WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — College can be costly, and because of that, the Houston County School District is expanding a program that cuts the cost and brings the campus to their students.
11th grader Miles Hambrick wants to enroll in college to work in cybersecurity.
With the help of his school, he's already nine college credits ahead without even leaving his high school campus.
"I first heard about it when I first got to high school, and that was when my counselor told me about it and she told me all the benefits and what it does for you and everything," the upperclassman said.
Dual enrollment at all Houston county high schools are free.
Students can earn college credits through a four-class courseload.
"I did a Spanish class for dual enrollment and right now I’m taking U.S. history at the school and English 101 and 102 outside of the school,” he added.
Hambrick is one of 2,700 students using dual enrollment at a Houston County high school.
The program, just three years old, aimed at eliminating barriers of college like cost and transportation, making it accessible to students with a 2.0 GPA or greater.
"A lot of times we talk about graduation is the goal, but we want our students to be prepared after graduation for any college or career that they may go into," Eric Payne, Houston's Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning said.
Payne commends their teachers for doing the work.
"Our teachers are the ones providing the curriculum for the students, they are following the college level course curriculum, and it did take some work on our part because we had to make sure what was expected to be taught at the high school level did fit and line up with the college level classes as well," Payne explained.
Soon, at least 18 college credits will be available for students, an opportunity Hambrick says if you’re a student, you should take.
"It can help you in college, because its less classes you'll have to take in college,” Hambrick said.
Students also have the option of taking their own off-campus dual enrollment classes separate from the school or advanced placement classes. Payne says in August, two college English course will be added and students will be able to graduate with 18 college credit hours.