Navigating Dual Enrollment at Johnston Community College: A Comprehensive Guide for High School Students
Johnston Community College (JCC) offers high school students the opportunity to get a head start on their college education through dual enrollment programs. These programs, such as Career & College Promise (CCP), allow eligible high school students to enroll in college courses and earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements, eligibility, pathways, and application process for dual enrollment at JCC.
Career & College Promise (CCP) Overview
The Career & College Promise (CCP) program is designed to provide high school students with options to pursue educational and career goals through a structured and supportive framework. CCP allows students to take college courses through college transfer pathways and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. Many CCP courses are also eligible for high school credit, allowing students to earn credit towards their high school diploma and a community college diploma or certificate program.
Articulation Agreements
JCC has agreements in place to maximize the transferability of credits earned in high school.
North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement: This agreement allows students to receive articulated credit at any North Carolina community college for courses taken during high school. If a student demonstrates proficiency in certain high school courses, they can receive college credit for a similar course at a community college. This eliminates the need to take multiple courses with the same learning outcomes, saving time and money.
Local Articulation Agreements: In addition to the statewide agreement, JCC has established local articulation agreements with Johnston County Public Schools. These agreements provide additional articulated credit opportunities. It’s important to note that local agreements may not be honored at community colleges other than JCC.
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To receive articulated credit, the course must be included in the student's selected program of study, and the student must enroll in a NC community college within two years of high school graduation. Students must also achieve a grade of B or higher in the course and demonstrate success on the CTE Proof of Learning (POL). This can be achieved through a score of 90 or higher on the CTE post-assessment, meeting proficiency on the CTE performance-based measure, or by following the procedure for Credit for Prior Learning as outlined in the NC Community College System Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual for courses that have industry credentials as the proof of learning.
High school students enrolled in a CCP pathway may earn articulated college credit while in high school if the CTE articulated college credit is part of their CCP pathway. Community college officials will verify eligibility and acceptance of articulated courses listed on the high school transcript, and students may be asked to submit supporting documentation or demonstrate proficiency to receive credit.
CCP Application Information
The following information outlines the application process for the CCP program at JCC.
Who Should Apply?
- New 9th-12th grade students can apply to the CCP program during designated open application periods.
- Inactive CCP students (those who were accepted previously but did not take courses for two or more consecutive Fall/Spring semesters) must reapply.
- Students must demonstrate readiness for college-level work and take responsibility for scheduling, advising, and all administrative processes required of a college student.
Confirm Pathway Eligibility
Students should verify which pathways they qualify for based on their current or rising high school grade level. Refer to the CCP Eligibility Requirements for more details.
Selecting CCP Pathway(s)
Eligible students can choose one College Transfer pathway and one Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. If a student only plans to take college transfer courses, a CTE pathway is not required. However, for rising juniors and seniors, it is recommended to add the Associate of Arts college transfer pathway, if possible, even if primarily focusing on CTE.
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The pathway does not determine a student's future degree. The Associate of Arts pathway provides the most flexibility, offering a wide range of humanities and social sciences classes that can count as high school electives.
If a student's goal is to fulfill their high school foreign language requirement with Spanish college courses, they must select a college transfer pathway. In this case, the College Transfer: Associate of Arts pathway is an excellent choice.
Most CTE courses do not transfer to four-year colleges. Students with questions about college transfer courses should meet with a CCP college transfer advisor.
High School Dual Enrollment Credit
Most CCP courses can earn high school credit. Students should review the details and bring any questions to their advising appointment once accepted. During advising, students will be guided on which courses align with their specific dual enrollment goals.
What to Submit & When
College credits earned at other institutions can affect the recommendations received during advising and course choices. Students should ensure they submit official college transcripts from other colleges and/or AP test scores from College Board to the JCC Admissions Office. Official documents must be sent directly from the issuing institution to JCC Admissions.
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All required application materials and documentation must be submitted within ten business days after the application period closes. Once the checklist is completed, students should follow the instructions to get an advising appointment to pick their college classes. An advising appointment is required for all first-time CCP students and any student that switched pathways. Returning students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment, though it is not mandatory.
Returning students can create a course plan for review by an advisor in Self Service. If additional advising is required, an appointment is necessary. Students can have two pathways; only one of the two can be college transfer. In other words, a student can have one college transfer and one CTE, two CTE pathways, or one CTE and one CE pathway.
Choosing Courses
Students should review the approved pathway(s) to determine eligible college courses, including options under College Transfer Pathways and CTE Pathways. They should carefully consider high school classes needed for graduation, short- and long-term goals, and future college plans. This also helps if a course is cancelled. Students should consider taking science labs on campus if a lower cost is preferred.
