College Before High School: Exploring Opportunities for Middle School Students
The question of whether middle school students can attend college is multifaceted. While traditionally college is seen as a post-high school endeavor, opportunities exist for younger students to engage with college-level coursework and experiences. This article explores these opportunities, examining the benefits, challenges, and various programs available to middle school students who are ready to take on the challenge of college.
Dual Enrollment and Early College Programs
One avenue for middle schoolers to access college courses is through dual enrollment programs. California is increasingly pushing high schools to offer community college classes directly to students during the regular school day, a set-up known as “dual enrollment.” Unlike AP classes, which include expensive exams and are limited to certain subjects and high-performing students, these community college classes cover a range of topics and are open to all students.
While dual enrollment is more common in high schools, some community colleges are extending these opportunities to middle school students. For example, the San Jose Evergreen Community College District offers a course at a local middle school and plans to offer more in the future. The regular school day at August Boeger Middle School had already ended, but one class is about to start. These 13- and 14-year-old students in East San Jose are taking their first college course, an entry-level class on career planning. This middle school is one of the first in the state to offer a college-level course. Middle schoolers have long been eligible to enroll in college classes in California, though only a few, high-achieving students actually do it. By offering a college class at a middle school - especially one in a high-poverty area - the community college district is looking to make that enrollment easier.
These programs allow students to earn college credit while still in middle school, providing a head start on their higher education journey.
College Now: A Transition Program
College Now is a FREE college transition, dual enrollment program for New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) high school students. College Now enables NYCPS high school students to develop academic momentum toward a college degree, make informed choices about college, and learn how their education can lead to a rewarding career. The program started in 1984 at Kingsborough Community College with just 449 students. College Now is geared toward NYCPS 11th and 12th graders, with limited opportunities for 10th graders.
Read also: College View Middle School: An in-depth look
College Now does not offer courses for college students, high school graduates, middle schoolers, or 9th graders. Students must apply to a specific college’s College Now program. Students who attend a high school partnered with a college will receive preference for that program, but any eligible student can apply for College Now at any participating college.
College Now offers courses during fall, spring, and summer semesters through a mix of online, hybrid, and in-person delivery. In-person courses take place at a high school or on a college campus. Classes are scheduled to take place before or after the regular school day, or on Saturdays. There are limited offerings that take place during the school day. Fall semester applications are typically available late March to mid-September. Spring semester applications are typically available October to early-February. Summer program applications are typically available March to June.
College Now offers a variety of 3+ college credit courses in different subject areas so that students can explore their interests and get ahead in their college aspirations. College and career awareness courses (0-2 credits) are for students who want to learn about the college going process and careers. If the course is taught at a high school, all students in the class are from that high school. Classes are taught by college adjuncts or full-time faculty. Because College Now courses are actual college courses, they’re more challenging and require more commitment and responsibility than a high school course.
Credits earned at one CUNY college will transfer to other CUNY colleges. Credits are used to satisfy one of the three types of requirements that make up a CUNY degree - (1) general education (aka Pathways) requirements, (2) major requirements or (3) elective requirements. If a student plans to attend any college in CUNY, the TREX transfer tool can be used to determine how specific courses will transfer at every CUNY college. Yes, but students from a partner high school will receive priority for registration.
College-credit bearing courses range from Business, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Affairs & Communication. Courses include Accounting, Computer Programming, Health Education, Psychology, Sociology, Speech and Critical Thinking. Math co-requisite credit courses are available for students who do not meet CUNY college readiness standards. College-credit courses include Computer Applications, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Marketing, American Government, and Digital Imaging. First Year Seminar is offered to 10th and some 11th & 12th graders as gateway college awareness course. College-credit courses include courses in psychology, ethics, geology, acting and computer science, among others. College-credit courses include Freshman Composition, Physics, Psychology, and The Heritage of the Spanish Antilles. College-credit courses include Economics, Personal Finance, Psychology, Sociology and Visual Arts. Courses include Art, Communications, Psychology, and Sociology. College credit courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Business, Criminal Justice, Medical Terminology, Psychology, Public Speaking, Acting, and Community Health. Courses include Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Drama, English and College Algebra. College credit courses include Individual and His/Her World, Intro to Business, Intro to Criminal Justice, Issues and Adventures in Science, Elements of Statistics, Student Development, and Career Counseling.
