If you think North Atlanta High School’s classrooms are crowded, imagine stepping into a college lecture hall filled with hundreds of students. While this is a reality most face at 18, some students have the chance to experience it as early as 15 or 16. Getting a head start on college courses not only allows students to save money on tuition but also gives them access to classes that may not be available in high school. This opportunity is made possible through dual enrollment, a program for 11th and 12th graders that lets them earn college credit while completing their high school diploma. With eight partner colleges and universities to choose from, and the state of Georgia covering tuition, mandatory fees, and required textbooks for up to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours, dual enrollment offers substantial academic and financial advantages for motivated students.
While most envision dual enrollment as a program where students attend the college in-person, senior Gabrielle Sullivan does dual enrollment online with Young Harris College. With her 2nd period reserved on A day and her 4th period reserved on B day for the program, she manages to not worry about the transportation aspect of rushing out of North Atlanta to make it to college on time. She instead has to be in a virtual lab classroom, which she finds as a great space to concentrate and get her work done at the proper time. “Young Harris is very understanding when it comes to people with accommodations,” Sullivan said.
As a member of the Science National Honor Society, peer leadership, and the track and field team, senior Ava Price wanted to complete her math credits early to get closer to graduation. Attending Kennesaw State University in person allowed her to do just that. With classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, she can return to North Atlanta High School by 11:38 a.m., which makes it easier to balance both high school and college. In addition, the people at the university have been very welcoming and understand that some students are part of the dual enrollment program, so she has never experienced the weird looks that she expected to receive. “Dual enrollment gives me a flexible schedule and the chance to take more electives,” Price said.
In the same way that many siblings attend the same high school, some students also pick the same college their siblings attend for dual enrollment. In senior Isabella Perez-Ortiz’s case, she attends Kennesaw State University where her older sister goes. For people who are thinking about doing dual enrollment, she stresses the fact that it is a large time and class-selection commitment, making it crucial to preplan which ones you want to take. With classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings this semester, she stays at the campus for about 3 hours and then comes to North Atlanta. “I enjoy having more free time to actually catch up on things I need to do,” she said.
In the end, the path you choose during your junior or senior years should reflect your goals and future aspirations. While dual enrollment may not be the right choice for everyone, exploring your options ahead of time can help you take meaningful steps forward in your academic journey.
