AURORA | The Aurora Public Schools district leads the state in the number of high school students who take college courses, according to a report released last week.
Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia visited Hinkley High School on Feb. 20 to highlight this year’s concurrent enrollment report, a summary that looks at the number of high school students statewide who are taking college-level courses. APS students taking classes through the Community College of Aurora and other institutions dominated the totals, accounting for about 80 percent of the state’s concurrent enrollment totals.
“It’s become a much more prominent option for our high school kids. Our numbers reflect that,” said William Stuart, deputy superintendent at APS. “We are way out in front of other districts.”
According to district officials, 990 APS students are currently taking college classes taught in district high schools. More than 200 APS students are taking classes on the Community College of Aurora campus, and more than 100 are enrolled in the ASCENT program, an initiative that sees students earning college credits while taking part in a fifth year of high school enrollment. Forty-two APS staff members are designated as adjunct college faculty, and the district currently offers more than 60 different college sections.
Last year, district officials estimate that students saved about $990,000 in college tuition. Twenty-nine students graduated with associate degrees at the end of the 2011-12 school year, a total that’s expected to rise significantly at the end of this year.
APS officials said the district’s close partnership with CCA made those statistics possible.
“They have eight people at CCA in charge of concurrent enrollment. That’s all they do. That’s their sole job, doing one or the other aspect of it,” said Don Keeley, a coordinator with APS’ concurrent enrollment programs. “They have gone above and beyond assisting us in this endeavor.”
Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com or 720-449-9707