Westside High School students have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school through a wide range of dual enrollment courses offered in partnership with Metropolitan Community College.
More than 20 dual enrollment classes are available each semester, allowing students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time.
“We actually have a lot of opportunities with Metro Community College with dual enrollment classes,” counselor Tara Nettifee said. “There’s more than 20 each semester that are offered, and outside of the high school, you can take classes on your own at Metro Community College as well.”
In addition to in-school options, students can also participate in the Career Academy program, which allows them to split their day between Westside and one of Metro’s campuses to focus on career-based learning.
“Your classes start between 12:30 and 1:00 depending on the program,” Nettifee said. “That gives you time to get to the other campus. You’re responsible for getting yourself there — there’s no transportation provided — and then you do your classes in the afternoon.”
Dual enrollment courses offer students a streamlined way to earn college credit without additional coursework.
“There’s no extra work,” Nettifee said. “You just get that same credit as you’re going through your class.”
The program has become even more accessible in recent years. For the fourth consecutive year, dual enrollment and Career Academy courses through Metro have been offered tuition-free for high school students.
“There was leftover COVID money at the federal and state levels, and Metro decided to take that money and turn it into free tuition for high school students,” Nettifee said. “Our Board of Governors renewed it for this year again, and we’re excited about that.”
Teachers leading dual enrollment courses must meet additional qualifications, including holding at least a master’s degree in the subject they teach.
“You have your bachelor’s and your teaching degree and you can teach most courses here,” Metropolitan Community College composition teacher Chase Martin said. “But if you want to teach at a higher level, a master’s is at least the starting point.”
Martin said balancing expectations across multiple institutions can be challenging.
“The main thing that I have anxiety about is just making sure I’m checking all the boxes that I need to for MCC, for Metro and for Nebraska Wesleyan,” Martin said.
While dual enrollment classes are similar in difficulty to Advanced Placement courses, the structure differs.
“With AP, you’re teaching toward a test — the AP exam at the end of the year,” Martin said. “Dual enrollment is structured more like a college course.”
School officials said students interested in dual enrollment can contact Nettifee or counselor Ethan Shaffer for more information about course options and credit transfers.
“I help students figure out how things will transfer because we know not everybody’s going to go to Metro,” Nettifee said. “But we know those classes will transfer in-state and out-of-state — most schools will accept our credits.”
As dual enrollment continues to expand, Westside students are gaining more opportunities to get ahead academically while preparing for college and future careers.
