At the Jan. 22 Spring-Ford School Board meeting, members approved a new dual enrollment agreement between Spring-Ford Area School District and Immaculata University for eligible high school students. This program will start during the 2024-2025 school year, alongside pre-existing dual credit programs with Arcadia University and Montgomery County Community College.
“As a district we are always looking for ways to support student’s goals and ‘next steps’ after graduation,” explained Dr. Kelly Murray, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Innovation.
This program is unique as it offers a wider range of opportunities for Spring-Ford. Dual enrollment refers to classes that provide high school credits as well as college credits that can then be transferred to a student’s college of choice.
This new program offers optional dual credit opportunities for classes students may already be taking, such as Spanish IV or AP classes. The full list of included courses can be found in the 2024-2025 Course Selection Guide. If a student chooses to opt-in, they can earn college credit from passing the class. If they do not opt-in, they will be in the same class while earning only high school credit.
“Any time where choice is built in for students I think it is a benefit,” Dr. Murray noted. “Students do not need to elect to receive college credit if they do not want to, but I would strongly encourage a student to consider this option.”
The dual enrollment credits do not rely on the AP exam. With this program, students can earn college credit from AP courses without taking the AP exam. As long as the student passes the class as a whole, they will gain credit. Traditionally, AP classes only provided college credit if students perform well on the national exam for the course – usually a score of 3-or-higher out of a possible 5.
AP classes are generally considered among the most challenging students can take in high school.
“Research consistently shows that AP students are better prepared for college than students who don’t take AP, regardless of their exam score,” reads the College Board website.
Each university has their own criteria, however, as to whether or not they accept an AP score, which AP classes they accept, and the minimum score required. Dual enrollment credits are more likely transferable, but this also depends on the school.
“Students who choose this as an option are responsible to research this along with all other post-secondary plans/options to ensure it aligns with their post-secondary goals/plans,” The Spring-Ford Course Selection Guide states. “Due to the specific college requirements and eligibility for transfer credit, we cannot guarantee that the credits will transfer.”
This partnership with Immaculata will cost students $125 per credit. Normal Immaculata credits cost around $250-$465 per credit. This program is an affordable way to earn credits while still in high school for only a fraction of the cost. At an individual college or university, the cost may range from $156/credit (Montgomery County Community College) to $626/credit (Penn State), or even more. Most university courses are worth multiple credits, which increases the price as well.