The Youth Academy, High School program at College of DuPage has a full range of options to continue and enhance teens' intellectual curiosity and scholarly progress throughout the year.
Our Continuing Education class options are taught by Illinois State Board of Education, high school certified instructors that possess up-to-date Illinois Professional Licensure.
Our mission is to serve district youth in high school coursework by providing high school credit summer school, ACT/SAT test preparation classes and one-on-one tutoring. COD is the place to be to get ahead, review and prepare for high school and early college success!
Registration Information
- Register using Instant Enrollment.
- Registration for courses closes one week prior to class start.
- Register your student using the parent email and cell phone number. Do not use the student's school email address.
- Registration is not complete until you submit the required forms to youthacademy@cod.edu. Required forms can be found on the links below.
- Questions? Email youthacademy@cod.edu or call (630) 942-2208
Student and Parent Handbook
Students that are registered for a summer high school credit course or Junior High Achievers course must read the parent and student handbook before the start of classes. A parent or guardian will sign off on the acknowledgment of this document on the Grade Release Form.
High School Student and Parent Handbook
Required Forms
All in-person courses will require parents to complete and submit the Emergency Contact and Liability Waiver. Parents enrolling their student in high school credit and Junior High Achiever courses will need to complete the Grade Release Form and Emergency Contact form, even if you are not taking the course for credit. Parents enrolling their student in a non-credit (enrichment) course will need to complete the Emergency Contact form. Parents registering their student for an online course must submit a complete Online Youth Wavier as well. After registering for the courses, please complete and submit your required forms to youthacademy@cod.edu. at least one week prior to class starting.
- Online Youth Waiver (Online courses only)
- Grade Release Form (High School Credit Courses)
- Medical/Photo/Behavior Release Form (All High School Enrichment and Credit Courses)
High School Course Options
Click on the "+" sign next to each program category below to see specific course details.
Career Academy courses are week-long camps that are offered during the summer term. These courses are taught by COD faculty and are a great way to introduce career pathways and college majors to high school students. These career-focused courses enable a student to gain an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at inspiring fields and programs. Check back soon for our Summer 2025 Schedule!
To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number. All parents must submit a Emergency Medical Release Form to youthacademy@cod.edu upon registration.
Engage in inspiring courses that will encourage creativity and exploration this summer. Join our distinguished faculty and explore your interests or discover a new passion!
Computers
Build Your Own Desktop PC
Have you always wanted to build your dream gaming PC but don’t know where to start?
In this class, expert instructor Richard Morton will teach students how to build a
new desktop PC or upgrade a current one. For students ages 16+. Instructor: Richard
Morton.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 and 29
6 to 9 p.m.
COMPT-0006-030, $99
On campus in Glen Ellyn
Hands-on Cooking Classes
Gain hands-on experience learning how to cook like the pros! Develop the skills needed to create delightful meals and treats in the professional kitchen classrooms at College of DuPage. Class registration closes one week prior to class start. Students must wear closed-toe shoes and secure long hair. Email any food allergies to youthacademy@cod.edu.
Baking Basics
Learn how to correctly prepare, measure, and combine ingredients and select baking
times. Discover techniques for making cookies, cakes and pies while creating your
own delicious desserts.
Saturday, Nov. 2 and 9
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-008, $159
Culinary & Hospitality Center (CHC)
Kitchen Confidence
Learn basic cooking skills as you prepare simple recipes. From soups to desserts,
the recipes are easy, tasty and nutritious. Students will practice the basic cooking
methods of broiling, sautéing, stir-frying, steaming, chopping, cutting, mixing, folding
and seasoning.
Saturday, Oct. 12 and 19
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-006, $159
Culinary & Hospitality Center (CHC)
To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number. All parents must submit a Emergency Medical Release Form to youthacademy@cod.edu upon registration.
Prepare for the next step of your academic success and learn how to manage the workload
and expectations of high school and college courses.
Common App Essay Workshop
Get help with your college applications and scholarships by creating a working draft of your Common App essay in this writing workshop. The essay also can be a part of any scholarship application. Participants will examine this year’s prompts, develop a draft and begin the editing process in a supportive setting. Work one-on-one with an instructor and your peers to create this important personal essay. At the end of the course, students will have a working draft that is ready for final review by a parent, teacher or counselor. Time permitting, we also may workshop students’ supplement essays. Students are encouraged to bring a rough draft or outline of ideas to class.
**Please see the Spring '25 course schedule for the next course offering**
Note-Taking and Outlining
Because taking high-quality class notes is imperative for academic success, it is important to master the fundamentals of note-taking. Learn to discern important and relevant material and concentrate on the process of effectively organizing notes.
