Dual enrollment
What is Dual Enrollment?
In dual enrollment (DE), high school students are enrolled in a college course and complete all the assignments that would normally be completed as part of the course. At the end of the course, they are given a final grade on a college transcript and course credit that can be applied toward a college degree. Dual enrollment programs differ from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs in that students take college courses rather than high school courses with college-level content.DE programs vary widely in terms of how many and what college courses they offer, where the courses take place (on college or high school campuses), and who teaches them (college faculty or high school teachers who qualify as college adjuncts).
Why Dual Enrollment?
Colleges and school districts have begun to embrace dual enrollment as a strategy for improving college attendance and persistence among students who might lack sufficient preparation for college. Participation in DE can help these students succeed in higher education by giving them a realistic idea of what college requires and giving them a head start on college-level work. DE has the added benefit of potentially reducing the cost of college by providing low- or no-cost college credit and shortening time to a degree.
Dual enrollment programs may benefit institutions as well as students, as they give colleges and high schools an opportunity to come together and discuss college readiness standards and curriculum alignment. Colleges and high schools develop relationships through their work in dual enrollment and often go on to jointly design high school content, pedagogies, and student services that better prepare students for college success.
Who Benefits from Dual Enrollment?
In some places, dual enrollment programs continue to target more advanced students, but the national and state focus has moved toward recruitment of disadvantaged, first-generation, and middle-achieving students. Nevertheless, some dual enrollment programs still require a minimum GPA for students to participate.
Research Findings
In dual enrollment (DE), high school students are enrolled in a college course and complete all the assignments that would normally be completed as part of the course. At the end of the course, they are given a final grade on a college transcript and course credit that can be applied toward a college degree. Dual enrollment programs differ from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs in that students take college courses rather than high school courses with college-level content.DE programs vary widely in terms of how many and what college courses they offer, where the courses take place (on college or high school campuses), and who teaches them (college faculty or high school teachers who qualify as college adjuncts).
Why Dual Enrollment?
Colleges and school districts have begun to embrace dual enrollment as a strategy for improving college attendance and persistence among students who might lack sufficient preparation for college. Participation in DE can help these students succeed in higher education by giving them a realistic idea of what college requires and giving them a head start on college-level work. DE has the added benefit of potentially reducing the cost of college by providing low- or no-cost college credit and shortening time to a degree.
Dual enrollment programs may benefit institutions as well as students, as they give colleges and high schools an opportunity to come together and discuss college readiness standards and curriculum alignment. Colleges and high schools develop relationships through their work in dual enrollment and often go on to jointly design high school content, pedagogies, and student services that better prepare students for college success.
Who Benefits from Dual Enrollment?
In some places, dual enrollment programs continue to target more advanced students, but the national and state focus has moved toward recruitment of disadvantaged, first-generation, and middle-achieving students. Nevertheless, some dual enrollment programs still require a minimum GPA for students to participate.
Research Findings
- Dual enrollment (DE) participation is associated with a range of positive college outcomes (such as GPA, credit accumulation, and persistence) for mainstream students, as well as those in career–technical education pathways and programs.
- Lower achieving, lower income students may experience greater gains from dual enrollment than higher achieving, more advantaged students.
- Students may benefit more from DE courses held on college campuses than from those held on high school campuses.
- Rigorous DE courses, such as college-level algebra, may have particularly strong positive effects on college enrollment and completion.
- Completing two or more DE courses may yield better college outcomes for students than completing just one DE course.