Dual Enrollment (DE) classes allow students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. DE classes are taught by instructors credentialed to teach on the college level. Students use college textbooks and follow the same curriculum as the courses offered on the college campus. Only students who feel ready to take on the rigor of academically challenging curriculum should sign up for this option. Students will be required to maintain good grades and a minimum GPA of 3.1 is required.

Most of the DE classes at Hopewell high school are offered in paired sequence. For example, during the junior year a student may decide to take a college English class. The student will earn high school credit for English 11 and also earn 6 college credits for ENGL 101 (3 credits) and ENGL 102 (3 credits). The college classes span 9 weeks, with the curriculum for ENGL 101 covered during the 1st nine weeks followed by ENGL 102 during the 2nd nine weeks. Students remain in the same classroom with the same instructor during the full 18 weeks.

Juniors and seniors can elect to take the same dual enrollment classes that are offered to students in pathway 1, but they will not have sufficient time to complete a degree. Taking 2 or more college classes while in high school will help students reduce costs and lighten their schedule if they opt to go on to college after graduation. Visit the college courses page to see the complete list of courses offered through Richard Bland College.