Published March 31, 2025
BY ALEXANDER FREDERICK
In recent years, Carmel High School has added several Monterey Peninsula College dual-enrollment classes, taught by high school teachers with a curriculum created by MPC, which offers students the opportunity to get ahead of their peers in the college admissions process and save money by earning college units early–even graduate faster.
But these classes could also permanently damage the college grade point average of students who are unprepared for the coursework.
In my experience as a part-time college student I have seen many of my peers transfer through the Transfer Agreement Guarantee, a program for California community college students that guarantees acceptance to certain campuses as long as the student has maintained a certain GPA and has taken a set of courses. Getting a head start on these requirements via dual enrollment has put me on track to graduate high school with an associates degree and prepared me to transfer to a four-year institution like U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Los Angeles or Columbia whose transfer acceptance rates almost triple in comparison to their regular acceptance rates.
Most dual-enrollment students at CHS will receive an A or B in their dual-enrollment classes. Bringing a strong GPA to these colleges can help students when they apply for scholarships or additional programs within the university that have GPA requirements.
The potential downside is that for unprepared students these grades will stay on their college transcript. According to the official California Community College website, the grades earned in dual-enrollment courses will be part of the permanent student record and college transcript, and poor grades in dual-enrollment courses can hurt students’ chances of receiving financial aid as well as their eligibility to enroll in a four-year college or university.
According to one CHS counselor, in dual-enrollment classes during the 23-24 school year, about 20% of students earned below a C.
Dual enrollment is an incredible opportunity for those students comfortable working within a college curriculum to save themselves time and money, but students without excellent academic performance should be discouraged from taking classes that could end up on their permanent record.
L / April 1, 2025
As a college instructor who writes curriculum for these courses, I would urge students, counselors, and parents to take two key actions when considering dual enrollment.
First, thoroughly read the dual enrollment contract that you sign to enroll in these classes. It’s a concise, one-page document that clearly outlines the expectations, reinforcing that these are *college-level* courses. If you feel you’re not quite ready, that’s perfectly okay, there is plenty of time to take college classes later when you’re fully prepared. These courses are designed for students who are ready for an additional challenge, those who can write at a college level and are eager to take on that challenge. It’s important to recognize that it’s completely normal for a high school student to not be ready for a college class.
Second, pay close attention to the advisory recommendations for these courses. If the course suggests that students should be writing at a college level and you’re not quite there yet, you may face difficulty keeping up with the workload.
For parents, I would advise you to take a close look at your child’s study habits and work ethic. If your student struggles with maintaining “0 missed assignments,” this is something to address before considering dual enrollment. I teach these classes at the college, but I also have a sophomore at CHS, so I understand the balance. In our home, we have one simple rule: no missed assignments. If you’re missing assignments, you lose privileges, your phone, your car, your ability to go out. It may sound harsh, but the lesson is important. My child’s friends often think I’m the worst mom ever because of this, but it’s crucial to build good habits before diving into college-level coursework. My kids play multiple sports too so we know the balance of all of that.
A great preparatory course for students considering dual enrollment is Library 50. Although it’s not a CCAP class and doesn’t take place at CHS, students can traditionally dual enroll and take it online. This course teaches students all the tools they need to succeed in college writing and navigating academic expectations.
Lastly, pay attention to the drop and withdrawal dates on the college schedule. If your child finds themselves falling behind, they can withdraw from the class without it affecting their transcript. However, this requires self-awareness, time management, and a strong understanding of the college process. If your child isn’t able to stay on top of this, it’s worth considering if they’re truly ready for a college class. Every student has the ability to change their habits and rise to the challenge, but it requires a genuine desire to do so. Developing critical thinking skills and learning how to navigate processes are some of the most valuable lessons a student can gain during their academic journey.
If you want to write a follow-up to this I would consider talking to the students who are failing, find out why, then connect them to the resources to help them. Maybe a monthly how to be successful column. I’m happy to follow-up with you if you want to learn more about what I’m talking about re: forms, process, and support.
If students really want to dual enroll but it’s too much during the school year they can dual enroll over the summer when their workload is lighter.
Blocking TikTok, Snapchat, and turning their phone into a brick at 9:30pm has been the healthiest thing we have done for our kids, it makes us unpopular but they find academic success without those addictive distractions.
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