Duanesburg High School Students Can Now Earn Associate’s Degrees While Still In High School
Duanesburg Jr./Sr. High School teacher Rebecca Pless discusses a novel with her students during a College in the High School (CHS) English 123 College Composition class. Clockwise from the left are Pless, Frankie Milos, Nicholas Perillo, and Matthew Coons.
Students at Duanesburg Jr./Sr. High School can get a jumpstart on their college education through a new partnership with SUNY Schenectady. The College has expanded its offerings so that students can earn associate’s degrees while still in high school or within a year of graduating.
The College will launch the new Early College program with Duanesburg Jr./Sr. High School in Fall 2021 giving students the opportunity to earn between 48 and 60 credits toward an associate’s degree while they are still in high school. While the “DSC+1” program is designed for students to complete an associate’s degree the year after they graduate from high school, students can utilize SUNY Schenectady summer programming or become full-time SUNY Schenectady students during their senior year of high school to graduate with their associate’s degree already in hand.
Students in this program qualify for financial assistance in the form of full-tuition waivers or full scholarships, from the SUNY Schenectady Foundation.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer an avenue for high school students to begin their journey into higher education,” said Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady. “This partnership gives them access to begin pursuing their goals for the future as they earn their associate’s degrees while still in high school or within a year of graduating.”
The DCS+1 program builds upon the College in the High School program where SUNY Schenectady offers College in the High School courses including English, history, math, and sociology, among others. Courses are intended for all students, regardless of their GPA or academic goals.
“This program helps expose our students to the rigor of college-level coursework and helps them start building a relationship with SUNY Schenectady to prepare them for life after high school,” said Dr. James Niedermeier, Superintendent of Schools for the Duanesburg Central School District. “The courses are also among our most engaging courses and every student in our schools needs the opportunity and encouragement to access them. There is no reason that all of our students can’t graduate with college credit under their belts.”
Students who are interested in learning more about DCS+1 should contact their high school counselor.