Fresno City College through the Office of Early College forms a dual enrollment partnership with local K-12 districts that enables high school students to take college courses at their high school, free of tuition. High school students can be awarded both college credit and high school credit for the single course.
Through this partnership, dual enrollment provides students with the opportunity to get a head start on their college education, to save time and money, and to experience the rigors of college coursework with support from the high schools and community college.
FCC's Disabled Student Programs and Services creates an accessible, inclusive campus environment using holistic, comprehensive, strategic services to empower students with disabilities and provide them access to pursue their academic, personal, and vocational goals. Frequently asked questions including differences between high school and college for students with disabilities is available at DSPS Transition to College with discussion of the following topics:
- applicable laws
- required documentation
- self-advocacy
- parental role
- instruction
- grades and tests
- study responsibilities
A high school IEP or 504 plan alone does not determine eligibility to receive academic accommodations in community college courses. DSPS Transition to College also has step-by-step instructions for high school students to become eligible to receive academic accommodations in community college courses.
Fresno City College partners with many different school districts throughout the Central Valley, and each high school has its own dual enrollment pathways for its students developed with Fresno City College. Common pathways include transfer pathways with general education courses in addition to a wide variety of Career Technical Education pathways that range from business, education, construction, medical and sport sciences, and industrial technology pathways. See information below for specific pathways at each current high school partner.
Dual enrollment courses do not differ in rigor and content from other college courses. Students are provided same syllabi, student learning outcomes, and course material as they would if they were taking the course at Fresno City College. The final grade the student receives in their dual enrollment class will be recorded on an official Fresno City College transcript.
High school students who participate in dual enrollment show statistically significant gains in the following areas:
- Increased high school graduation rates
- Increased enrollment in higher education
- Increased retention in higher education
- Increased completion rates in higher education
Dual enrollment is an opportunity to take challenging courses and accelerate educational opportunities. Students who successfully complete dual enrollment courses receive many benefits. However, there are some possible disadvantages that all students must consider before enrolling in a dual enrollment class. A serious consideration that students and their families must realize is that dual enrollment courses become part of students’ permanent college transcripts; if students fail, these grades could affect eligibility for financial aid and admission to other postsecondary institutions.
Another consideration is that dual enrollment classes receive college and high school credits. If students fail one of these classes, it will negatively affect both their high school and college transcripts. A final note is that if students need additional support to complete regular general education high school classes, adding the additional rigor of the college class may not be the best choice for them at that time.
Students who are currently enrolled in high school and wish to take a college class at the same time are referred to as Special Admit Students. Fresno City College provides two means for Special Admit students to enroll in college classes: dual enrollment pathways and high school enrichment. For high school enrichment, individual students initiaties the application for individual classes, and for dual enrollment pathways, the high schools identify cohorts of students and the sequence of courses they take. Further discussion of the differences can be found here, along with application guides and links.
Students wishing to take courses through Fresno City College outside of their high school or over the summer should apply for the High School Enrichment Program. Review the requirements and steps on the High School Enrichment page to submit your application and HSE packet.
Applying and registering for dual enrollment pathways is a two-step process:
Step One: Online Application. All first-time dual enrollment students must apply online at CCCApply. Any previously dual enrolled student who has skipped a Spring or Fall semester must apply online again at CCCApply. The Dual Enrollment Office has created several videos on how to apply. The application typically takes between 20-60 minutes to complete, and it can take between 48-72 hours for a SCCCD ID number to be generated. The students’ SCCCD ID numbers are required on the registration packet, the next step.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying
Timelines:
- For classes that begin in the spring semester (January-May), the date that the online dual enrollment application will open is October 1.
- For classes that begin in the fall semester (August-December), the date that the online dual enrollment application will open is April 1.
Step Two: Registration Packet. A completed PDF registration packet is required for all Dual Enrollment students before each term in which they wish to enroll into a dual enrollment course. Registration packets are available from the high school counselor. This form requires signatures from the high school principal and counselor as well as the student and a parent/guardian. If the high school student will be 18 before the start of the semester, a parent signature is not required.
The completed packet should be returned to the high school counselor who will review it for accuracy including SCCCD ID#. Once it is reviewed, the high school counselor will then forward it to the Dual Enrollment Department at FCC. Incomplete or inaccurate registration packets will be returned to the high school counselor, and they will not be processed until the errors are corrected and the packet is returned to the college.
