To learn more about the Career Online High School (COHS), please review these questions and answers:
Adult residents of Baltimore City who are at least 19-years-old, have successfully completed 8th grade, and wish to earn their high school diploma. Minors should pursue their high school education through existing high school programs.
Program applicants must have a library card in good standing or be willing to apply for a library card.
No. This is not a GED® program. Successful graduates will earn a high school diploma and a career certification through an accredited high school.
However, if you passed any of the four GED® subject areas at a Performance Level 2 or above (145+), you can request that your GED® transcripts be evaluated and applied toward your accredited high school diploma through Career Online High School.
To request your GED® transcripts, go to the GED website
Through COHS, students may earn a certificate in the following areas:
- Certified Protection Officer
- Child Care and Education
- Commercial Driving
- Food and Hospitality
- General Career Preparation
- Home Care Professional
- Homeland Security
- Hospitality and Leisure
- Office Management
- Retail Customer Service
Students will be given up to 18 months to complete the program, which will consist of 18 credits. Students accepted into the program may transfer up to 14 credits from their former accredited high school or any successfully passed GED® subject area tests.
To receive credit from the GED®, you must have passed the GED® subject area at a Performance Level 2 or higher (145+).
Depending on how many credits the student can transfer, the program can be completed in as few as six months. The average time to complete is 12 months.
Career Online High School is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) accreditation seals.
This means that the Smart Horizons Career Online Education district and all of its schools are accredited and that Smart Horizons Career Online Education is recognized across the nation as a quality school system, delivering an AdvancED/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited online high school diploma.
AdvancED provides nationally recognized accreditation for school districts and individual schools and represents 34,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in 70 countries worldwide, educating 20 million students. Learn more about the District Accreditation Process at www.advanc-ed.org.
The prevalence of online “diploma mills” and counterfeit degrees has unfortunately created some skepticism around the legitimacy of diplomas from online institutions. Career Online High School is NOT a diploma mill. Career Online High School is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) accreditation seals.
While Career Online High School itself is a new institution and may not immediately be familiar by name, it is easy to demonstrate that the school is recognized across the nation as a quality school system, delivering an AdvancedED accredited online high school diploma. It is important to understand that a high school diploma alone (from any type of accredited high school), is not enough to guarantee a student admission into a college or university, as each postsecondary institution has its own minimum standards including admissions exams, standardized test scores, and other criteria.
Complete an online assessment.
After you have completed the self-assessment, proceed to enroll in the prerequisite course. Upon successful completion of the prerequisite, you will be contacted by the library within 5 business days to schedule an interview and discuss your application into the program.