How to earn college credit in high school – and the difference it makes

With signs of spring in the air, many Washington high school students are once again registering for next year’s classes. A growing number of those students are opting for dual-credit courses – classes that give them the opportunity to earn high school and college credit at the same time. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the state’s high school students took advantage of such classes during the 2017-18 school year.

Program options
Washington students can earn dual credit by passing a college course (through Running Start or College in the High School); passing an exam at a certain level (through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International); or completing a career and technical education dual-credit course (such as a Core Plus Aerospace manufacturing class like the ones offered at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma or Sno-Isle TECH in Everett), all while still in high school.

Many families are aware of Running Start, which offers 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to take college courses, taught by college faculty on college campuses. College in the High School is similar, but students take college-level courses with a specific college or university in their own high school. “Teachers are approved, trained, and supported by university faculty,” says Tim Stetter, director of UW in the High School – the University of Washington’s version of College in the High School. “Students who register for UW credit establish a UW transcript, and their UW courses, grades, and credits are recorded on that transcript.” Stetter says UW credits transfer widely around the state and country.

Al Hernandez, a junior at Ballard High School, is enrolled in UW in the High School and is earning five UW credits taking Spanish 103. He finds the class itself is the reward. “I feel like people are more attentive. Everybody is ready to learn and does the homework in advance. It’s a fast-paced class, but it’s really fun and you don’t want to be left behind.”

He credits the class with developing the skills to prepare him for college. “It helps you learn to manage your work. I don’t really procrastinate anymore.”

Some students enroll in dual-credit courses to get a head start on a career. CTE Dual Credit, formerly known as Tech Prep, helps students transition from high school to postsecondary professional and technical programs through partnerships with community and technical colleges and local businesses. Like College in the High School, these courses are offered on the high school campus and are taught by high school teachers.

Jason Boatwright, multiple pathways dual-credit program supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, says, “We’re giving our students a leg up by offering this additional training and opportunities. In industries like aerospace and advanced manufacturing, the processes are so technologically advanced that they really need workers with advanced skills in math and computers. If we can get our students these skills, they could enter the workforce above entry level.”

Why dual credit?
According to the Washington Student Achievement Council, more than 70 percent of job openings in 2020–2025 will require a postsecondary credential, such as an associate or bachelor’s degree, industry certification or apprenticeship program. Dual credit provides a fast track to credential attainment, helping today’s students earn the credentials they need for tomorrow’s jobs.

Partnership for Learning’s Policy Director Brian Jeffries says, “The clear benefit of dual-credit programs, like College in the High School or AP, is that students can accumulate college credits, saving them time and money and increasing the likelihood that they will complete a credential. The deeper value is in the opportunity for high school students to engage in college-level thinking and explore areas of academic interest. If students are academically ready for this level of learning, there really is no downside.”

Dual credit is for everyone
Dual-credit programs can benefit all students, providing multiple pathways to achieve multiple goals. Kim Reykdal, program supervisor lead for school counseling at OSPI says, “OSPI’s goal as an agency is for every student to have access to dual-credit options and to take at least one dual-credit course by the time they graduate high school.”

Increasing awareness and access also increases equity. Reykdal says, “It is a moral and an economic imperative that we do everything we can to ensure equitable access to dual-credit opportunities for students – and not just access, but we must also support students academically and socially-emotionally to stay in those programs and see how they connect to high school learning and beyond. That’s why information about dual credit is a required component in our state’s High School and Beyond Plan graduation requirement.”

Jeffries adds, “Research indicates that low-income students; Hispanic, black and Native American students; and boys particularly benefit from exposure to college-level courses while still in high school.”

Dual enrollment can help close the equity gap. At Rogers High School in Spokane, graduation rates jumped from about 50 percent in 2007-08 to 87.5 percent in 2018, which exceeds the state average of 79.3 percent. Principal Laurie Wyborne says Rogers has made it a priority to eliminate barriers to dual credit. She estimates that between 150-200 juniors and seniors (of 575-600) are enrolled in College in the High School, and 62 percent of juniors take AP English.

Reykdal says, “It’s about equity and giving every student that opportunity to try a dual-credit option that fits their interests and goals. It’s important for underrepresented and first-generation students to see that they can do these types of courses and get a head start in meeting their post-high school goals.” No-cost and low-cost options are available.

Partnership for Learning, the education foundation of the Washington Roundtable, brings together business leaders and education partners to improve our state’s education system, so Washington students are ready to pursue the career pathways of their choice. Learn more at credentialessential.com.