With college tuition increasing every day, it is essential to accumulate as many college credits as possible before leaving high school. AP classes are JC’s current method for achieving this, but those high-level courses aren’t for everyone. JC should adopt dual enrollment, but with reservations.
Dual enrollment is a program in which a high school and a local college work together to create a college course for high school students that is taught at the high school. Students taking this course receive both high school and college credit from the college involved, as long as a specified grade is attained.
If dual enrollment was adopted, administrators would utilize courses from Harford Community College (HCC).
Because of HCC’s involvement, students would pay college rates for the class. At HCC, the rate in the fall of 2013 for students living in Harford County is $92 per credit hour. Each class is usually three to four credits.
One of the advocates for dual enrollment is Spanish teacher Susan Garcia who has worked with such programs in Knetucky and Arizona.
“John Carroll has to go to dual enrollment because of the cost of college education,” Garcia said.
One of the benefits of dual enrollment is that it is available to students who do not want to take AP classes, but an AP curriculum can still exist at JC if the dual enrollment program is added.
AP courses operate on a higher level, and many students take advantage of the benefits. The AP test, which determines if one gets college credit, this year is $89.
Dual enrollment is more expensive but getting credit is ensured.
JC should adopt dual enrollment courses, but make them more rigorous than other schools’. Since dual enrollment classes are generally easier than AP classes, a B average should be maintained, rather than a C.
If JC adopted the program it would be the first school in Harford County to do so, increasing the school’s prestige and attractiveness to potential students.
Rebecca Driver is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.