Dual Enrollment Proving Popular at Dalton State

DALTON, GA, (WDEF)-Coahulla Creek high schooler Jacob Whitener wants to become a doctor.
      He is already taking biology classes at Dalton State and hopes dual enrollment will help him get ahead when he starts college full time in 2016.

"Lot of different pressures in life between school and I also work full time as well as go to school fulltime, there’s just a lot on your plate and I think it really makes you grow up you know."

Whitener is one of 150 high schoolers from across North Georgia now taking part in Dalton State’s dual enrollment program.

Katherine Logan, Dalton State Admissions,"The state through various forms of funding pay for tuition, Dalton State is able to waive a majority of the fees for students, there is still an out of pocket cost, about 65-90 dollars a semester and then books which can vary in price."

Some current college students wish they could have taken part in the program when they were in High School.

Taylor Boyd, Early Childhood Education Major Dalton State,"Dual enrollment would have helped me graduate faster and save money."

In some cases high schoolers in dual enrollment programs have even graduated with their high school diploma and an associates degree.

Some high school teachers believe dual enrollment is a good idea and feel exposure to college courses and a college environment as early as possible can help some high schoolers.

Joe Matteson, Morris Innovative High School Math Teacher,"A lot of the students I work don’t believe college is an attainable goal and so we try and bring them and let them see college first hand and see that it is a step they can take."

Dual enrollment programs are also proving popular in Ohio and Massachusetts.

Critics of dual enrollment feel high schoolers may get burnt out on college courses too early.

      Others believe students miss out on taking part in extra curricular high school activities.