Wednesday, Oct. 9
6 to 7 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-140, $29
On campus in Glen Ellyn
Test-Taking and Group Study Strategies
Understand how to better prepare for tests, learn techniques to improve exam performance and minimize test anxiety. You’ll learn how to improve your test scores by taking specific actions, like practicing critical reading, making margin notes and following strategies based on types of questions. This project-based course involves group assignments to help students develop interpersonal skills, navigate group dynamics and gain strategies for organization and task completion.
Wednesday, Oct. 9
7 to 8 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-141, $29
On campus in Glen Ellyn
Time Management
There’s no better time than high school to learn how to wisely manage your schedule. Mastering strategies now will help you attain a healthy work/life balance that will benefit you during high school and for the rest of your life.
**Please see the Spring '25 course schedule for the next course offering**
Writing Workshop
Writing papers is an integral part of high school and college. The process and expectations in high school are different from those in middle school. Learn strategies to improve your writing and generate fresh and compelling ideas. Focus on sentence structure, punctuation and grammar.
**Please see the Spring '25 course schedule for the next course offering**
To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number. All parents must submit a Emergency Medical Release Form to youthacademy@cod.edu upon registration.
College of DuPage Continuing Education provides a summer school program that offers high school credit courses to incoming freshmen and current high school students. The summer program is an extension of the regular academic program, designed to provide students with opportunities to gain academic credit, for advancement or to explore interests by auditing a class. Check back soon to view the Summer 2025 courses!
Reach your highest potential with test prep and private tutoring options. Prepare for the new digital format for the SAT. We recommend registering for a group test prep session before requesting private tutoring. Group test prep courses focus on test taking strategies. Now offered in three locations: Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Westmont!
SAT Test Preparation
Review math, reading and English usage in preparation for the SAT exam. Students become familiar with SAT questions, develop test-taking strategies, increase confidence and speed, and get a review of test content. Students must bring writing utensil, calculator and paper for the course. No textbook. Course will address strategies for the new online format.
Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 15 to 24
6 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-111, $169
Naperville Center
Monday and Wednesday, Nov. 4 to 13
6 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-114, $169
Westmont Center
ACT Test Preparation
Review math, science reasoning, reading and English usage in preparation for the ACT exam. The course includes an introduction to the ACT writing section. Students become familiar with ACT questions, develop test-taking strategies, increase confidence and speed, and get a review of test content. No textbook. Course will address strategies for the new online format.
Monday and Wednesday, Sept. to Oct. 9
6 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-104, $169
Naperville Center
Tuesday and Thursday, Dec. 3 to 12
6 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-105, $169
Westmont Center
Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is available for ACT and SAT test prep. We recommend that students enroll in a group test prep class first. If there are certain content areas that the student would like to focus on, then private tutoring is recommended.
Tutoring is also available for most High School level courses (Algebra, Chemistry, ELA, Spanish, etc..).
Tutoring can be conducted online or in-person and any one of our campuses. A mutually agreed upon public location between tutor and student can be also be used.
2 Hours - $119
4 Hours - $225
6 Hours - $299
8 Hours - $349
All interested community members must submit a tutor request by clicking on the link below or call (630) 942-2208. You can also email youthacademy@cod.edu
If a tutor is available they will contact the student within 5 business days.
In partnership with Innovation DuPage and COD’s Business and Applied Technology division, we are excited to announce a new program initiative that launched this past fall, E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs.
E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs is a free, six-week workshop series for entrepreneurial-curious high school and college students (ages 16+).
Details for spring opportunities will be posted soon!
Please visit our website at cod.edu/e2
Please Note: Per COD policy, no student under the age of 16 can be left unattended on campus. These students must have a parent or guardian over the age of 18 sign them in and out of the classroom.
Summer Grades and Accessing Your Unofficial Transcripts
Students who wish to view final letter grades from previous non-credit summer terms may do so on the COD student portal. All final grades are viewable three (3) business days after the end of the semester. Information on how to access your unofficial transcript can be found on the Student Planning and myACCESS Assistance page under the Academics tab.
High School Refund Policy
A full refund will be issued if a student withdraws from classes at least 24 hours prior to class starting. For classes beginning on a Monday, withdrawals need to be completed by the previous Thursday. Full refunds will be given for classes that have been cancelled. Please contact the registration staff at (630) 942-2208 for assistance.
Refunds will not be issued for any of the following reasons:
- If a student registers for class and does not attend.
- If a student withdraws after the above mentioned withdrawal dates for any reason.
- If a student is dropped for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, online policies, or attendance policies.
Mailing List
Would you like to be added to the Continuing Education High School Mailing List? Complete our mailing list form.
Contact Information
Continuing Education
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1110
(630) 942-2208
Fax: (630) 942-3785
Email: CE@cod.edu
- Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.