BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As state workforce efforts focus on increasing the number of Alabamians with a post-high school credential, one quiet but rapidly growing trend has emerged that is giving graduating seniors a kick start: More high school graduates are leaving school with college credits already earned.
It’s a shift hiding in plain sight inside the state’s annual report cards – and one of several factors that may help explain why, according to a recent analysis from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, college-going ticked up this year.
Alongside PARCA’s analysis, recently-released state report card data captures the percentage of seniors earning college credit alongside other college and career ready indicators. And what that data shows is that the number of students earning college credit before high school graduation nearly doubled since 2019.
To see where those students are earning college credit, Alabama Daily News compiled report card data from the past six years to examine patterns at the state and district level.
Here’s a look at those statewide rates. Click here if you are unable to see the table below.
Among the class of 2024, 13,891 students – out of 52,500 seniors – graduated with at least one full college credit, compared with 7,220 in 2019 – a 92% increase.
Statewide growth was steady through 2021, then accelerated sharply: From 14% in 2019 to 15% in 2020, 17% in 2021, 18% in 2022, 21% in 2023 and finally 27% in 2024 – a 13 percentage-point increase.
That means more than one in four graduates left high school with college credit.
How did they do it? Students can earn college credit in high school by completing a college course through a two- or four-year institution. Most do so through traditional dual enrollment, though some districts also offer Early College models where students take a full sequence of community college classes and then graduate with both a diploma and an associate degree.
There are benefits to taking college courses in high school beyond simply having that credit in hand before graduation.
Research shows that students who earn college credit in high school are more likely to enroll in college, persist into their second year and complete a credential. Higher levels of postsecondary education translate into higher lifetime earnings, according to state and national data.
While the statewide rate has grown quickly, district-level growth is uneven – and in some places, nonexistent. Nearly two dozen of Alabama’s 143 school districts had more than half of the Class of 2024 earn college credit, while another two dozen had fewer than 15%. Two districts reported 0% of graduates earning college credit.
Some of those differences reflect uneven opportunities that have been documented for years. In many smaller or rural districts, access to dual enrollment is shaped by distance from a college campus, limited transportation options or a lack of credentialed instructors who can teach college-level courses.
But in other districts, a low college credit rate doesn’t mean students aren’t being successful. It may simply reflect a different set of priorities..
Several of Alabama’s most affluent districts – including Mountain Brook, Trussville and Vestavia Hills – send a higher share of their students to four-year universities. In those communities, students more often earn a CCR indicator through qualifying scores on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams and higher ACT benchmark scores.
Other districts concentrate on career-technical pathways. Opp City Schools, for example, has a 2% college credit rate, but 99% of its graduating class earned a career-tech credential.
Here is a look at historical trends for high school seniors who have earned college credit. Click here if you’re unable to see the table.
As Alabama continues to emphasize workforce readiness and increasing the number of residents with post-high school credentials, the rapid rise in students earning college credit while in high school stands out as one of the most significant shifts in the state’s education landscape.
Earning college credit is one of nine ways a student can earn a College and Career Ready credential. Other credentials students can earn include earning a qualifying score on Advanced Placement tests, International Baccalaureate exams, the ACT or the ACT WorkKeys. Other ways include earning industry credentials, military acceptance, completing a CTE pathway or serving in a youth apprenticeship.
Until this year, earning a CCR indicator was expected, but voluntary. Beginning with the Class of 2026, it is a graduation requirement.
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