By Lexi Lin, Social Media Editor
This year, Conestoga expanded its dual enrollment program to include five new courses: Human Genetics, AP Psychology, Criminal Justice, Forensics and Sociology. Last year, the school officially signed an agreement with Immaculata, Gwynedd Mercy and West Chester Universities to provide students with dual enrollment course options. The agreement allows students to simultaneously earn high school and college credits by taking Conestoga classes for $400 per college course. Some classes, such as AP Economics which encapsulates both micro and macroeconomics, allows students to attain multiple college credits.
During the 2023-24 school year, Conestoga offered only Accounting 1 and 2 and AP Economics as dual enrollment courses. The high school submitted the new courses for review, and Gwynedd Mercy validated them.
Since the expansion, Gwynedd Mercy has become the main university partner for dual enrollment because it offers more convenient credit transfer options to a broader range of colleges. It also allows students to take the approved courses at Conestoga rather than going to a college campus. Conestoga still has an agreement with Immaculata, which sponsors the dual enrollment astronomy course.
Eleventh grade assistant principal Matthew Sterenczak oversees the school’s dual enrollment processes and works with the universities.
“The goal is affordable access to college,” Sterenczak said. “College is expensive, and so if students can have the great Conestoga experience with our courses and also be able to earn credits that can save them money going into college, that’s awesome.”
Some students taking dual enrollment courses, such as junior Kushagra Behl, appreciate the opportunity to get more involved in areas of interest and establish credibility in certain subjects. Behl also recognizes the wide variety of credit transfer options there are available. Behl currently takes two dual enrollment courses: AP Economics and Accounting 1.
“It’s a really good opportunity to get some college credits,” Behl said. “It especially helps you save money for college because you get those credits from an actual university. The thing is, it doesn’t really have any extra requirements. The only change is that you’re paying for the credits.”
Lexi Lin can be reached at [email protected].
