FRANKFORT, Ky. — Higher education officials in Kentucky are reporting a big increase in the number of high school students taking dual-credit courses through a college or university.
The Council on Postsecondary Education says nearly 35,000 high school students across Kentucky participated in the dual-credit courses during the 2017-18 academic year. The council says participation is up 45 percent since the 2015-16 year.
The council says the Kentucky Community and Technical College System increased dual-credit students by 47 percent during that time. The increase at public four-year universities was 41 percent.
Officials say dual-credit courses are cost-effective ways for students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school. They say studies indicate those courses increase the likelihood of attending college and graduating on time.