Read this
helpful article about the successes of Arizona’s
Dual Enrollment program involving the Maricopa Community College District and
82 high schools.
More Fast Facts
from the Article:
Maricopa
Community Colleges dual enrollment 2006-07
• Who attends: Highest number of dual-enrollment students out of 82
participating Valley schools
Desert Vista, Tempe Union
High School
District - 893.
Corona del Sol, Tempe
Union - 749.
Xavier College
Preparatory, Phoenix
- 529.
Mesquite, Gilbert Unified School
District - 571.
Mountain Ridge, Deer
Valley Unified District -
527.
Highland, Gilbert Unified - 510.
Gilbert, Gilbert Unified - 493.
Mountain Pointe, Tempe Union
- 473.
Hamilton, Chandler
Unified School District - 434.
Centennial, Peoria
Unified - 399.
Dual enrollment
vs. Advanced Placement
Another way to earn college
credit in high school is through Advanced Placement courses. AP classes add
more academic weight to a student's high-school record, and more universities
accept AP college credit. Educators say AP courses and exams require more
analytical reading and writing than dual-enrollment courses.
Most Valley schools offer both AP and dual-enrollment courses, leaving parents
confused.
Here are the differences:
Administration
• Advanced Placement courses are monitored by the New York-based College Board.
Along with the AP program, the College Board administers the PSAT and SAT
college entrance exams. AP offers teachers course descriptions and outlines but
no uniform or mandated curriculum.
• Dual-enrollment courses are monitored by faculty at one of the 10 Maricopa County community colleges. High schools
must use an approved college textbook, and college faculty direct and approve
teacher syllabi each year. College faculty members also evaluate instructors
during their first three semesters and review student evaluations at the end of
each course.
Teachers
• Advanced Placement offers teachers an optional $500 four-day course. It is
offered once a year in Phoenix.
• Dual-enrollment teachers must have a master's degree and advanced courses in
the subject they teach. They also must complete a course that offers an
overview of Maricopa Community Colleges.
Cost
• Advanced Placement courses cost nothing.
• Dual-enrollment courses cost $65 a credit.
College credits
• Advanced Placement courses offer college credit only if a student passes a
national standardized test at the end of the school year. The three-hour exam
costs $83, and it is scored from 5 through 1, roughly equal to A through
failing. Students who pass an AP test with a 4 or 5 can get credit for the
course at most universities. Some universities will accept a 3 score in some
courses.
• Dual-enrollment courses offer college credit if the student earns an A, B or
C in the course. Credits are accepted by Arizona
colleges and universities. Few out-of-state colleges or universities accept all
the credits. Some will accept credits for some courses.