It is recommended to complete high school-level science courses before enrolling in college-level science classes (e.g., high school chemistry before college chemistry). Students should check with their receiving institution for written documentation regarding if and how they will accept a fully online science course.
Course Changes
Once an advisor locks a student's schedule, any desired changes should be submitted for review using Self-Service. Changes should be minimal and thoughtfully considered, as approval may take time. Students can use Self-Service to add or drop courses before the start of the semester.
CCP Eligibility
Eligibility requirements for the CCP program vary depending on the student's grade level and chosen pathway.
Junior and Senior Eligibility
Eligible juniors and seniors may participate in the College Transfer Pathways, Career and Technical Education Pathways, and Workforce Continuing Education Pathways. To be eligible for enrollment, the student must have:
- Rising junior or senior status
- Minimum grade/readiness requirements:
- 2.8+ unweighted high school GPA OR demonstrate readiness on approved assessments in English, Reading, and Math.
- Must complete Math 3 before taking any college math courses.
Rising juniors and seniors not meeting the listed minimum grade/readiness requirements may be able to participate in Career and Technical Education Pathways without Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) courses and/or Workforce Continuing Education Pathways. To be eligible for enrollment in this manner, the recommendation of the high school principal and their rationale is required as well as recommendation of the college's Chief Academic Officer.
Eligible juniors and seniors may participate in the Career and College Ready pathway. Coursework leads into an approved College Transfer pathway and/or Career and Technical Education pathways. The Career and College Ready Pathway starts in Fall 2026.
Freshman and Sophomore Eligibility
Eligible freshmen and sophomores may participate in a limited number of Career and Technical Education Pathways if they meet one of the following sets of requirements:
Option 1:
- Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee (assessment scores should be considered), and have the recommendation of the college’s Chief Academic Officer.
- Must have passed Math I with a grade of C or better
- Score a 3, 4, or 5 on the End of Course assessment (EOC) for Math I
- Score a 3, 4, or 5 on the 8th grade End of Grade ELA assessment.
Option 2:
- Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee (assessment scores should be considered), and have the recommendation of the college’s Chief Academic Officer
- Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an assessment. Students can submit their official scores for PSAT, SAT, Pre-ACT, ACT, NC DAP. AP, IB, & Cambridge International Examination scores are also accepted. Recommendation of College Chief Academic Office needed on case by case basis.
- 9th and 10th graders can take college MAT if they have completed Math 3 with a B or better.
Eligible freshmen and sophomores may participate in a limited number of College Transfer Pathways if they meet one of the following sets of requirements:
Option 1:
- Be identified as gifted by local AIG plan in English/reading and math
- Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an approved assessment
- Receive recommendation from high school principal or equivalent administrator, and recommendation of AIG Coordinator (if one is employed)
- Receive approval of college president or the college’s chief student development administrator or the college’s chief academic officer
- Receive written consent of the student’s parent/guardian
Option 2:
- Be identified as academically or intellectually gifted in English, reading and math on an aptitude and achievement test as evidenced by a score in the range between the 92nd percentile and the 99th percentile on an aptitude and an achievement test included in the Mental Measurements Yearbook published by the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements
- Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an approved assessment
- Receive recommendation from high school principal or equivalent administrator, and recommendation of AIG Coordinator (if one is employed)
- Receive approval of college president or the college’s chief student development administrator or the college’s chief academic officer
- Receive written consent of the student’s parent/guardian
College Transfer Pathway courses available for eligible freshmen/sophomores:
- Freshmen: ACA 122 College Transfer Success and COM 231 Public Speaking.
- Sophomores: ACA 122 College Transfer Success, COM 231 Public Speaking, Foreign Lang. I, and Foreign Lang. II.
Financial Aid
JCC encourages all students to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Johnston Community College's school code is 009336. Financial aid can help cover tuition costs through grants, scholarships, private loans, and more. It is important to resolve your Financial Aid award or pay for your classes by the payment due date.
Student Success Stories
Many students have found success through dual enrollment programs at JCC. Caitlyn Frazier, a JCC student, chose to attend JCC to be close to her young son while continuing her education. She found the flexibility of online classes beneficial. Similarly, Ally Dolinshek wasn't sure about her career path after high school, so she attended JCC to explore her options. Both Dolinshek and Frazier participated in the C3 program, which provided support and guidance. Dolinshek also benefited from the opportunity to take ED 204: Introduction to Teaching in Today’s Schools, offered through a partnership between NC State College of Education and JCC. This experience solidified her desire to become a teacher. Both students successfully transferred to the NC State College of Education and are prioritizing academic success in their first full semester.
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