What is Dual Enrollment & How does it work?

Dual Enrollment is when a high school student enrolls in college level courses for college credit with the assistance and partnership of a participating high school. At San Marcos High School, the school collaborates with Palomar College and assist with the enrollment process and is free to the student. 

Important things to know about Dual Enrollment courses & expectations:

• The Dual Enrollment course is through Palomar College with a Palomar professor. The course(s) offered at SMHS will differ in format, so check your course to ensure if it is in person (F2F), online (synchronous or asynchronous), or hybrid (In person with an online component). 

• The benefit of taking Dual Enrollment courses:

  • Get college credit while in high school for free! (both the course and the books are free for SMUSD students)

  • Dual courses are weighted

  • Guided student support to help navigate the college process

• Expectations: SMHS Students must earn a “C” or higher in these Dual Enrollment courses to maintain college/university financial aid requirements. Grades become a part of an official college record. D’s or F’s adversely affect your college financial aid. 

• Not all classes are transferable to all four year universities. Please read the Palomar Course Catalog to confirm CSU/UC Transferability and credit maximums.

• Palomar courses are college-level content, therefore it is important to acknowledge an adjustment working with college faculty and meeting college level expectations.

• Dual Enrollment students are college students, therefore parents are not able to speak to professors or college staff directly. The privacy of student educational records is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). All students are encouraged to monitor Palomar email daily via Canvas. 

• SMUSD students that participate and pass these courses receive weighted credit on their high school transcript that count towards high school graduation, can receive university transferable credit (4-year & 2-year), and UC and/or CSU a-g credit as well. Please read the Palomar Course Catalog to confirm CSU/UC Transferability and credit maximums. Please note that grades are permanently recorded on the SMHS and Palomar transcript.

• Dual Enrollment is only offered during the fall and spring semesters during the school year. Dual Enrollment is not offered during the summer term. 

College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP) Enrollment Agreements

Students—along with their Parents/Guardians—enrolling in the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Dual/Concurrent Enrollment courses at Palomar College must initial each item below to indicate they have read, understand and agree to each item on the paper application.

• I understand that I must be enrolled in a minimum of four (4) SMUSD courses every semester on my high school campus.

• I understand that I can only take two (2) CCAP Dual/Concurrent Enrollment course per semester. This does not apply to non-CCAP concurrent enrollment courses.

• I have at least a 2.0 overall high school GPA and a satisfactory attendance record. I am committed to attending my college course every day and uphold the same expectations for academics and behavior as are expected of me as an SMUSD student at my high school campus.

• I understand that any course I take through CCAP will appear on my high school transcript and Palomar College transcript. I understand that I am establishing a permanent college record and will have to send my college transcripts to any colleges that accept me upon graduating high school.

• I understand that I am taking these courses for both high school and college credit (dual credit), therefore the course(s) will impact my GPA on both my high school and college transcripts.

• I understand that only approved CCAP courses will receive dual credit and/or weighted GPA credit. I understand that my CCAP college course(s) will allow me to fulfill a SMUSD high school graduation requirement. I understand that if I earn an F in such a course, I need to remediate the course to meet high school graduation requirements. For a-g credit, I will need to remediate any D/F grade earned as well.

• I understand that I am committing to staying in the course for the entire term. However, should I see the need to drop the course, I will consult with my high school counselor first. Note: It is the responsibility of the student to go through the process as parents/guardians/SMUSD Personnel cannot withdraw/drop a course on behalf of a student.

• I understand that if I receive a D/F/W grade it will permanently reflect on my college coursework, and I may not be allowed to participate in future college coursework until after high school graduation. These grades may impact college financial aid.

• I understand that if I drop a course before Palomar College’s withdraw (W) deadline, the course will not appear on my high school or Palomar College transcript. However, any course dropped after the withdraw/add/drop deadline, will appear on both transcripts. Students are expected to know Palomar’s deadline and their high school’s deadline for dropping a course and adhere to those deadlines accordingly.

• I understand that I am taking on college-level coursework, it may be difficult, and I am committing to that work for the entirety of the semester. I will communicate with my college professor and high school counselor frequently regarding my progress in the course and I will proactively seek out assistance, if needed.

• I understand that the required textbooks/novels for the CCAP courses will be provided to me (student) free of charge. I agree to return any textbooks/novels checked out to me at the end of the course. Failure to return these textbooks will result in student fines.

• I understand that as a college student written consent from the student is required in order to release any information pertaining to the student; this includes, but is not limited to, student grades. California Education Code prohibits parents/guardians from accessing student records at any post-secondary institution without the explicit written consent of the student.

• I understand that if I have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 and will be seeking accommodations, I will be responsible for meeting with Palomar College Disability Resource Center (DRC) Counselors to determine DRC eligibility and accommodations. The Palomar College DRC can be reached at 760.744.1150, ext. 2375 or by email at: drc@palomar.edu. Their website is: https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/drc.

• I understand that CCAP college courses do not count toward students’ calculation of athletic grade eligibility for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The outcomes of these courses (i.e. grades) can have an effect on a student’s CIF and/or NCAA eligibility.

• I understand that if I play sports, that my priority is to attend class. Missing class for a sporting event/practice is not a valid excuse and may have a negative impact on my grade in the class.

• I understand that CCAP Concurrent Enrollment courses will be held on the Palomar College campus and may start before SMUSD begins their semester. If this is the case, I commit to being in class on the first day of my college course at Palomar College. Dual Enrollment courses will be held on the high school campus.

Click here to learn how to APPLY