Miami High School dual enrollment gives students a head start for college

Miami High School students who want to get a leg up on their plans to go to college have a great opportunity in dual enrollment programs through Eastern Arizona College (EAC) and Prescott College.

“In a nutshell, the Miami-EAC dual enrollment program provides students the opportunity to earn college credits at no cost to the student or family,” says MHS Principal Glen Lineberry. “EAC issues a transcript proving to the student, their family, and any other institution they are capable of doing college-level work.”

Dual enrollment differs from concurrent enrollment in that classes are taught on the high school campus by college-qualified teachers on the MHS faculty who have been credentialed by EAC. Participating students earn both high school credit toward graduation and college hours that will help shorten the time it takes to complete a certificate or degree when entering college

Attending college courses also helps students sharpen their academic skills and prepares them for the rigor of college-level coursework, whether they intend to go to community college or to a 4-year university in Arizona or beyond.

The credits earned through dual enrollment may be transferred to other community colleges or universities and is available to high school juniors and seniors, and in some instances freshmen and sophomores who meet EAC prerequisites.

For MHS students Josephine Klindt and Dennis Davis, the program is already paying dividends as they plot their course for higher education.

“I think it’s great being exposed to college-level coursework and getting ahead, having some of those classes under my belt,” says Klindt. “I know it’ll help me in the near future when I go to college next year, because I’ll already have some courses on my transcript. I’ve also got that experience so I’m a little bit more prepared for college as well.”

Klindt is currently enrolled in a second-year college English course as well as calculus after previously completing precalculus and trigonometry.

As to the advanced classes, Davis says he appreciates the depth of college coursework compared to what high school classes have to offer. Both Klindt and Davis attended a writing class titled “World in Conflict” through Prescott College, an eye-opening experience for them both.

“It was like a history perspective from an English class, so we were doing a lot of research on history and how conflict has affected different events in the world,” Davis says. “That college level class was not only more in depth, but also allowed for a deeper kind of learning.”

While the EAC class costs are covered through Gila County Community College funds, the Prescott College classes are offered at a reduced cost of $110 for 4-credit courses.

The reduced cost is a big draw for students, as is the preparation for the rigors of study they know await them at college. Both Klindt and Davis plan to go to Arizona State University, and having a taste of college is helping smooth the transition for them.

“From the financial aspect, it definitely has helped a lot as it’s way more accessible,” Davis says. “Once we’re in college, it opens up a lot of doors for us and makes it much easier. It makes college less intimidating in a way.”

MHS students interested in the dual enrollment program can meet with their high school counselors to get the process started. 

Lineberry says the benefits of the program go beyond earning college credit and can help them stay motivated throughout their academic careers.

“It helps students in many ways: It helps reinforce rigor and is forward thinking as they earn college credits at low-cost to zero,” he says. “EAC issues a transcript proving to the student, their family, and any other institution they are capable of doing college-level work.”

Classes available for MHS students include: Conservation & Natural Resources; Independent Study; World Art; Graphic Design; Digital Illustration; Photoshop; Digital Publishing; Typography; Portfolio Development; Biology; Electrical Maintenance and Repair; General Maintenance Carpentry; Concrete Work; Plumbing Maintenance and Repair; Principles of Macroeconomics; Accounting; QuickBooks; Website Development; Culinary Arts; Education; Written Communications; Publications; Japanese; Mathematics (Precalculus Algebra, Precalculus Trigonometry, Precalculus and Calculus); Physical Concepts; Physics and, United States National Politics.