By Andrea Vasquez

Across the nation there are thousands of high school students sitting in or logging into college courses, also known as dual credit students. Dual credit students are high school students taking college courses that meet their high school graduation requirements while simultaneously accumulating college credit hours toward a degree or technical certificate.

Clear Horizons Early College High School graduating class of 2018

Many times, the college courses that dual credit students take are referred to as “dual credit courses,” which Dr. Pamela Campbell, San Jacinto College associate vice chancellor for student success partnerships, says is incorrect. “There are no ‘dual credit courses,’ only dual credit students,” she said. “This terminology is where so many things get misconstrued, especially when it comes to the rigor of dual credit programs. Since these are actual college courses, the rigor is built in. In fact, at its 2018 national conference, the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) emphasized this point of ‘advancing quality college courses for high school students’ as a way to drive this dual credit terminology shift. Dual credit students are required to take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) exam and meet the College’s additional admission requirements. Dual credit students are college-ready, and they are expected to perform at the same level as any other college-ready college student.”

San Jacinto College’s current dual credit enrollment stands at 5,556 students, meaning that more than 17 percent of the College’s student population are high school students. Why is this significant? Part of the College’s dual credit efforts are its eight early college high school programs. Early college high schools allow high school students to take college courses beginning in ninth grade simultaneously with their high school courses, with most graduating high school seniors completing their associate degree prior to walking across the stage to receive their high school diploma. Currently, there are 2,689 early college high school students enrolled at San Jacinto College, representing 48 percent of the College’s dual credit enrollment.

One of the greatest advantages of the College’s dual credit program is that students receive a 75 percent tuition and fee waiver. Since most dual credit students take core courses that meet their high school graduation and associate degree requirements, upon graduating high school, they may have a whole semester of college completed and paid for resulting in less time and tuition dollars needed to complete their associate or bachelor’s degree. 

“Dual credit and early college high school programs create more opportunities for students to have access to higher education,” said Dr. Campbell. “These programs will also play a significant role in accomplishing Texas’ 60x30TX strategic plan of having at least 60 percent of Texans ages 25 – 34 complete a degree or certificate by 2030. By providing avenues for students to complete their postsecondary credentials in less time at a fraction of the cost, Texas community colleges are helping to eliminate financial barriers to student success.”

But what about after high school and college when these students are out in the workforce? Dual credit programs are often credited with training employees who are prepared to be high performers in their field, which ultimately make them capable of raising their family’s living and earning standards throughout their employment lifetimes.

San Jacinto College’s dual credit student population has increased by 92 percent from fall 2013 to fall 2017. The amount of diversity among the College’s dual credit is also increasingly reflective of the College’s overall student population consisting of more than 60 percent of its students representing African American, Hispanic and Latino origins. Dual credit students represent new opportunities for industry, technology, innovation and leadership, and they will continue to bridge educational equity and access gaps by exceeding educational standards and expectations