Concurrent & Dual Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions

  • From what institutions can students take Concurrent and Dual Enrollment classes? 

    Denver Public Schools has multiple college and university partners and continues to increase partnerships.  Some of our partnerships are: 

    • Local community colleges (Community College of Denver, Community College of Aurora, Arapahoe Community College, Red Rocks Community College)
    • CU Succeeds through the University of Colorado Denver.
    • Metro State University, Western Colorado University, CSU Global, Adams State University
    • Emily Griffith Technical College or Pickens Technical College

    Please contact the Higher Education Initiatives team for an up-to-date list of all college partners.

  • Can students take Concurrent and Dual Enrollment classes from multiple institutions? 

    Yes, students can take different classes from different institutions.

  • Can students take Concurrent and Dual Enrollment classes from multiple institutions?

    Yes, students can take different classes from different institutions.

  • What amount of tuition will students be eligible for?

    Concurrent enrollment must be offered tuition-free to students. If a student goes somewhere other than the local community college, the district/school would only pay tuition at the local community college tuition rate. For dual enrollment courses, schools can determine whether they will pay the difference in tuition or if students will pay the difference in tuition. Students may be charged for fees and books.

  • What are the student benefits of taking Concurrent and Dual Enrollment classes?

    The benefits of Concurrent and Dual Enrollment classes: students can earn FREE college credit and get a head start on their career paths. The courses are challenging and rewarding.

  • When can students take a college class?

    Depending on the college partner, students may enroll in college course work in the 9th grade, if they are college ready. There are a variety of methods to qualify for concurrent and dual enrollment courses and schools should contact the Higher Education Initiatives team in Career and College Success.

  • How will DPS consider CE/DE credits for GPA and valedictorian?  

    The procedures for calculating GPA and class rank will remain unchanged.  All approved 10 credited CE/DE courses will be weighted at a 5 GPweight. Concurrent and dual enrollment college courses are weighted in high school GPA calculations. Higher education institutions typically remove weighting when considering an applicant’s GPA.

  • If a student takes a CE or DE course that earns 10 credits (1 unit), but later chooses not to continue in that degree program or pathway, does the student lose 5 credits (0.5 unit)?

    No, students who earn a full unit of high school credit for a concurrent or dual enrollment course will maintain that credit through graduation.

  • Do students that earn Concurrent and Dual Enrollment credits receive honors credit towards cumulative GPA? 

    Concurrent and Dual Enrollment credits are counted towards GPA like an honors credit (with the exception of developmental education courses).

  • Does the additional credit only apply to community college credit courses or does it also extend to courses taken through CU Succeeds, Western Colorado, MSU, or Adams? 

    The additional credit applies to all concurrent and dual enrollment courses that meet the criteria for granting a full unit of credit. It is not exclusive to community college courses; therefore, many courses offered by college partners beyond community colleges will receive a full unit of credit.

  • Do students with IEPs and 504 plans receive the same accommodations as in their high school courses?

    No - colleges use ADA rather than IDEA to guide accommodations. Because this course is owned by the college of record, students must follow the accommodations as outlined by that institution’s disability services center. DPS has formalized partnerships with all schools to streamline this process. Please see our Concurrent Enrollment/Accomodations FAQ or contact Katherine_Kraft@dpsk12.org with questions.

  • Do students receive high school credit for CLEP? 

    Students can receive high school credit for CLEP if it is transcribed on a college transcript. It is the student’s responsibility to get the CLEP credits transcribed on a college transcript by requesting their CLEP official transcript from College Board and sending that transcript to the Higher Education Initiatives team or the Office of Career and College Success. For more information, see College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) in DPS.

  • What if a student wants to take a Concurrent or Dual Enrollment class, but the student does not meet the enrollment criteria?

    There are a variety of methods to qualify for concurrent and dual enrollment courses and schools should contact the   the Higher Education Initiatives team in Career and College Success. Students must meet course prerequisites determined by the partnering institution of higher education.

  • What is the ACCUPLACER Next Generation, and where can students take it?

    ACCUPLACER Next Generation is an assessment used to determine a student's academic placement and college readiness.  Students can take the Accuplacer test at their home high school or at the community college.

  • What is the anticipated effect on AP and IB courses and course taking rates?

    We do not anticipate a negative impact on AP or IB course-taking rates in our schools. CE/DE course offerings have grown across DPS high schools as more students find success in earning college credit through CE/DE coursework than they do through AP and IB courses. With CE/DE, AP and IB courses included as competency demonstration options in the new graduation requirements, we believe schools will continue offering courses that meet student, parent and district expectations. Schools will maintain flexibility over all course offerings and should work with individual students and families to ensure students enroll and complete courses that are most relevant to achieving their post-secondary goals. For students intending to enroll in highly selective, four-year universities, AP and IB courses often are better course choices, since highly selective institutions place a higher value on AP and IB coursework.

  • Why take an approach for concurrent and dual enrollment course credit that differs from AP and IB?

    This policy aligns with the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements policy, which states that completing a one-semester college level course while in high school equates to one unit toward fulfilling course requirements for college admission. The policy is not meant to suggest a variance in rigor across CE/DE, AP or IB courses. AP and IB courses generally span across a full academic year. In contrast, students complete a full scope, college level course in one semester through concurrent and dual enrollment classes.

  • What is the anticipated support for finding credentialed staff to offer CE /DE courses?

    Career and College Success, in partnership with DPS HR and school teams, is working on increasing district capacity to offer CE courses through a variety of methods. These include:

    • Partnering with colleges and universities to offer CE/DE courses through asynchronous online and blended learning models.
    • Expanding access to high interest Guaranteed Transfer course offerings that do not require English or math prerequisites to gain access.  
    • Providing the CSU Mini-Master’s program to grow our CE/DE adjunct teacher cohort. Currently, schools may use some of their Advanced Academic funds to offset a portion of the tuition for their teachers.

  • What steps should schools take to address the potential of seniors who meet the English and math high school requirements early and wish to discontinue their coursework in those areas?

    There are programs available beyond the required units for graduation within Denver Public Schools that add value to the student’s education. DPS high schools offer a variety of courses that benefit students who have completed graduation requirements early. Additional college coursework in English, math and other subject areas are available across our schools. Coursework for students who exceed the 24 units of credit required to graduate should align to a student's ICAP to maximize benefits for their post-secondary opportunities.

    DPS permits early graduation based on specific GPA requirements (see here Waivers, Exemptions and Release Permissions on the Commons more information).

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