Cuesta College leads California in dual enrollment participation
At the Paso Robles High School 2024 Senior Awards Night, students who completed 18 or more units with Cuesta College before leaving high school were honored with a cord.
– Cuesta College’s College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) and Dual Enrollment programs have the highest participation rate in California, according to a UC Davis Wheelhouse Report. These programs allow high school students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously through CCAP partnerships with nine local districts and 14 high schools throughout San Luis Obispo County.
“Dual enrollment not only helps students earn college credits early but also supports better academic outcomes,” said Kristina Vastine, Cuesta College associate director of instruction for Dual Enrollment/CCAP. “Studies show participants are more likely to finish high school, enroll in college, and achieve higher college GPAs.”
The Dual Enrollment/CCAP program enables students to experience college coursework while still in their high school environment. “This allows them to explore college and career pathways and save time and money on their future certificates and degrees,” Vastine added.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Cuesta College saw a 25% increase in CCAP program participation, with 3,847 students and 5,515 course enrollments. This reflects a growing national trend in dual enrollment, with nearly 2.5 million high school students taking at least one such course during the 2022-23 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Cuesta’s CCAP program also recorded a 92.4% course completion rate, its highest yet.
Cuesta College offers a wide range of general education and career education courses, including automotive technology, agricultural mechanics, and the newly launched aviation mechanics program at Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande high schools. Dual enrollment often complements or replaces traditional Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
“In Paso Robles, we are working to ensure that our students are college, career, and community-ready,” said Anthony Overton, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. “Our dual-enrolled students often leave our programs with 12 or more Cuesta units, allowing them to accelerate into their chosen trade program or college.”
For more information on the CCAP/Dual Enrollment Program and how students can enroll, visit the webpage or contact Kristina Vastine at (805) 592-9393 or kristina_vastine@cuesta.edu.
