Many students at Timber Creek High School are given the opportunity to get a head start in college while still satisfying their high school graduation requirements at the same time. Dual Enrollment is offered at many colleges in the state of Florida and allows students to take up to twelve credit hours per semester in college with all fees covered. A popular college that students attend through dual enrollments is Valencia College. Students have the option to either take classes at Valencia’s campus or at the high school since Timber Creek does offer Valencia classes on campus. This is a great way for students to get ahead with their college classes while still being in high school.
In order to be in the dual enrollment program, students must first be accepted by taking the PERT exam. The PERT exam contains content on math, writing and reading which tests students skills to see if they are college ready. Once the exam is taken, students must obtain a score of 106 for Reading, 103 for Writing, and either a 123 for College Algebra or 114 for Intermediate Algebra. When asked if she had any difficulty taking the exam, Senior Reagan Young stated, “Math was definitely the hardest part for me because I had to refresh my memory from Algebra.”
Once in the program, students choose the times and classes they want that works with their schedule. Although it may not be the easiest work, it’s very beneficial for students, especially for ones who are planning to get their bachelor’s or higher. Not only that, it let’s students get the feel of what the college environment is like.
Senior Reagan Young gives a thumbs up to show her appreciation towards dual enrollment.