Dual credit classes haven't been offered at CCS in a while, but for the 2026-2027 school year, three new dual credit classes have been added to the curriculum: physics, algebra and economics and government.

"The dual enrollment program through the University of Texas allows students to take a University of Texas online course while receiving support from a CCS teacher," curriculum and instruction director, Rebecca Jones, said. "Students earn a high school grade, and they also have the opportunity to earn college credit from UT at the end of their course."

Dual enrollment allows students to experience what time management, responsibility, rigor, and cheating/plagiarism policies look like within an actual college course. University of Texas' enforcement of a strict “no AI” policy pushes students to bear the weight of the university-level punishments that come with plagiarism.

"Students will have already experienced university expectations, deadlines, academic integrity policies, and the responsibility that comes with managing college coursework," Jones said.

Dual enrollment along with AP classes, which are also offered at CCS, go deeper than surface level thinking within a subject and are fast-paced and higher independence courses. Students can expect to go into a rigorous, conceptual academic environment whether they are doing their college work on their own or being led by their high school teacher.

"I like how you kind of teach it to yourself and then just like do more interactive stuff in class," dual credit student Evie Pflug said.

It is evident that the dual-enrollment teachers are highly certified and well-prepared to undertake this task. During the summer, the teachers of the new courses underwent an intensive training process. For a week, the teachers spent nine hours every day preparing for their dual credit class.

"We reviewed all of the lessons, developed lesson plans for selected units and taught sample lessons to other teachers through Zoom," dual credit teacher Joni Gibson said. "I completed one week of training for economics and another week for government."

AP and dual credit classes may sound very similar in the end product of college credit, but their structures are where they differ. When taking an AP course, the high school teacher builds their own lessons around College Board units, key concepts and skills; in dual enrollment high school teachers are provided with all the lessons and must prepare themselves to teach it but are not allowed little to no freedom as far as lesson plans and activities.

"College courses can sometimes feel dry and lecture based. I am more of a project-based teacher and prefer students to interact more with both the content and one another," Gibson said. "While I try to introduce concepts in engaging and meaningful ways, I am usually limited by the required lessons."

 Students in AP courses anticipate the big exam in May over all coursework to earn college credit, hoping for a score of three or greater. In dual enrollment there are spaced out college exams and weekly assignments and quizzes that eventually add up at the end of the course to a grade which students can either accept for college credit or decline.

"You're not just stressing over one test at the end of the year," Pflug said. "It actually forces you to learn throughout the year and not just cram at the end."

As many upperclassmen prepare to enter the world of college and the sharp deadlines and time management that come with it, dual credit allows students to experience the true structure of a college course while investing time and work into earning college credit early, saving money and time from their college experience.

"For CCS, dual enrollment courses expand the academic opportunities we can offer our students and strengthen our commitment to being future ready," Jones said. "We want our graduates to leave CCS prepared not only academically, but also with the confidence, responsibility, and perseverance to succeed post high school."

With the addition of dual credit classes at CCS, driven students are given even more college-readiness options and opportunities. Teachers learn to navigate the dual enrollment structure while continuing to pour into their students' education. With a forward-thinking administration, CCS can celebrate current milestones while expanding the long-term benefits of a dual credit program.

"Dual enrollment provides an exciting opportunity to experience college while still having the support of the CCS community," Jones said. " We are off to a great start with the courses we are offering this year and are looking to see what additional courses could be added in the future."