What You Might Not Know About Dual Enrollment

Florida recognizes several accelerated learning programs, with dual enrollment being one of the most popular. More than 60,000 students around the state participate each year, earning college credit or industry certifications prior to their high school graduation. We got the inside scoop from 2022 Polk State Collegiate High School (Lakeland) grad Glory Guerrero, who finished her AA degree and high school diploma at the same time.

FREE

The program is funded by the state, which means that you can take real college courses for real college credit for zero dollars. You have to make your own arrangements to get to campus for classes, says Guerrero, but “everything else, such as textbooks and calculators, was paid for.” This even includes lab fees, which can otherwise be quite hefty!

Overall, thousands of students like Guerrero have found that dual enrollment is worth the time and energy — especially if the cost of college tuition is a concern.

In the fall, Guerrero is headed off to Orlando to become a UCF Knight, prepared to major in business administration. “I am truly excited to start at UCF, and it’s all because of the wonderful academic opportunities I was offered throughout my high school career.”

REPLACE HIGH SCHOOL WITH COLLEGE

Through the early admission program, you can enroll full time in college instead of attending your regular high school. Guerrero had to take the PERT (a college readiness test) and fill out a number of forms “The professors won’t even know that you’re just a high school student,” she says. She cautions that this also means that you have to act like a college student.

MORE FUN THAN AP

If you don’t pass the AP exam, you don’t get the college credit, so there’s a lot of pressure. With dual enrollment, however, you just need to pass the class. Guerrero quickly found that she needed to study a lot more than she was used to, and that asking questions was key. But she loved being able to challenge herself and focus more on learning something new.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

This program serves students who wish to earn industry certifications in a large number of job categories — essentially, it’s a fast track to launching a profitable career. In many cases, it includes internship placement and on-the-job training in diverse fields such as welding, HVAC, cosmetology, early childhood education, graphic design, programming, cybersecurity, hospitality, web development, and office administration.

DOWNSIDE

Like everything, dual enrollment comes with potential drawbacks. You miss key skill development, or even content, from high school classes, and you’re on your own to fill in those gaps. It can also be overwhelming, and you might feel disconnected from your high school friends. Guerrero’s solution? “Remember to take breaks. Schedule time to enjoy other things and you’ll be more successful.”

How do I know if I’m eligible for dual enrollment?

You’re enrolled in a Florida secondary school or homeschooling program.

You have a 3.0 unweighted GPA (college credit) or a 2.0 unweighted GPA (career preparation credit).

You achieve a minimum score on a college readiness exam:

• PERT (106 Reading, 103 Writing, 114 Algebra)
• SAT (24 Reading, 25 Writing, 24 Algebra)
• ACT (19 Reading, 17 Writing, 19 Math)

Your parent or guardian signs paperwork permitting your enrollment.

You have reliable transportation to classes that meet on campus.