Vestavia Hills Students Earning College Credit: More students in Vestavia Hills High School are scoring college credits while still in high school, officials report.
The number of Vestavia Hills students enrolled in dual enrollment classes, earning credits for high school and college, surged from 125 in the 2021-22 school year to 155 in 2022-23 and a notable 226 this school yearan impressive 46% increase compared to last year, shared Assistant Superintendent Aimee Rainey.
Furthermore, the count of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses rose from 1,278 in the 2018-19 school year to 1,539 this school year, Rainey noted.
Seventy-four percent of Vestavia Hills High School students are actively pursuing college credit through either dual enrollment or AP courses. Vestavia Hills provides a robust offering of 21 AP courses and four dual enrollment courses.
Popular AP courses include U.S. history, U.S. government, English, macroeconomics, world history, biology, and calculus. English and history stand out, possibly due to colleges often granting credits for qualifying scores on end-of-the-year AP exams, while certain colleges may be more selective about crediting math and science classes, according to school officials.
In addition to taking AP courses, 86% of Vestavia Hills students who took the courses in 2023 achieved a score of 3 or higher on the end-of-the-year AP examtypically sufficient for college credit.
While many Vestavia Hills students opt for dual enrollment courses through Jefferson State Community College, the University of Alabama and Auburn University have recently collaborated with Vestavia Hills High School students on dual enrollment, Rainey shared. Jefferson State remains a preferred choice, offering substantial scholarships that either cover costs entirely or require a minimal contribution from parents. This is a cost-effective option compared to the expenses at some four-year universities, with both Alabama and Auburn accepting dual enrollment credits from Jefferson State.
ALSO READ: Four Alabama Community Colleges Recognized By Aspen Institute: Among the Best in the U.S.
Vestavia Hills High School students are also excelling on the ACT testa vital college entrance exam. Their consistently high average ACT scores place them in the top three among high schools statewide. In the past year, 82 seniors scored 30 or higher on the ACT, with two achieving the highest possible score of 36, a remarkable accomplishment, noted Rainey.
The average composite ACT score for Vestavia Hills students was 23.43, surpassing the national average. Reading averaged 24.04, English 23.42, science 23.06, and math 22.74.
The Vestavia Hills school district aims to maintain its focus on offering classes in business and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as one-third of the districts graduates pursue careers in business/finance, and another third enter STEM fields, Rainey emphasized.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is a drawback of getting college credit in high school?
Grades obtained in high school and college endure throughout a student’s college journey. Without dedication and diligence, teenagers risk diminishing their college GPA before they even step foot on campus. It’s worth noting that not all credits are transferable.
What is a benefit of getting college credit in high school?
Earning a few college credits during high school can help save time and money in the long run. This can lead to getting a bachelor’s degree quicker, allowing students to jumpstart their careers and start making money sooner.
What do college credits mean?
College credits serve as a measure of the time and effort you put into your studies. Each class is assigned a specific number of credits by the school, but there is no universal standard for this. Essentially, the more credits you earn, the closer you are to completing your degree.
Is dual credit harder than AP?
DE classes may not be as challenging as AP classes, but they offer a quicker route to get started. Unlike AP courses, you don’t need a high score or grade to earn college credit – just passing the exam is enough.