Twin-enrolled highschool college students drive Colorado group school progress

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Twin-enrolled highschool college students are closing in on accounting for almost half of Colorado’s group school enrollment, in line with fall 2024 enrollment information.

Of the 88,118 college students enrolled on the two-year stage, greater than 39,000 college students statewide are nonetheless in highschool, the Colorado Group Faculty System experiences. The share of dual-enrolled college students, has steadily elevated every year. Nationally, about 1 in 5 group school college students are twin enrolled, in line with 2022-23 numbers.

In mild of the will increase and the variability of the state’s concurrent enrollment system — the place highschool college students enroll in school courses — Colorado lawmakers and different training advocates need extra data on the long-term profit of those applications in addition to the general prices to the state. Lawmakers have handed legal guidelines that decision for learning easy methods to streamline and enhance a system that has been constructed piecemeal through the years.

In complete, highschool college students accounted for nearly 90% of enrollment will increase on the group school stage this yr. For the reason that pandemic, highschool college students have turn into a essential driver of group school enrollment within the state.

The numbers had been climbing even earlier than 2020 amid better emphasis on exposing college students to college-level work, mentioned Sarah Heath, system vice chancellor of educational and pupil affairs.

“We actually have centered on the worth of highschool plus,” Heath mentioned. “That has resonated.”

About 3,100 new college students enrolled this yr in Colorado group schools, with a 2,770 enhance in highschool college students, in line with October numbers.

Amongst college students who’re past highschool, enrollment ticked up solely barely. These older grownup college students historically represented the majority of group school enrollment, however schools have had extra hassle enrolling them because the pandemic.

“We haven’t had a lot progress” in that section, Heath mentioned, “aside from some on-line items.”

Nationally, group schools fared higher than public four-year universities in enrollment partially due to the quantity of highschool college students who’re additionally enrolled in public two-year schools.

Nationwide numbers present a 7% enhance within the variety of college students below the age of 17 who’re dual-enrolled this fall over final yr.

Right here’s a better take a look at the altering face of Colorado’s two-year schools:

What do we all know (and never know) in regards to the college students?

The bulk of highschool college students take school courses part-time, or lower than 12 credit. This has led to a rise in part-time college students at schools.

Of the 88,118 group school college students enrolled this yr, together with highschool college students, solely 22,715 enrolled full-time.

Many highschool college students additionally seemingly by no means set foot on a university campus due to the rise in highschool lecturers who’re licensed to show college-level programs, in line with Heath.

By the point college students graduate from highschool, they’ve sometimes earned only some school credit. Nonetheless, state leaders have mentioned that this helps offset the general value of a school training for them. A state report estimated from 2020 information that graduates saved about $53 million in tuition by way of these alternatives.

The brand new group school enrollment information doesn’t break down figures for total highschool pupil variety, however previous experiences present these applications are principally consultant of the state’s Okay-12 ethnic and racial make-up. About half of all college students in 2021 had been white, 1 / 4 had been Hispanic, and about 3.5% had been Black.

The report didn’t embody data on how the applications profit lower-income college students within the state, or these college students who would profit probably the most financially from these applications.

The place are college students dual-enrolled?

Most dual-enrolled highschool college students dwell on the Entrance Vary in city and suburban communities, though many rural districts have the next proportion of their college students taking part in applications.

In complete, Colorado has 561 cooperative agreements between faculty districts and two- and four-year schools. Solely two districts within the state don’t take part in twin enrollment.

Of the two-year schools, Entrance Vary and Arapahoe group schools have a number of the highest numbers of district partnerships. These schools enroll nearly 25,000 highschool college students, or about 62% of the dual-enrolled pupil inhabitants.

The very best participation charges are in rural districts resembling in Crowley, Edison, and Silverton, the place greater than 70% of highschool college students are twin enrolled.

Who pays for twin enrollment?

Generally, the districts and state pay for the price of providing these applications.

Packages like ASCENT, the place college students attend school of their fifth yr of highschool but in addition get assist from their districts, now require college students to fill out the FAFSA in order that they’re eligible for Pell grants, or federal help to college students from lower-income backgrounds. The Pell grants then offset the price of school incurred by the state. This yr, the state is projected to spend about $17 million to coach about 1,200 ASCENT college students.

Most partnerships between the group schools and districts are structured to be value impartial, so group schools solely cost for providers to assist twin enrollment, Heath mentioned. However districts should rent employees, present courses, and assist college students.

Nationally, some have questioned whether or not these applications are the very best use of state funds. For instance, training advocates have questioned whether or not states are simply subsidizing school for college students who would already plan to go.

Analysis exhibits that in Colorado, fewer dual-enrolled college students — about two-thirds of them — find yourself on a university campus after they graduate from highschool, in contrast with most different states. It’s not completely clear why, however the quantity decreases if college students are from lower-income backgrounds, in line with the Group Faculty Analysis Middle.

What do lawmakers wish to change?

Colorado lawmakers say they acknowledge the worth of twin enrollment, particularly as a result of nationwide analysis exhibits these applications may help get rid of gaps in who will get to varsity. However additionally they need extra data on the state’s many applications.

A state activity drive has referred to as for streamlining what it has described as a fragmented early profession and school system constructed over a few years. Colorado has quite a few applications, however not each district affords each program.

Every program has totally different reporting necessities, making it arduous to measure how applications are working individually and as an entire. Colorado lawmakers enacted laws this yr that:

  • Directs the state to carry out a complete monetary examine to investigate how a lot the applications value the state and districts;
  • Compiles long-term information on program outcomes;
  • Expands school alternatives for highschool college students; and
  • Seeks to discover a complete route on school and profession training.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter masking greater training and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado companions with Open Campus on greater training protection. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.

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