Dual, concurrent enrollment courses open doors

Dual and concurrent courses are opening doors for high school students in Sheridan County School District 2.

Mitch Craft, an assistant superintendent with the district, explained the benefits of the courses in a joint meeting of trustees with the school district and the Northern Wyoming Community College District Monday night.

Craft said in the 2019-20 school year, 95 juniors and seniors at Sheridan High School and John C. Schiffer Collaborative School earned 550 college credits in dual enrollment, and over 319 students earned over 1,600 credits in concurrent enrollment. He said numbers for this year are projected, because the year isn’t yet complete, but so far there are just over 90 students in dual enrollment and just over 290 in concurrent.

In dual enrollment, students go to Sheridan College and take college courses from instructors there. Concurrent enrollment courses are college-level courses taught at the high school by college-approved high school teachers. Craft said in order to teach the concurrent courses, teachers have to meet the college qualifications.

In both types of courses, Craft said, students simultaneously earn high school and college credits.

Craft said in both cases, there is no cost to the students or their parents. The school district and Sheridan College cover costs including books and college tuition.

Craft said Sheridan High School offers 18 concurrent enrollment courses, and three more courses will be added in 2021-22 – human biology and two woodworking courses.

Monday’s joint meeting provided an opportunity for updates on a proposed early childhood liaison and the John C. Schiffer Collaborative School now under construction. Sheridan Media will have stories on those at a later time.