More Beaufort County high school students taking college courses
Just two years ago, Ariana Davis graduated from Whale Branch Early College High School.
Now, she is preparing for another graduation -- from college.
Davis will graduate in December and begin working toward her master's degree soon after the new year, Whale Branch principal Priscilla Drake said.
Davis left high school with a diploma, as well as credits from the Technical College of the Lowcountry that allowed her to earn her degree quickly.
The Beaufort County School District hopes to make Davis' scenario more commonplace through its Early College Credit Opportunities program. It appears to be on the right track, as more students are taking the classes this year.
The dual-credit program allows qualified students to satisfy their high school credit requirements while earning credit through TCL. Until this fall, participation had remained steady.
Now, 172 students are enrolled in 487 TCL classes. During the previous fall semester, there were 130 students in 321 classes.
Whale Branch has the most participants, 73, and is the district's only school with an early-college focus. Students can graduate from Whale Branch with a high school diploma and a TCL associate degree.
Students at other high schools are increasingly taking advantage of the credit program, and some TCL classes are being offered at those schools. However, some students still have to travel to TCL.
Drake attributes much of the program's growth to students and families realizing the benefits and potential savings of moving ahead on a college degree.
"It's a great opportunity because the kids don't have to pay for the courses," she said. "They just have to put in their time and energy to not only get a jump-start on college -- but a free jump-start."
The dual-credit program is not free for the district. Through its partnership with TCL, as well as a few students who take classes with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the district covers the costs of the courses and materials, said Dereck Rhoads, the district's head of instruction.
The district has not yet exhausted the $300,000 allotted annually for the program, yet several factors make expansion difficult.
For instance, TCL's accreditation allows it to conduct only a limited number of classes off-site, college spokeswoman Leigh Copeland said. That's a problem, according to superintendent Jeff Moss, because the program's availability on high school campuses is part of what makes it popular.
If the class isn't offered at the high school, the students have to travel to TCL -- which might not be possible if it doesn't fit in their schedule or they don't have transportation, Moss said.
He and Copeland said they are working to increase the limit on classes TCL can offer off-site while maintaining its accreditation.
As more classes are offered at the high schools, the district also needs to ensure it has qualified educators who can be certified through TCL to teach those classes. Moss added that both parties are working on that, as well.
Despite the challenges, Moss hopes to continue expanding the program.
"These are wonderful problems to have with the growth we're having," he said. "Because it means students have a greater desire to take the higher-level courses and put themselves in a better position for after high school."
Follow reporter Sarah Bowman at twitter.com/IPBG_Sarah.
Related content:
- 55 students awarded new scholarship to attend TCL tuition-free, September 11, 2014
- Beaufort County schools to introduce tech programs over next 3 years: No decision on Academy for Career Excellence participation emerges from workshop, August 8, 2014
- Whale Branch Early College High School prepares for first graduation, May 27, 2012
- District aims to increase expectations, college readiness focus at high schools, May 13, 2012
This story was originally published October 4, 2014 at 7:19 PM with the headline "More Beaufort County high school students taking college courses."