Dual credit courses growing in popularity at Clinton High School
Clinton Public School District
Dr. Tim Martin, Superintendent
(601) 924-7533
Media contact: Sandi Beason, APR
CLINTON — Clinton High School teacher Bradley Freeny has high expectations for his students.
“They’re getting English IV while they’re receiving credit through Hinds Community College for Comp I and II,” he said. “They get a taste of what it’s like to be in a college class.”
Students at Clinton High School have the opportunity to earn college credit through several dual credit course options. Clinton High School partners with Hinds Community College and Mississippi College to offer students dual credit options their 11th and 12th grade years.
During the 2018-19 school year, 152 CHS students took at least one dual credit course, earning a total of 1,065 college hours for an average of seven college hours earned per dual credit student.
“These are 152 students who are starting their post-secondary career with a leg up on the competition,” said CHS Principal Brett Robinson.
The classes are offered through CHS at a substantial savings for families, Robinson said.
“Students can begin taking online dual credit courses through Hinds their junior year and classroom dual credit their senior year,” said counselor Dana Wright. “Entrance into these courses is based on their cumulative GPA and credits earned.”
CHS students can choose from 17 online options and three classroom options. Both Hinds and MC have provided these opportunities at a nominal fee in comparison to taking them their freshman year on campus, Wright said.
For a fee of $100, students can take all of the classroom options. The fee does not include textbooks or cover online courses students take directly through Hinds or other colleges and universities, only the dual credit courses taught by CHS teachers.
“Clinton High School has seen our dual credit program grow exponentially over the past few years and we look forward to providing even more courses in the future,” she said.
Freeny agreed, noting that CHS has added an additional teacher to accommodate growth in the program.
“We have more dual enrollment students now than we’ve ever had,” he said.
Coursework in Comp I and II is challenging and puts the responsibility on students to keep up with when things are due.
“Ninety percent of the grade comes from the six essays they write during the semester,” Freeny said. “It’s a reflection of how a college course looks. Some students have trouble adjusting. There is also a more accelerated schedule of turning assignments in. Semesters in college start later than in high school and end earlier, so students have a shorter time frame to complete the course work.”
Despite the challenge, he said, he’s gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback from students.
“After they graduate and go to college they always tell me, ‘I’m so glad I took this class in high school,’” he said. “They see their classmates struggle to adjust, and they have a better transition.”
For more information about dual enrollment courses, contact the CHS counselors’ office at 601-924-5443.