High school students get head start at college life
After a successful launch in fall of 2008, a partnership led by Laredo Community College and area school districts continues this spring with more than 250 high school students who are earning dual credit for their diploma and a college degree.
Last August, LCC collaborated with United, Laredo and Zapata County independent school districts to offer high school students several college-level courses.
The local school districts bus the high school students to either the Fort McIntosh or South Campus three days out of the week, while the Zapata students take the coursework at their high school.
“I’ve gotten positive feedback from both students and LCC instructors. They [the students] have an opportunity to earn up to 12 college credit hours while they are juniors or seniors,” said Veronica Cavazos-Chavarria, director of Academic Advising and Student Success at LCC.
Heriberto Sanchez, a junior at Martin High School, says the college courses have helped him out tremendously.
“My mom was the one that encouraged me to enroll in the dual credit course. Thanks to her, I already have one college course under my belt,” Sanchez said. “I took History 1302 last semester, and now I’m taking English 1301. If all goes as planned, I’ll enroll in Algebra next fall semester. By the time I graduate high school, I will have 12 college credit hours. I know this will help me out in the long run.”
Sanchez is also a part-time employee at Academy Sports & Outdoors, a tennis player at Martin, and a participant in the University Interscholastic League. He says his busy schedule keeps him on his feet for a good reason.
“I have managed to balance everything out. It’s a little tough, but it’ll be worth it,” he added.
Under House Bill 1 Sec. 28.009, high school districts must offer a program that allows students to “earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit [while enrolled] in high school.”
United and Laredo ISDs cover the entire costs, including tuition, books, fees, and transportation to and from LCC.
This spring, five dual-credit LCC instructors are participating in the program.
There are 25 students from Nixon and 17 from Martin enrolled at the Fort McIntosh Campus. At the South Campus, there are 96 students from United South, 48 from L.B. Johnson and 16 from Cigarroa. Most students are juniors.
Other dual credit courses to be offered via this initiative include English 1301 and 1302, History 1302, and College Algebra 1314.
In Zapata, the school district also has been offering dual credit courses to their students in partnership with LCC. But this term a zero-cost program has been initiated by ZCISD for students who enroll in distance learning or on-campus college courses.
“For several years, our students have participated with LCC in this initiative. But students in the past had to pay a percentage to enroll,” said Marta Rivera, a counselor at Zapata High School. “Now, for the first time, ZCISD is covering the entire costs for our students. That has helped jump start our dual credit enrollment from 13 students per semester to 50 this spring. There’s been a lot of excitement and growth. We are very grateful that LCC continues to help educate our students at the college level.”
For more information about the dual credit program, students and parents may contact their high school’s senior counselor or call the Academic Advising and Student Success Center at 721-5135.
As part of an educational initiative, Laredo Community College “dual credit” English instructor, Lucinda Farrokh, greets more than 40 Martin and Nixon High School students in front of the Adkins Building on the Fort McIntosh campus. The students will have the opportunity to earn up to 12 college hours at LCC while enrolled in high school.
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