Read also: Comprehensive Ranking: Women's College Basketball
Course offerings include courses such as Psychology, Sociology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Theatre, Journalism, Dance, Computer Information Systems, Spanish and Creative Writing. Course offerings range of from life sciences to liberal arts including pre-college course and college credit courses. Course offerings include College Writing, Drama, Psychology, Sociology, Urban Issues and Philosophy. Pre-college courses are offered to 9th & 10th graders to help prepare for college credit bearing courses. Some courses are also held on the college campus after school on weekdays and Saturdays. Credit-bearing course offerings include Criminology, Business, Computer Science, Math, Speech, Acting, and Science.
College Focus (COFO) courses are offered for students who are on track to graduate from high school, but not with college ready scores, to prepare them for college-level work in math and/or English. Some courses are also held on the college campus after school on weekdays and Saturdays. Course offerings include Psychology, Sociology, Biology, History, Mathematics, and Health Education.
The Middle School Initiative
Less than half-48%-of Inland Empire high school graduates in 2023 completed the coursework they would need to apply for college in the University of California and California State University systems, according to Growing Inland Achievement, an Inland Empire educational collaborative group, which includes UCR. The Middle School Initiative works to increase those numbers. “We know that young people begin to define themselves at this age, but they also begin to be defined by society,” Spencer said.
Summer Programs at Universities
For middle school students eager to experience college life, numerous summer programs are offered by universities across the country. These programs provide a glimpse into college academics and campus life, allowing students to explore their interests and develop new skills.
Here are a few examples:
Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center
Penn GEMS at the University of Pennsylvania: A week-long day camp for middle schoolers in the Philadelphia area, focusing on bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, graphics, and computing.
Summer Residential Program at Duke University: Engaging courses for students from various backgrounds, with options like aerospace engineering, mathematical logic, financial literacy, and marine ecology. Participants live in residence halls and experience campus life.
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP): A free, virtual program designed to prepare students from low-income households for a rigorous high school education. Courses range from humanities to sciences.
Summer Explorations at Harvard University: Invites middle schoolers to explore niche topics and activities beyond traditional learning, such as robotics, ceramics, and biology.
Michigan State University (MSU) Adventures in STEM: Offers commuter and residential programs for deeper understanding and hands-on interdisciplinary research in mathematics, science, and technology.
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation’s Summer Program at Yale University: An academic summer program for talented and motivated middle school students in New Haven, focusing on the humanities.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s (CTY) On-Campus Summer Programs: Brings together advanced learners from around the world to explore various subjects, with residential and day scholar options.
I-STEM at Stony Brook University - Science Exploration Program: A prestigious program for middle schoolers passionate about science and research, centered around laboratory work and experimentation.
State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at Columbia University: A free high school and college preparatory program designed for 7th - 12th grade students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine or related STEM fields.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program: A program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about.
These programs often have specific eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and associated costs, so it’s essential to research each program thoroughly.
Academic Transitions and Skill Development
The transition from middle school to high school is a significant academic leap. Preparing for this transition can begin even before ninth grade by developing essential skills. As a counselor, it is my job to meet all my students where they are regarding their study, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills and administer an action plan to try to strengthen those abilities and work on areas of opportunity. When looking at soft skills from the perspective of a former college admissions officer, I think one of the most important skills students need to develop is their ability to be introspective. Some of the brightest students struggle with this, and because of that so much of the planned lessons I work on with my students are thoughtfully crafted to develop this skill over time. One of my favorite lessons to promote introspection (among other attributes) with my younger students is to show them Simon Sinek’s, “Start with Why” TedX talk video. Without introspection, students don’t fully understand why they are going to school in the first place (other than they are “supposed to”). I find my students felt much more empowered when they were able to ascertain what they wanted from school, and then plan their path to achieve what they wanted.
Self-advocacy is having the maturity to ask for help when you need it, and best used before you may need it. Developing this skill effectively is nuanced, though, because it’s not necessarily only the ability to speak up in one’s own best interest but also, and perhaps more importantly, knowing when to step back and let others have a turn. This comes from self-awareness. Regarding self-awareness, so much of this development can be accomplished simply by taking an assessment of a student’s baseline study skills (which I’ll cover next) and then working to build their skillset based on that assessment. On a deeper level, self-awareness is recognizing class dynamics and knowing how to best play into them during a class discussion. Self-advocacy and self-awareness also benefit from good study habits and planning so that a student can ask for help on a long-term project before it’s too late to get help. In my experience, a significant portion of ninth graders are still developing their study skills once they enter high school, and that can often hamper their performance in the classroom. We’ve always talked about hard and soft factors in college admissions, and it’s exciting to challenge students in order to develop some of the most important soft factors. Developing these skills early sets students up for success once they reach high school and makes college prep much easier as they approach the actual application process.
