Dual enrollment seems misguided.

[Anonymous]

Northern va community college had the jumpstart program that FCPS was promoting at the beginning of COVID. It was a great opportunity for high school kids to fill up their time when they were stuck at home. They were only basic gen Ed classes that could easily transfer to 4 year public va universities. They were online classes taught by nova professors.

[Anonymous]

I did this in HS in the 90s. I'm from the Midwest. I took dual classes at my HS taught by a college level instructor. I graduated as a junior in college. My college accepted all the credits.

[Anonymous]

Dual enrollment doesn't make a lot of sense for high-achieving kids at schools with solid AP programs, especially if the family has some money.

Well, we got none of that. Our kid is doing dual enrollment to get some learning (and maybe some credits) for cheap. We're not reaching for the Ivy League.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine son will have 4 DE classes, worth at least 12 credits and 4-5 AP classes. He did it all at his high school.

This. My DC to DE multivariable calc and linear algebra at the HS with a teacher the GMU deemed qualified to teach the DE classes. I'm not sure what the standards are but I know there is something that needs to be met.

[Anonymous]

Dual enrollment classes are typically done at the high school, you aren't leaving to go to the CC.

I agree that if an AP class is available that's preferable to a DE class but our school has DE for things not offered as AP. My son took a class that was a JMU DE in geospatial data analysis. Since he's going to another VA public U the credit will transfer an satisfies the first requirement for a GIS minor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dual enrollment classes are typically done at the high school, you aren't leaving to go to the CC.

I agree that if an AP class is available that's preferable to a DE class but our school has DE for things not offered as AP. My son took a class that was a JMU DE in geospatial data analysis. Since he's going to another VA public U the credit will transfer an satisfies the first requirement for a GIS minor.

Why would it be preferable? And, not all kids have access to AP vs. all kids would have access to DE.

[Anonymous]

All of my DE classes counted at my state flagship because the flagship was required to take them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

I don't think you are allowed to do that.

You certainly are! If you pass a GED it is equivalent to a high school degree. You may have to take community college placement exams but I don’t see any reason why you can’t - you have your certification. Now not sure if your average 10th grader could pass the GED but if you are on a mad dash out of high school this would be your option.

You have to be over 18 to take the GED test. I am presuming that rule is to prevent high school students from dropping out.

Ah, thanks for that. Stand corrected. Teachers’ Union wins again in Maryland. Other states I see allow 16 year olds to sit GED.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/gedmd/ged.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dual enrollment doesn't make a lot of sense for high-achieving kids at schools with solid AP programs, especially if the family has some money.

I think this is largely true, but there are some nuanced situations where DE might make more sense - but sometimes those situations are in hindsight.

[Anonymous]

My son took two classes at George Washington Univ after being accepted into the DCPS dual enrollment program. They were regular 100-level classes, not classes for HS students. He got credit for them at his college, a large research university. The experience was very positive, and we are grateful for the (free!) opportunity. His many AP classes and the DE credits have given him space in his schedule to pursue a dual degree at his univ. Not everyone is ready to take college courses senior year, but for those who are, it can be a liberating and exciting challenge.

[Anonymous]

A class taken at a solid 4-yr university like GW is not what we're talking about here. Big difference between what your son did and if he'd gone to PGCC for a class while he was still in high school.

[Anonymous]

"Ah, thanks for that. Stand corrected. Teachers’ Union wins again in Maryland. Other states I see allow 16 year olds to sit GED."

Several people in my family and in my inner circle of friends are high school teachers. Believe me, they are happy to have your kid take the GED and bring down the class size.

Exactly how is this the fault of the teacher unions??? I bet they wish that were powerful enough to be able to control an issue like this.

[Anonymous]

in our high schools, kids didn't *go* to a CC for dual credit. the dual credit classes were taught at the high school by approved teachers.

i know a kid from virginia that started college with 61 dual credit hours.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what circumstances your family faces. In many parts of VA DE is pushed by schools. Many of the kids would be looking at CC anyway, they are getting a head start. DE meets the needs of a lot of people.

But if you are looking at a high end 4 year university, DE doesn’t make as much sense because the credits often don’t transfer, AP scores are much more widely accepted. And something like having a two year degree in high school via DE is actively looked down on by one in state university in VA in particular. I have a kid there, but they have a certain reputation that is well earned. Started at third base and think they hit a triple as an institution.

It depends on what situation your family and your child is in. My older kids took AP, but there is a specific program my younger son is looking at in state where it would be very useful to take DE calculus rather than AP calc. That way he knows for sure he would already have the credit. And if you want to, can always take the AP test anyway.

Depends on your situation. I know of some low income kids that got two year degree in high school and then two years at a university and graduated at 20 with next to no debt. Not stupid, however much some schools and some parents may pretend otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Can people please focus?!

This is OP. I'm asking about Dual Enrollment at COMMUNITY COLLEGES. I'm not asking about special programs between high schools and 4-yr universities. Yes, we know that classes from many 4-yr universities will be accepted by their counterparts. NEWS FLASH: Their counterparts are not community colleges.

And, BTW, these partnerships with 4-yr schools where they send someone to teach on the high school campuses seem pretty neat. I'd love to take the GIS class!