More Learning Options

Hudson students have multiple opportunities to participate in alternative learning programs that support and expand their education at HHS. The focus of these programs ranges from college to career and include various learning environments and outcomes.

For more information about these opportunities, please contact the HHS Guidance Office.

College Credits & Experience

There are several options for students to earn college credits and gain experience with college-level coursework before they graduate from Hudson High School. Furthermore, these programs offer many transferable credits that can help students save money on future college tuition:

College in the High School: This program allows HHS students to earn college credit for work completed through Columbia-Greene Community College, all without having to leave the HHS campus. The C-GCC College in the High School program provides students with college-level coursework experience and an alternative to Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Examples of C-GCC courses include English Composition, Psychology and Sociology. Credits earned are typically transferable to other higher education institutions that accept coursework from C-GCC.

College Credits via SUNY Cobleskill: Students may also receive college credits from SUNY Cobleskill for work completed at HHS. Examples include Creative Writing and Statistics. Credits earned are typically transferable to other higher education institutions that accept coursework from SUNY schools.

To see what college credit and AP courses are frequently offered to juniors and seniors at HHS, visit the Guidance Office page and click “Course Catalog” in the link menu.

Bard Early College in Hudson: Bard Early College is a dual enrollment program in which students attend classes at HHS as well as a Bard College “satellite campus” on Warren Street. To help students in the transition to college-level coursework, Bard in Hudson participants also have access to college planning and counseling services, as well as writing support to help them prepare for the expectations of college courses. Bard College credits are transferable upon acceptance to Bard, most CUNY and SUNY programs, and many other colleges and universities across the United States. This unique program is made possible through a partnership with Bard College and Questar III BOCES.

Career & Technical Education

Juniors and seniors can participate in Questar III’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which provide students with the academic and technical skills necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.

CTE programs are ideal for students who are interested in attending a technical or trade school or pursuing a career immediately after high school. Examples of CTE programs include Cosmetology, Criminal Justice and HVAC & Renewable Energies. Click here for more information about Questar III’s CTE programs.

CTE programs are typically half day (either morning or afternoon). For part of the day, students take program-specific classes at the nearby Columbia-Greene Educational Center (131 Union Turnpike, Hudson, NY). Students spend the other part of the day at HHS for classes such as physical education, foreign language or music.

Questar III’s New Visions programs also provide career and technical-based options for some students. New Visions programs are one-year honors programs for high school seniors. New Visions provide students with valuable insight into career options from a real-world perspective.

If your student is interested in a CTE or New Visions program, please contact the HHS Guidance Office.

Career Development & Occupational Studies

It is essential that all Hudson graduates have the skills they need to obtain and maintain a job. Our innovative PAES Lab (Practical Assessment Exploration System) allows special education students to explore careers and strengthen their employability skills through hands-on learning. It is a national hands-on assessment program that systematically develops entry-level job skills, work interests and abilities. The PAES Lab can help students develop appropriate work behaviors while exploring various jobs, and foster acceleration into graduation pathways based on student interests.

Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) is another academic option for some high school students. We are in the final stages of being able to certify coursework and work hours for high school students who meet the criteria for a national work readiness commencement credential. The CDOS credential supplements a diploma and certifies that students have met all the requirements of career exploration and development.