High School Students Now Graduating With College Degrees - But How? Here's The Shocking Truth

Katie Escobar and her sister, brother, parents, boyfriend and four dogs squeezed around a dark wooden dining room table on a recent Sunday night. Conversation flowed with weekly updates, favorite TV shows and an almost constant banter between the family members. The Escobars certainly don’t agree on everything, but they all value the same thing: a good education.

As the evening wore on, Katie mentioned a fact about her educational journey that had become a regular occurrence in their household. At 18 years old, she had just graduated with her high school and associate’s degree.

It was not a simple task, of course. Katie had to balance her high school coursework, part-time job and volunteer work with the demands of her college courses. And she had to do it while navigating the complexities of being a teenager, juggling social relationships and extracurricular activities.

However, the end result made all the hard work worth it. Katie now holds both her high school diploma and associate’s degree from a local college, putting her two years ahead of her peers in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

Katie’s story is not an isolated one. In recent years, more and more high school students have been choosing to pursue college courses while still in high school. In the Central Valley, for instance, thousands of high school students are enrolled in college-credit courses, either on their school campuses or at local colleges.

For some, this decision is motivated by the prospect of saving money and time in their educational journey. Pursuing a college degree while in high school allows students to take courses at a significantly lower cost than they would if they waited until after graduation. It also provides them with a head start on the road to completing a four-year degree, which could mean entering the workforce a year or two earlier than their peers.

Others see this approach as a way to challenge themselves and gain a competitive edge in the college admissions process. Completing college-level coursework in high school can demonstrate to college admissions committees that a student is capable of handling more rigorous academic demands, which can make their application stand out.

For Katie and her family, however, the decision to pursue a college degree while in high school was motivated by a desire to simply take advantage of available opportunities. 'We are lucky to have access to this program,' her mom explained. 'We just want to make sure Katie is prepared for whatever she wants to do next.'

It’s a sentiment that is likely shared by many families in the Valley, where the benefits of this approach are being hailed by educators, policymakers, and parents alike.

It’s a trend that looks set to continue, with more schools and colleges offering opportunities for high school students to take college-credit courses. And for students like Katie, who have already seen the rewards of this approach, it’s a sign that their hard work and determination have truly paid off.