Montgomery College Dual Enrollment: A Comprehensive Guide for High School Students
Montgomery College (MC), in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), offers dual enrollment programs that allow college-ready high school students to earn college credits while fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. This provides a significant edge over other college-bound students, and can be a valuable experience.
What is Dual Enrollment?
Dual Enrollment allows advanced high school students to enroll in college courses while still attending high school. These courses are typical of first-year college students and cover a wide range of subjects. Successfully completing a college course through dual enrollment earns students college credit. These approved credits are transferable to universities within the University System of Maryland (USM).
Benefits of Dual Enrollment
- Earning College Credit: Dual enrollment provides an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school, potentially shortening the time needed to complete a college degree.
- Cost Savings: MC courses are now FREE for MCPS students! Currently enrolled MCPS students (still in high school) are no longer being charged tuition, fees, or textbooks for college courses, regardless of financial status during the fall and spring terms.
- Academic Rigor: Dual enrollment exposes students to the academic rigor of college-level coursework, better preparing them for higher education. The academic rigor at Montgomery College far exceeded expectations for some students.
- Exploring Interests: Dual enrollment allows students to explore different academic areas and discover their passions.
- College Readiness: Dual enrollment helps students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in college.
- Competitive Advantage: Dual enrollment offers a significant edge over other college-bound students.
Dual Enrollment Programs at Montgomery College
MCPS and MC offer several dual enrollment programs:
- Jump Start to College: This general Dual Enrollment program allows all eligible high schoolers to earn college credits while completing their high school graduation requirements.
- Middle College (MC2): Offered at select high schools, such as Northwest High School (NWHS), MC2 allows students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree. At NWHS, the program focuses on general engineering or general studies. All required costs related to college tuition, fees, required textbooks, and required instructional materials for each approved course at MC will be covered by MCPS and MC during the MC fall, winter, and spring semesters for Middle College students. All materials must be acquired through the MC Bookstore.
- Early College: Students in Early College will earn an Associate's Degree along with their high school diploma. All required costs related to college tuition, fees, required textbooks, and required instructional materials for each approved course at MC will be covered by MCPS and MC during the MC fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters for EC/PTECH students. All materials must be acquired through the MC Bookstore.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for dual enrollment, students must:
- Be an MCPS student currently enrolled in high school.
- Assess college level via approved college ready measure (e.g.
- Have at least a 2.75 unweighted cumulative GPA.
- Submit an MCPS Interest Form by the November 11, 2022, deadline.
Application and Registration Process
- Contact the High School DEPA: High School students should begin the process as soon as possible by talking to their counselor. Contact the high school DEPA to initiate the process. Click here for a list of DEPAs and school deadlines. Dual Enrollment registration has additional steps required than traditional college course registration. Students should begin the process in the semester prior to the one they are looking to enroll.
- Submit the Admissions Application: If you have not previously attended Montgomery College, submit the admissions application online.
- Submit Official Transcripts: Submit an official high school transcript electronically by high schools that use Naviance, or complete the Raptor Central Online Request Form new window. In Person: Bring an official, sealed transcript to Raptor Central new window.
- Assess College Readiness: Assess college level via approved college ready measure (e.g.
- Claim Your MyMC Account: Claim your MyMC account new window (video). with your M# (nine characters including the M).
- Apply for Disability Support Services (DSS): If needed, apply for Disability Support Services (DSS).
- Register for Courses: Montgomery College enrollment and registration procedures are followed by all school DEPAs. Click here for a list of DEPAs and school deadlines. Counselors and Registrars please see instructions for approving and scheduling students HERE.
Important Considerations
- Course Selection: A list of approved Montgomery College courses are found here. College courses offered on the high school site are approved by the high school principal and determined by student interest and the ability to meet minimum class size requirements. The courses offered may vary by semester and per high school.
- FERPA: FERPA (Family Educational Rights Privacy Act) applies to all students enrolled in college courses, despite the age of the student. Therefore, communication is only between the student and the college. Parents, counselors, and principals must approve the student's college course(s) through the enrollment process, however, per FERPA, all communication from the college will be addressed to the student. It is the responsibility of the student to share all information regarding performance and college course progress with their parents/guardians. You may contact your child’s counselor or the high school’s Dual Enrollment Program Assistant (DEPA).
- Textbooks and Materials: MCPS students dually enrolled in a Montgomery College (MC) course during the semesters described above will be provided with instructional materials and textbooks required for the course. MCPS will only provide the digital option of the textbook or other materials unless one is not available, then the physical version of the textbook will be provided. Students who prefer to use alternate textbook or materials (i.e. hardcopy versions) not provided by MCPS must purchase on their own and will not be reimbursed. Students are responsible for picking up any physical textbooks or instructional materials assigned. Note that some textbooks may not immediately be available or assigned by the professor. As materials become available students may receive more than one notification. All required costs related to college tuition, fees, required textbooks, and required instructional materials will be covered by MCPS and MC during the MC fall and spring semesters for a maximum of 2 college courses per semester. All materials must be acquired through the MC Bookstore.
- Transportation: MCPS provides transportation from each MCPS high school to the nearest MC campus at specific times during the day.
- Dual Credit Refusal: All college courses taken by Montgomery County Public Schools students will count toward graduation credit and appear on the high school transcript unless requested at the time of enrollment in the college course that it does not by completing the Dual Credit Refusal Form (MCPS Form 280-93) and returning it the school counselor.
Additional Information and Resources
- Credit for Prior Learning: Turn real-world experience into college credit.
- Workforce Development and Continuing Education (WDCE): The College's WDCE division offers many noncredit courses. See noncredit (WDCE) course offerings and schedules. WDCE stands for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, the division of the College that offers noncredit courses.
- Financial Assistance: MC Financial Assistance (in the form of an MC High School Grant) may also be available. This assistance may cover the cost of tuition, fees, and required textbooks depending on financial status, secondary school status and availability of funds. You may still apply for financial aid after the priority deadlines.
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