Homeschooling High School: Dual Enrollment

What You Need to Know About Dual Enrollment

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment is when high school students take college courses, either online or in-person, through a community college or four year university. It’s called “dual enrollment” (sometimes referred to as “dual credit”) because the student is completing both high school coursework and college level coursework at the same time. The credit that is earned can be applied to BOTH the high school transcript and, if accepted by the college/university they ultimately attend, to their college credit requirements as well.

Most colleges offer dual enrollment options of some kind, though they may be restricted by type of class or age/grade of student. Students typically take 100 and 200 level classes that fulfill general education requirements (social studies, writing, literature, math, science, etc).

Why Take Dual Enrollment Classes?

There are several reasons why homeschool students choose to take dual enrollment classes. The most common are:

To earn college credit at a lower cost. Dual enrollment options are typically cheaper than tuition at a four year school so many families choose to complete some general education requirements prior to entering college to save money. If this is your goal, you should ensure that the classes you select will be accepted by the colleges you are targeting. Transferology is a great resource that can help you make this determination. Also, the website Homeschooling for College Credit can help you find opportunities to pursue credits in high school.

To experience a classroom environment. Many homeschoolers have never been in a traditional classroom and even if they have they most likely have not had experience reading a syllabus and understanding college level assignments. Taking an in-person dual enrollment course allows the student to experience what it’s like to be in a room with 20 or more other students (of all ages), how to interact with students and professors, experiment with how they best learn in that environment (should they sit at the front of the class or back?, do they take better notes by hand or on a tablet/laptop?), and understand the structure of a typical college class.

To provide additional support for parent-given grades and provide weight to their transcript. Homeschool parents sometimes worry that colleges will question the grades on their student’s transcript. While parents should not be overly concerned, having outside classes and grades given by other instructors lend strength to the parent-given grades. We have also found that taking dual enrollment courses have given high schooler homeschoolers a confidence boost - it’s not just Mom who thinks they’re great!

To find a recommender. College applications often require letters of recommendation from someone other than a parent or family member; in many cases these are required to be from an instructor of some sort. Dual enrollment classes are a fantastic way to fulfill this need. However, if this is a goal you will want to ensure that your student knows they need to proactively work on establishing a relationship with the instructor - actively participating in class, asking questions, attending office hours, etc. It is difficult for an instructor/professor to provide a recommendation for a student they do not remember so be memorable!

To pursue a class of interest or take lab-based classes. Dual enrollment can also be about pursuing an interest further, exploring a potential interest, or taking advantage of science and/or technology labs.

Where to Take Dual Enrollment Classes?

There are many options of where to take dual enrollment courses in Rhode Island, nearby MA and CT, as well as online. Here are a few that homeschoolers have recently taken advantage of:

Bristol Community College - no age restrictions
Roger Williams Extension School - no age restrictions
New England Institute of Technology - juniors and seniors only
Community College of Rhode Island - juniors and seniors only
University of Rhode Island - no age restrictions
Arizona State University Universal Learners - online courses, no age restrictions; this is the only no-risk program in the country: you pay $25 to take the class and then decide after completion whether to transcript it for $400. This is a great way to introduce a student to college-level work. You can also find more information at Homeschooling for College Credit.
Husson University - online courses, FREE tuition for New England high schoolers, juniors and seniors only

These are only a handful of the opportunities available. If you are interested in taking courses at a particular school definitely check their website for information as most colleges and universities offer dual enrollment programs.

Be aware that most institutions will require your student to take the Accuplacer test prior to enrolling in courses. This is simply a math and language placement test - it’s not a big deal. If they score below a certain benchmark they will be required to take an introductory course before enrolling in some classes. They only have to take this test once at someplace like CCRI and scores can be sent to other schools. More information can be found at College Board: Accuplacer or CCRI Accuplacer.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to pursue dual enrollment. First, these are college courses and will not be adjusted for your high-school-aged student. This means there may be materials or discussions that your child may not be ready for or that you may not be comfortable with even in courses where you least expect it. Second, the college is enrolling your child, not you. Your child will be the one responsible for communicating with their instructors and the institution; they will not speak to you. Of course, you can coach them through this, but they need to be capable of handling the responsibility. Lastly, the grades your child earns through these courses will be on their permanent transcript. This means they must be reported to all colleges that your student applies to in the future. So it is important that you are confident in your child’s capabilities before starting down this path!

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

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Learning Through Travel: Why Homeschool Families Will Love The Capitol Collection

By Melissa Robb • February 12, 2026

Some of the best learning my family has done didn’t happen sitting at the kitchen table. It happened walking through old buildings, asking questions, and seeing things with our own eyes. State capitol buildings are among our favorite stops, we learn so much about a state by visiting these unique and beautiful buildings. If your family likes to travel—or even just take day trips— The Capitol Collection is a wonderful way to turn those outings into something meaningful and memorable. It is a souvenir passbook ($15) that helps families keep track of visits to state capitol buildings. Each visit becomes more than just a stop along the way—it becomes part of your family’s story. Turning Trips Into Adventures Kids love having a purpose, and visiting capitols gives them one. Instead of just passing through a city, they’re exploring, noticing details, and looking forward to marking another visit in their book. Over time, those pages fill up with memories, and the learning happens naturally along the way. It doesn’t feel like “doing school”—it just feels like life. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about homeschooling. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Our Family’s Story This means a lot to me because of our own experience. Our family has visited 22 state capitols so far. Our first recorded visit was Pierre, South Dakota in 2009 when my son was 10 years old , and at first it was just something fun to do while we traveled. I never imagined how much it would shape him. One of my favorite memories is a tradition he started. Whenever a capitol had a rotunda, he would lie down on the floor and just look up at the dome. He would study the paintings, the shapes, the light—just taking it all in and thinking what that epic element represented. Those quiet moments often turned into some of our best conversations later. At the Oregon state house we were even able to go up INTO the dome, what a climb! Over the years, those visits led to many talks about history, government, and how laws are made. The experience stayed with him so strongly that he even wrote about it in his law school application essay . Visiting state capitols has expanded to exploring government building internationally such as the Reichstag in Germany and Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa. As a parent, it’s an amazing thing to see something that started as a simple family outing become part of your child’s future. Most recently, we visited Maryland’s capitol during a trip to Annapolis. My son is a young man now and living on his own, but when we travel together, this is still something we do. That’s what makes experiences like this so special—they grow with your children. Why Capitol Buildings Are Such Powerful Learning Spaces State capitol buildings offer a unique blend of subjects all in one place: Civics and government come to life when children see legislative chambers and learn how decisions are made. Local history becomes tangible through exhibits, memorials, and stories tied to each state. Art and architecture surround you, often reflecting the values and culture of the region. Critical thinking and curiosity grow naturally as kids ask questions and make connections. Best of all, these lessons don’t feel forced. They happen through exploration and conversation—often led by the child’s own interests. A Journey Worth Remembering Looking back, I’m so thankful we took the time to stop, explore, and learn together. Those capitol visits weren’t just educational—they were time spent together, sharing discoveries and building memories we still talk about years later. Whether your family visits one capitol or dreams of all fifty, the important part isn’t the number. It’s the time spent learning side by side. (There is a Facebook group for this hobby. It’s small but would be a great way for families to share their experiences!)