This fall, about 6,000 more Kentucky high school students have signed up for dual credit courses that count towards their diplomas and future college careers compared to last year.
The uptick comes after the state set aside $15 million in scholarships for students to take college-level courses while they’re still in high school. School districts have to apply for the scholarships, which are awarded based on the number of seniors in each school.
All of Kentucky’s public colleges, plus all but six of the state’s private colleges are participating in the program. State officials say students that enroll in dual credit classes are more likely to go to college and succeed in the workforce.