Put college-in-high-school to work for Billings, Montana

Starting college in high school is an effective strategy for getting more students to explore college, earn a degree and complete it in less time.

Studies conducted in Arizona, Florida, California and at the City University of New York conclude that "high school students who take college courses subsequently perform better in college than those with no history of dual enrollment course taking," according to a report released this month by Jobs for America’s Future. One 2007 study found that regular high school students and vocational high school students were more likely to enroll in post-secondary education if they had taken college classes while still in high school. Other studies reported that dual-enrolled students had higher grade-point averages than their peers, were more likely to stay in school, had earned more college credits three years after high school graduation and earned college degrees in less time.

Full Opinion: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/06/22/opinion/gazette/50-gazetteopinion.txt