you are ready to apply for a course or CTD program, you can do so by creating or logging into your MyCTD account found on the top right corner of this page. Once you have logged into you MyCTD account, please follow the prompts to enter required account information, apply for the course(s) of your choice, and submit additional application materials if necessary.

For detailed guidance on the application process, we encourage you to reference the following documents:

• Step by step course registration guidance: With Screenshots
• Step by step course registration guidance: Text only

To qualify for Indigo Tier Accelerated Summer Option Courses, students must be going into grade 6 through 12 and must also provide one of the following:

• Report card or transcript and teacher recommendation (Admission Portfolio). The recommendation form is available in your MyCTD account once application has been paid for and submitted, OR
• Qualifying score on an (Above-Grade-Level Assessment) in the required qualifying subject area (Verbal, Math, or Science) for the desired course. Student may use PSAT^TM 8/9, ACT^® or SAT^® results taken in grades 6, 7, 8, or 9. Qualifying test scores are available in the course descriptions accessible via the Explore Courses tool.
• Students going into grade 11 or 12 may use on-level ACT or SAT test results. Qualifying test scores are available in the course descriptions accessible via the Explore Courses tool.
• Successful past completion of a CTD course, with the same qualifying subject area (Verbal, Math, or Science)  at the Indigo Tier within the past two years.
• Students from India, UAE, Kuwait or Singapore who have tested with ASSET Talent Search may be able to apply as new students with qualifying test scores.

Prerequisites 

Many courses require additional prerequisites for admission. Any prerequisites are included in the course description. Any student applying to a course with a prerequisite must submit documentation showing the prerequisite has been met unless CTD already has such information from previous applications, or if the prerequisite has been met via a CTD course.

See Eligibility for more details.

English Language Proficiency

Because courses are taught in English, test scores are used to assess proficiency and assist in course placement. TOEFL (or TOEFL Jr. for grades 4-8) or IELTS scores are required for students applying with an admission portfolio for whom English is not the first language and who do not have PSAT, I-Excel, SAT, ACT, ASSET, or PreACT scores.

Requests for Grade Advancement/Acceleration

CTD course content is advanced or grade-level accelerated, as reflected in course descriptions and the standard admission requirements. Though course content is advanced, students can engage with intellectual peers who are also age- or grade-level peers. Therefore, most students should apply for courses aligned to the grade-level in which they are currently enrolled. Still, for some students demonstrating a need for an even higher level of instruction than CTD’s advanced and accelerated courses already provide, further acceleration may be an option. Visit the Requesting an Accelerated Placement web page for more information about the process, timeline, and required materials.

Tuition

Early application tuition discount

• 1 Credit Honors: $835
• 2 Credit Honors: $1,425
• 1 Credit AP^®: $865
• 2 Credit AP^®: $1,445

Tuition for applications submitted after Early Bird Deadline

• 1 Credit Honors: $860
• 2 Credit Honors: $1,450
• 1 Credit AP^®: $890
• 2 Credit AP^®: $1,470

Withdrawals

• Please see our withdrawal information for policies.

Financial Aid

CTD offers need-based financial aid awarded as requests are received. Families are encouraged to apply early because the amount of aid available is limited. Please see the Financial Aid page for details. 

FINANCIAL AID FUNDS HAVE BEEN FULLY DISPERSED FOR THE 23 - 24 ACADEMIC YEAR, INCLUSIVE OF SUMMER 2024.

• The deadline to complete a financial aid application for Accelerated Summer Options programs is two weeks before the session's June 1 start date. However, our financial aid may be fully dispersed before the deadline.
• You will receive the FACTS application link in your application confirmation email once the $60 dollar tuition deposit is paid and the application is submitted.
• It is imperative that you complete the financial aid application as soon as possible as it may take FACTS up to ten days to process your information.
• If you previously completed a FACTS application for the 2022-2023 academic year for CTD, you must still attach the 2023-2024 FACTS application to your FACTS account. You will be able to link your FACTS account to this new FACTS information. You may need to update financial information.
• If you experience difficulties with the FACTS process please call the FACTS helpline at 866/412-4637.

The summer session runs 9-11 weeks in length, depending on the student’s enrollment date in the course. Students in ASO courses should expect to spend 10-15 hours per week (for 1-credit courses) or 20-25 hours per week (for 2-credit courses) engaged in rigorous, independent course work, guided by an instructor.

Students have flexibility in terms of when they complete course work, and instructors provide individualized feedback to help students stay on track with course material. Because of the intensive nature of ASO courses, families of ASO students are encouraged to keep vacation, camp, and other summer activities in mind as they select courses.

