DaVinci Learning Academy

Carnegie Units - 120 hours of class or contact time with an instructor over the course of a year at the secondary (American high school) level.  Strictly speaking, this breaks down into a single one-hour meeting, on each of five days per week for a total of 24 weeks per year. However, knowing that typical public school and private school classes usually meet for 50 minutes or less means it takes more time to earn credits. Not all schools are correctly calculating Carnegie Units.

1 Carnegie Unit = 1 credit = 120 hours (7200 minutes) study in one subject.

DaVinci Learning Academy

Flexible year round scheduling = 5 hours per week per class, scheduled in a way that works for you. (Typically 5, one hour classes.) Each quarter is scheduled for 13 weeks, with one flex week built in for time off.

• YEAR - 52 weeks per year, working any 5 days = 260 days. This is 48 work weeks w/ 4 flex weeks off. 240 work days (or equivalent hours)  = 14400 minutes = 240 hours = 2 full credits per year.
• SEMESTER - 2 per year. 26 weeks each, working any 5 days = 130 days. This is 24 work weeks w/ 2 flex weeks off. 120 work days (or equivalent hours)   = 7200 minutes = 120 hours = 1 credit per semester.
• QUARTER - 4 per year. 13 weeks each, working any 5 days = 65 days.  This is 12 weeks work with 1 flex week off.  60 work days (or equivalent hours) = 3600 minutes = 60 hours = .5 credit per quarter.

 US Public Schools

Rigid  August - June scheduling for 180 days. Typically meet 5 days week w/ 40 minute classes = 3 hours 20 minutes per week per class. Vacation days are mandated by the schools schedule. No flexibility.

• YEAR - 36 weeks per year, working Monday - Friday = 180 days. With 40 minute classes = 120 hours = 1 credit.
• SEMESTER - 2 per year. 18 weeks each, working Monday - Friday  = 90 days. With 40 minute classes = 60 hours = .5 credit per semester.
• QUARTER - 4 per year. 9 weeks each, working Monday - Friday = 45 days. With 40 minute classes = 30 hours = .25 credit per quarter. (Many colleges would not accept a .25 credit)

Other Methods of Calculating Credits

Basically, you have to reach the correct number of student work hours. Carnegie Units don't tell you how you have to earn them, just the amount of student work hours.

5 days/week * 1 hour a day for 24 weeks = 7200 minutes = 1 credit

4 days/week  * 1 hour a day for 30 weeks = 7200 minutes = 1 credit

3 days/week * 1 hour a day for 40 weeks  = 7200 minutes = 1 credit

60 hours = 3600 minutes = .5 credit