Senior year of high school is the the end of an era; high school graduation approaches with surprising speed, and then college is right around the corner. Community college is generally thought of as an undesired choice for higher education, but what about community college for your senior year of high school?

Nicole Panek is technically a senior at NKHS, but she has already begun her first year of college. Panek is part of the CCRI Running Start Program, where students have dual enrollment  at both their high school and the Community College of Rhode Island. With this program, Panek is receiving credit for both her senior of year high school and her freshman year of college. These credits can transfer over to the college of her choice and will open up space in her schedule for more classes of her choosing.

“I had missed two months of school for medical reasons and was looking for ways to get back into the classroom,” said Panek. “ I had realized the normal high school experience was not something I enjoyed very much. I like more of an individual approach.”  Her doctor mentioned the CCRI Running Start Program, which was favorable for Panek’s situation. “This is definitely for people who are self driven and are able to do their own work on their own time.”

To enroll, Panek took the ACCUPLACER placement test in the spring to determine what classes she should take. She began her first semester at CCRI on the Knight campus that fall.

Olivia Baxter, a graduate of NKHS, is currently enrolled at Hampshire College. Her college career began at CCRI in the Running Start Program. But her interest in alternative education began long before.

“I have always been interested in a non-traditional schooling, and with so many other interests – in music, art, and community service – I have found traditional public school to really be inconvenient for accomplishing my goals,” said Baxter. “I didn’t feel like I was reaching my full academic potential.”

Junior year, Baxter heard about the Running Start Program from a senior at NKHS, and decided to look into it. “I think at that point, I really wanted to graduate early,” said Baxter. “Obviously, graduating early was pretty impossible so I decided just to go to CCRI instead!”

This choice opened many opportunities for Baxter. While dual enrolled at the CCRI Knight campus, Baxter played on the NKHS field hockey team and had a job at The Farmer’s Daughter in South Kingstown. Her flexible schedule at CCRI, compared to a structured high school schedule, gave her the freedom to participate in activities of her interest.

After attending CCRI for a year, Baxter transferred to University of California in Los Angeles, and then to Hampshire College. “After being at now my third college, I can say that although they were all very different, CCRI was just as challenging as UCLA, one of the top public universities in the country,” said Baxter.

There are multiple benefits to dual enrollment. Not only does being dual enrolled save time, but it saves you the cost of your first year of college. The Running Start Program pays for all courses, saving you the cost of freshman year.

“If I were to go to URI next year, I could be a sophomore. And that’s one less year of college I have to pay for,” said Panek.

Sophomore Kalena Kuester has an interest in dual enrollment to help accelerate her education. She said,  “Although high school is important, college accelerates the first steps to life after school, and hopefully getting an extra year will allow me to be more equipped to handle that.”

This program is for some people, but may not be for others. “If someone really enjoys high school, or wants their senior experience, this probably isn’t the right program for them,” said Panek. “As far as your freshman year at college experience, it’s definitely a community college experiences. It’s not going away to college and living in a dorm room. You’re definitely missing that.” Those who are in high school and love the structured schedule and high school community are probably best following the usual education track.

To learn more about the Running Start Program, you can visit the Rhode Island Department of Education online. You can also talk to your guidance counselors, or contact Adam Moreau, the Admissions Officer at CCRI, for more information.

“College, like anything else, is very much an investment, and what you put in is what you will get out,” said Baxter. “ So no matter where you go, I think, if you go in with a go-getter attitude, a willingness, and a passion, you will go really far and succeed.”

To learn more:

• Talk to your guidance counselor
• Visit ride.ri.gov/dualenrollment 
• Contact Adam Moreau at [email protected]