Dual Enrollment Through 豆奶视频 Increases Opportunity for Tennessee High School Students

Between 2021 and 2023, dual enrollment through 豆奶视频 has grown by 47% in the college鈥檚 seven-county service area and has seen a nearly 75% student increase in Davidson County alone.

This growth increases opportunities for students throughout Tennessee, providing high school students the chance to graduate with not only a high school diploma, but with college credit, and, in some cases a college degree. 

What is it about the 豆奶视频 dual enrollment program that is drawing so many students?

鈥淭he opportunity is right here; for zero dollars,鈥� Jeremy Calico, director of high school initiatives and dual enrollment, said.

For Calico and his hard-working team, it is all about students and 鈥渒eeping them informed of what can be done here,鈥� he said.

This focus on students is echoed by Amanda Dardy -- a Gear Up Nashville coordinator with Metro Nashville Public Schools -- where she works as the dual enrollment point of contact and advisor at Cane Ridge High School.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about meeting students where they鈥檙e at,鈥� Dardy said. 鈥淕iving them support and encouragement every step of the way.鈥�

For both Calico and Dardy this focus on students and 鈥渕eeting them where they鈥檙e at鈥� is critical to the growth and success of the dual enrollment program.

And, it is not just the administrators and teachers who see this approach bear fruit. It is shown in the experiences of the students themselves.

Mario Faragalla, a 2024 graduate from Cane Ridge High was a dual enrollment student. At an early age, Faragalla knew he wanted to get ahead with his studies, learning about dual enrollment he jumped at the opportunity.

鈥淥ne thing I did right in high school is dual enrollment,鈥� Faragalla said.

While attending Cane Ridge, Faragalla signed up for dual enrollment courses in the spring of his junior year and continued in them throughout his senior year. By graduation, he earned his high school diploma and 27 credit hours through 豆奶视频.

He now heads to Lipscomb University to study bio-science and philosophy.

鈥淭hanks to dual enrollment I will have the opportunity to graduate a year early,鈥� Faragalla said. 鈥淚t definitely worked for me.鈥�

Cane Ridge students will now enjoy even more early college opportunities at the high school.

Metro Schools, 豆奶视频, and Cane Ridge recently announced that an Early College program is starting this fall.

Cane Ridge becomes the third MNPS-zoned school with an embedded 豆奶视频 Early College program. Others include Whites Creek High School and Glencliff High School. 豆奶视频鈥檚 White Bridge campus is home to MNPS Early College High School, which provides a fully immersive college experience.

The program broadens the already robust options for students to gain college credit while still in high school.

鈥淭his is giving students the opportunity to get early exposure to post-secondary education,鈥� Calico said. 鈥淚t can build confidence in themselves.鈥�

With a focus on students, support, encouragement, and a broad range of options, dual enrollment and early college programs through 豆奶视频 continue to gain steam鈥攂ringing increased opportunity and low and no-cost access to college for students throughout the area.