Ivy League prep in middle school prioritizes academic performance above all, so it’s important for middle school students to aim for high grades in core subject areas and take the most challenging courses available to prepare for the increasing rigor of high school. Admissions committees look for quality over quantity when it comes to extracurriculars, so it’s helpful for students to commit to a few activities that align with their interests. Planning for college in middle school involves laying the foundation to get high school off to a strong start. Middle school college prep starts with developing good study habits. Additionally, students can begin practicing self-advocacy by seeking help from teachers, parents, or tutors if they are struggling with any subject. It’s important to address any areas of weakness early on, since classes will increase in rigor each year.
Potential Benefits and Challenges
Participating in college-level coursework during middle school can offer several benefits:
Academic Enrichment: Provides challenging and stimulating learning experiences beyond the regular middle school curriculum.
College Preparation: Introduces students to the expectations and rigor of college coursework, easing the transition to higher education.
Exploration of Interests: Allows students to explore potential career paths and academic interests early on.
Increased Confidence: Boosts self-esteem and confidence in academic abilities.
However, there are also potential challenges to consider:
Developmental Readiness: Concerns exist about whether all middle school students are developmentally ready for college-level material. “This opens up some problems,” said Jessica Breheny, an English professor and the union’s vice president. “I’m sure there are 12-year-olds that are college-ready, but there are just less of them and it’s less likely.
Social and Emotional Considerations: Balancing the social and emotional needs of middle school with the demands of college coursework can be challenging.
Limited Research: There is limited research on the long-term effects of middle school students taking college courses. Research shows that high schoolers who take college classes are more likely to attend college and graduate, but there’s little research on how middle school students fare, said John Fink, a senior researcher at Columbia University’s Community College Research Center.
A Case Study: August Boeger Middle School
August Boeger Middle School sits at the base of the Diablo Range mountains, tucked between the ranch-style homes and strip malls that color East San Jose. Teachers and staff greet each other with mucho gusto instead of hello. That celebration of culture is a direct response to a history of adversity, Lamas said. Schools in the community contend with education disparities, he said, such as a high dropout rate and a high teen pregnancy rate.
Offering a college class to these middle school students allows them to “see a possibility for their future that doesn’t exist within these walls here” and can inspire them to reach for a higher goal, said Marisa Peña, a school advisor. The college course is taught in a regular middle school classroom, and the professor, Oscar Lamas, already works at the middle school, where he’s a counselor. and Lamas’ course starts at 2:45. First: Adjunct professor and school counselor Oscar Lamas teaches a college class. Career Planning helps students learn about career paths, practice resume-writing and learn psychological theories related to professional success. A governing board of college district professors, known as the Academic Senate, sets the objectives for each college course, but Lamas has broad discretion in teaching it.
As part of the class, she has to study a career, write a short essay about it and present it at a career fair. She picked intellectual property law. “A lot of people say I’m assertive,” she said. Student Natalie Mendoza, 14, participates in a speed interviewing exercise during a college class at August Boeger Middle School in San Jose on April 17, 2025. Natalie said she’d be the first in her family to attend college but she’s already planning to go and has a few schools in mind, including UC Berkeley and San Jose State.
He’s gentle with the middle school students in his class, occasionally awarding points in the Jeopardy game even when the answer isn’t perfect. He ends class by taking questions about the upcoming final project. Although spring break is minutes away, the students sit still through the final minutes, except for the occasional joke and bursts of laughter. Once class ends, however, chatter ensues, the students pull out their phones, and staff escort them to the parking lot.
The Role of Educators and Parents
Educators and parents play a crucial role in supporting middle school students who are interested in pursuing college opportunities.
Identifying Ready Students: Identifying students who are academically and emotionally prepared for college-level coursework is essential.
Providing Guidance: Counselors and advisors can provide guidance on course selection, time management, and study skills.
Addressing Concerns: Open communication between parents, educators, and students can help address any concerns or challenges that may arise.
Ensuring Support: Providing a supportive learning environment that encourages exploration and growth is crucial.
tags: #can #middle #school #students #attend #college
