They warn that teenagers could miss out on relationships with peers, and that some students need closer supervision than they will get in college. The average age of a community college kid is 29, and we have kids who are 16 sitting next to them. For some kids, that's a real problem. High school students would do just as well or better by taking Advanced Placement classes, which translate into college credit at most institutions, many administrators advise. Though Ms. Allen avoided ruining her college transcript by pulling out of classes during the first few weeks of school, she was denied a slot on her high school's varsity tennis team because she was not enrolled full time.
Some principals also complain that dual-enrollment programs deplete their supply of school leaders.
Since the start of Washington's dual-enrollment program, the school has been forced to reduce the number of senior English classes from six or seven sections to two or three. More To Come Still, evidence suggests that interest in dual-enrollment programs is continuing to grow. Participation in Utah's dual-enrollment program, for example, has doubled in the past five years, to about 17,000 students, said Michael A. Petersen, the assistant commissioner for academic affairs for the state board of regents. Mr. Petersen attributes the program's popularity in part to a recent state law that enables students to attend participating colleges tuition-free. Furthermore, unlike many other states, Utah allows students to attend college classes not only on campus but also in their own high schools, where high school teachers act as adjunct faculty members.