Established in 1987, the Academic Challenge Program is a college-school partnership  between the nine Sussex County School Districts and the Owens Campus of Delaware Tech.  The students range from eighth graders to high school seniors, and the five-year program offers them the standard high school curriculum in mathematics and English at an accelerated pace allowing for college course work during the junior and senior years.  The college courses are provided at the Owens Campus through Delaware Tech and the University of Delaware.  It is possible to earn 12 college credits in English and 15 college credits in mathematics.  

The Academic Challenge Program provides an atmosphere that nurtures the scholastic and creative abilities of highly motivated and academically talented students in the disciplines of Mathematics and English.