Dual credit grows partnership with local high school districts

College credit classes for high school students achieve equity in access to a higher education degree and a way for individuals to reduce their time and cost to degree completion. In dual credit classes, students gain the enhanced ability and skills to successfully accomplish college-level work. The collaborative program also brings CLC faculty and local high school administrators and teachers together. They work together to develop curricula, share instructional methods and ideas, plus gain practice experiences benefiting their teaching.

Record Setting Year!

Dual credit enrollment INCREASED BY 43% in 2022, beyond a 42% increase in 2019!

CLC has dual credit partnerships with 24 high schools in 40+ academic departments

2,200+ high school students enrolled in dual credit classes reducing time and cost to degree completion - a savings of approximately $1.5 million for students and families last year

Lake Zurich High School District has experienced an increase in students taking dual credit courses, while AP class enrollment has held steady, demonstrating that the dual credit program meets the needs of students across the curriculum.

“Recognized for their expertise, our dual credit teachers work confidently to progress their professional development to better engage students in learning that prepares them for post-secondary education,” said Zach Gimm, Director of K-12 Curriculum at Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. “Our teachers create supportive relationships to better help students explore what they’re interested in.”

Lake Zurich High School instructor Nicole Sharratt said teaching dual credit classes has made her a stronger educator because it challenges her to open the curriculum beyond the walls of the high school.

“Students enjoy talking about their personal lives and asking career questions,” said Sharratt. “After teaching dual credit courses, I’ve found myself helping students navigate what they want to do after high school more than I ever did before. Often students learn which direction they don’t want to pursue just as often as they learn what direction they want to pursue. Both are very valuable lessons.”

Maddie Parisi is a senior at Lake Zurich High School who plans to attend Illinois State University and then become an elementary school teacher. Her dual credit classes helped shape her career expectations.

“This course helped me tremendously because it provided me with some unexpected details about being a teacher. We explore all the details about being a teacher from lesson planning and differentiation to salary schedules and differences between public and private education.”

Lake Zurich senior Brooke Roben says, “Being in dual credit classes has given me the opportunity to get college credits without the cost. This is very beneficial for me because I have three older siblings who are also going to college which costs a lot.”