Opening doors to college: Helping students earn credit early

A record number of Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) high school students are earning college credit while still in high school, often at no cost to their families. Through concurrent enrollment, students can take college courses while still enrolled in high school, allowing them to graduate with college credit and save significantly on tuition. BVSD students have taken 5,500 college course sections this year, an 85% increase from last year.

But for some students, hidden costs can stand in the way of accessing concurrent enrollment.

The cost of “free” college credit

While the state covers most concurrent tuition, students often need to pay fees for colleges to officially recognize their credits. There are also placement exam costs that allow students to skip required college courses. For families going through a financial rough patch, or those who simply didn’t plan for these costs, a few hundred dollars can feel out of reach. That’s where Impact on Education helps.

We committed $100,000 this year to help BVSD students pay for things like transcript processing, placement tests, and material fees, helping them earn college credits or industry certifications. Seeing a clear need, we quadrupled our investment over the previous year. In only one semester this year, 298 students have benefitted, exceeding last year’s total.

One of those students is Michelle Arciniega, a Boulder High School graduate and first-generation college student who is now studying at Front Range Community College (FRCC). While still in high school, Michelle took a personal finance course at FRCC, earning college credit. That course also gave her valuable experience with the rigors of higher education-level coursework.

“I learned how to manage my time and get my assignments done without a lot of guidance. Once I actually enrolled in college, I felt better prepared than a lot of my peers.”

“My college work was online and asynchronous,” said Michelle. “I learned how to manage my time and get my assignments done without a lot of guidance. Once I actually enrolled in college, I felt better prepared than a lot of my peers.”

Besides concurrent enrollment, Michelle also participated in Impact on Education’s Career Readiness Academy, where she built her first resume, practiced interviewing, and explored future careers. 

“I wouldn’t have had access to these opportunities without support,” Michelle said. “It really helped me understand how college works and what I want to do with my life.”

A smart investment in students and the state

Colorado has the highest number of residents with some college education. However, the state struggles to increase college enrollment, especially among students of color. Colorado trailed the national average in college enrollment by more than 10 percentage points in 2021.

Concurrent enrollment is one way to close that gap. By helping families cover the extra costs, Impact on Education is making sure more students can participate in these life-changing opportunities.

“I want to be a support teacher someday,” Michelle said. “I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

Michelle’s journey shows what’s possible when students have access to early college experiences. Through BVSD’s Grad Plus framework, launched in 2022, students are graduating with more than a diploma. Students build college readiness, job skills and the confidence to navigate life after high school. 83% of the Class of 2024 left high school with work-based learning experience, a seal of biliteracy, industry certification, or college credit.

“I got so much help growing up, and now I want to do the same for others. That’s what college means to me. It’s a way to thank my parents and those who have supported me throughout my education journey and create a different life.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?