By Barry H. Hendrix
Approximately 100 students at Thomasville High School are currently enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes at the Thomasville campus of Coastal Alabama Community College.
The State of Alabama requires high school students, starting with this graduating Class of 2026, to meet at least one College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator to receive a general pathway high school diploma. These indicators include earning a benchmark score on the ACT, a qualifying score on an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam, earning college credit through dual enrollment, achieving a silver level or higher on the WorkKeys Assessment, earning a career technical education credential, or enlisting in the military.
The mandate from the State Legislature was created to ensure all students have the skills to succeed in college, trade school, or the workforce.
Dual Enrollment is a great way to become CCR certified. “If they just take one Dual Enrollment course and pass the course, they become College and Career Ready,” said Joyce Figgers, THS Counselor.
THS students are taking technical courses such as welding, industrial maintenance and electrical engineering, she said. Approximately 10 students are taking cosmetology courses.
In the academic pathway, students are taking courses such as college English 101 and 102, college history, college pre-calculus, art appreciation, music appreciation, and fundamentals of public speaking.
Child development courses are also very popular, she said, for students interested in a career in education.
Beginning with the spring semester of 2025, all students have had access to unlimited free Dual Enrollment classes. The college will cover the cost of all classes in the summer semester, as well as the cost of textbooks.
THS students in the 10th through 12th grades are eligible for Dual Enrollment. School bus transportation is provided for students taking morning classes. The bus picks up at 7:45 a.m. and returns to THS at 9:30 a.m.
Benita Pritchett, the representative from Coastal Alabama, comes to THS once-a-month to meet with students to make sure they are on target, fulfilling their assignments, or she is available for questions or concerns.
The next signup date for Dual Enrollment will be held Oct. 23, Figgers said.
"Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for high school students,” said Marcus Gordon, director of the Thomasville campus of Coastal Alabama Community College. “Coastal has tons of programs in career tech, academic and health sciences and by doing dual enrollment, students can save time and money on obtaining professional certifications and degrees.
“The College has a ton of programs that are in high demand in our area. A committed student could easily wrap up their degree and walk out of high school and into a good paying job. Students going to four-year schools can take courses free of charge, saving thousands on tuition, books, rent and food. It is a great program that goes a long way to helping make college more affordable."