HoCo Ranks 2nd In State For Number Of Dual Enrolled Students

Columbia MD

19 January, 2021

1:15 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Taking high school and college courses at the same time can be challenging to tackle, but apparently is one that Howard County students seem to be embracing. According to the Howard County Public School System, student participation in dual enrollment courses, known as JumpStart, has increased to 1,798 students, helping Howard County become the second-highest ranked county in the state for dual enrollment. Students enrolled in more than 2,800 courses to earn college credit from Howard Community College during the fall 2020 semester. The dual enrollment partnership was first introduced in fall 2013 with 82 students participating. In the fall of 2018, HCC and HCPSS branded the program as JumpStart and added 60-credit, 30-credit and flexible programs at Oakland Mills and River Hill high schools through a combination of HCC and HCPSS based courses. During the 2020 spring semester, 1,563 students were enrolled in dual enrollment courses, increasing to 1,798 for the fall 2020 semester. "I am incredibly proud of the thousands of HCPSS students who have pushed themselves to engage in these rigorous dual enrollment courses, gaining valuable skills and experience to prepare them for future success," HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano said in a statement. "I am grateful to our school staff and counselors as well as staff in the Office of Dual Enrollment who collaborate with our partner, Howard Community College, to connect more and more students to the wonderful opportunities associated with dual enrollment each semester." Data indicates a direct correlation between participation in dual enrollment opportunities and postsecondary readiness. By the end of 11th grade, at least 95 percent of dual enrollment participants met the criteria for readiness for postsecondary success as defined by the Maryland Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), compared to 47 percent of same-grade peers who did not participate in dual enrollment courses. Similarly, by the end of 12th grade, at least 95 percent of dual enrollment participants met postsecondary success readiness criteria, compared to 66 percent of same-grade peers who did not participate. All JumpStart students are able to earn college credit at 50 percent off HCC's tuition cost. Students receiving free or reduced-price meal services have no tuition costs and are only responsible for covering fees and books.