Many of our current juniors and seniors will have more than enough credits to graduate, thanks to the switch from trimesters to semesters during their time at DHS. Students who are not concurrently enrolled are missing an incredible opportunity to explore advanced curriculum, set themselves apart from their peers and earn college credit at a lower cost.

Students will earn one high school credit for each three credit course, and have the option to purchase those college credits. Earning credits through concurrent enrollment is an economical way to get a jump start on college requirements.

For instance, one course taken through SCC is $12 per credit hour, or $36 for a three credit course. Taking that same course once the student enrolls full-time in college would cost $217 per credit hour.

A multitude of courses are offered at each college, and students may choose up to two to complete each semester. However, they must be enrolled in a minimum of five classes between DHS and the college to be eligible.

Students must also have a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Durango School District 9-R covers 100 percent of the tuition costs associated with concurrent enrollment; students and their families are only responsible for miscellaneous fees and the cost of books.

The one caveat for enrollment in this program is that students must have exhausted all of the sequential courses at DHS, in the particular area of study or enroll in a course that is not offered at DHS, such as psychology.

The deadline for concurrent enrollment applications is close of business on Monday. Contact Deb Medenwaldt at [email protected] or at 259-1630, ext. 2309 for more information.

Deb Medenwaldt Caitrin Smith

Durango