Dual Enrollment Program at Central High

Central High School senior Tierney Rowe will enter college this fall as a sophomore with 36 hours of college credit.
Tierney is not alone. This year, almost 200 CHS juniors and seniors will have earned college credit while still enrolled in high school through the Dual Enrollment (DE) program.
CHS students can earn college credit in Advanced Math, Biology, Freshman English, Physics, Western Civilization, and more.
CHS assistant principal Nathan Corley said, “Central’s kids have a head start on other kids. They can take all their freshman core classes while still in school.”
Many students, like junior Kaety Finn, plan on taking DE courses instead of Advanced Placement classes. “It’s easier to get college credit by doing the work than by taking an AP test and hoping you get the credit,” Kaety said.
The work load is more difficult, but, for seniors with room in their schedules, DE courses can make senior year about more than making memories. Students can be laying the foundation for their future.
In these days of rising tuition costs, taking advantage of the DE program makes economic sense, especially since the district currently pays for the first two DE classes. Parents have to pay tuition for any subsequent DE classes, but the cost is usually minimal compared to classes on college campuses. Students pay an additional $17 for Biology lab, for example.
In the 2011-2012 school year, only 40 Central High students took DE courses, but with more course offerings on campus, participation has grown exponentially. Students can now take courses through partnerships with LSU, Baton Rouge Community College, and Louisiana Tech.
A number of CHS teachers have been certified as BRCC instructors, so students can take more advanced DE courses with teachers they already know.
Mary Whisnant teaches Biology 120 and 121, Lynn Younger teaches English 101 and 102, and Wiley Iverstine teaches Physics 201 and 210.
Credits transfer between Louisiana state institutions, and interested parents and students can check the Board of Regents Articulation Matrix online for the equivalent course numbers at different institutions. For example, students taking Ms. Whisnant’s Biology courses will receive credit for LSU’s Biology 1201, 1202, 1208, and 1209.
Qualifying for DE courses is based on ACT scores. Students must score an 18 on the ACT English portion to take English courses, and a 19 on the math portion to take math or science courses. The March ACT will give juniors a chance to qualify, but current 10th graders who want to take DE courses as juniors should plan on signing up for the April or June ACT tests.
College partnerships and new DE courses are important to giving CHS students a head start. The newest DE course is Powerlifting, offered through Louisiana Tech. “Only four students are enrolled now, but it’s a great start,” CHS principal David Prescott said.
Anyone interested in the DE program should contact the counselors at Central High.