A pacing guide provided at the start of each course should be reviewed by students and families, and families should help ensure sufficient time for course work within a student’s summer schedule.

Students who have the most success in ASO courses are active, independent learners who take initiative, have strong communication and organization skills, and have a desire to learn in an online platform. A student’s ability to work at an accelerated pace, manage their time, meet deadlines, and adjust their efforts accordingly is imperative.

Schoology, the learning management system used by CTD, is a user-friendly platform designed specifically for K-12 online learners, and is COPPA compliant.

Students will receive login information to Schoology via e-mail 12-24 hours before the course start date.

With their login information, students will receive information about a live, online orientation for all new Online Program students. (Returning students are also welcome to repeat the orientation.) The orientation will be recorded for students to view at a later time, if desired.

Access to course material, including instructor contact information, syllabi, and assignments, begins on the course start date.

The course acceptance notification email will contain a link to CTD’s online bookstore, where students can find textbook requirements for their course.

Textbooks can be purchased from CTD’s online bookstore, or from another vendor of choice. The use of a textbook varies by course, and not all online courses require one, though most online honors and AP® courses do require textbooks.

Textbook and supply costs (i.e. lab kits, if applicable) are not included in course fees.

Course Pacing

The summer session runs 9-11 weeks in length, depending on the student’s enrollment date in the course.

Students in ASO courses should expect to spend 10-12 hours per week (for 1-credit courses) or 20-25 hours per week (for 2-credit courses) engaged in rigorous, independent course work, guided by an instructor.

A pacing guide provided at the start of each course should be reviewed by students and families, and families should help ensure sufficient time for course work within a student’s summer schedule.

Extensions

Students in Fall and Winter Online Honors or Online AP^® classes may request up to three, 1-month extensions from their instructor. Online Summer (ASO) students can request up to two extensions. All extension requests are considered on an individual basis. To qualify for an extension, students need to have made significant progress towards completion of course work. (At a minimum, students need to have finished more than half of the course work to submit a request for extension.) Additionally, a student must have demonstrated the desire and capacity to complete the course in order for an extension request to be approved.

Course extensions begin on the course end date, and are consecutive, and are not able to be delayed. A $125 fee is assessed for each month of an extension.

Requests for course extensions should be directed to the course instructor in writing and must be approved by the course instructor and CTD.

Credit

For each successfully completed semester (with a grade of C- or better), students will receive one high school credit through CTD.

As an accredited institution, CTD issues credits to students successfully completing Online Honors, Online ASO, and Online AP® courses. However, acceptance of credit from CTD is a local school decision. Students interested in pursuing credit should discuss their school’s policy concerning credit from outside institutions with an academic counselor or school administrator before applying.

Evaluations

Due to the compacted nature of the program, evaluations are not available for Online ASO courses.

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts can be generated via MyCTD (go to the student's profile in MyCTD and click the button for an unofficial transcript at the top of the page) upon completion of the course and final approval of the student’s evaluation.

One free official transcript can be requested at the time of your application. If you opt for or against sending this transcript and change your mind during the session, feel free to email this request to CTD and the change will be reflected in your account. CTD will send out official transcripts in batches on the pre-determined dates listed below.  ASO transcripts will be processed starting August 26th, 2024.

To submit an early transcript request, all student coursework must be completed by August 1st, 2024. Students must message their instructor as soon as possible in Schoology® to communicate this scheduling need and to ensure appropriate guidance and pacing throughout their course. Once all coursework is complete, students will email their instructor and cc the Online Program at ctd-online@northwestern.edu by August 1st to be included in the early transcript batch. Early transcripts will be processed by August 6th, 2024.

Additional official transcripts can be requested via the Transcript Request Feature in your MyCTD account.

All course work and communication (including instructor contact information, the course syllabus, and assignments) take place within the Schoology course site. Schoology can be accessed on a desktop or laptop computer, or with the Schoology mobile app for iOS or Android tablets and phones. While tablets may be sufficient for most course work, some web tools and/or websites may require the use of a computer.

Students need access to a stable internet connection and updated web browser.

Participation in “live” course activities or multimedia recordings may require a computer web camera, microphone or headset.

See Frequently Asked Questions about Online Program courses.

• For questions regarding Online Program admissions and financial aid, please contact:
  ctd-admissions@northwestern.edu
• For questions about current Online Program enrollments, please contact:
  ctd-online@northwestern.edu
• For questions about school partnerships with Online Programs, please contact:
  ctd-school-services@northwestern.edu