08/17/2026
Good afternoon, JDS Families!
This morning, I had the privilege of accompanying our newest group of 10th graders participating in our Dual Enrollment program on a field trip to Belmont Abbey College. The students pictured here will officially begin this journey tomorrow, and I could not be more excited for them.
I know many of you have heard us talk about Dual Enrollment over the years. You may know that we offer it, but you may not fully understand just how extraordinary this program has become at Jackson Day School. Today, I want to share some numbers because they tell a pretty remarkable story—and it is one our entire JDS community should be incredibly proud of.
Last year, approximately half of our 2025–2026 graduates participated in Dual Enrollment, and 36% of the entire graduating class earned a completed Associate Degree before graduating from Jackson Day. That was the largest group of JDS students ever to graduate with an Associate Degree.
And we are on track to break that record again this year.
Currently, 72.5% of our 2026–2027 senior class is participating in Dual Enrollment, and we anticipate approximately 58.8% of the class will graduate with an Associate Degree. In fact, one of our current seniors completed their Associate Degree at the end of their junior year. Rather than stopping there, this student is spending senior year taking additional college coursework beyond the Associate Degree. When that student is included in our graduating class, we are currently on track for approximately 60.8% of this year's seniors to graduate having already earned an Associate Degree.
And the classes coming behind them are just as impressive:
• 70.4% of our 2027–2028 students are currently enrolled in Dual Enrollment.
• 52% of our newest 2028–2029 cohort—the students pictured above—are already enrolled in Dual Enrollment as 10th graders.
Students who begin Dual Enrollment in 10th grade almost always have enough time to complete their Associate Degree before graduating from high school. Many students who enter as juniors are also able to catch up and complete the degree. The percentage for the 2028–2029 class will continue to increase as additional students join the program in 11th and even 12th grade.
Last year, when our seniors walked across the stage at Central Piedmont Community College, a college staff member actually reached out to us afterward because they wanted to know how many of the graduates were JDS students. We had the highest percentage of graduates for our school size.
I also looked into the numbers today for comparison Middle colleges—high schools specifically designed around college coursework and Dual Enrollment—have historically had approximately 30% of their students graduate having earned an Associate Degree.
Think about that for a moment.
Jackson Day is a traditional K–12 public charter school, not a middle college. Our students participate in athletics, clubs, fine arts, traditional high school activities, and all of the experiences that come with being a JDS high school student. And yet last year, 36% of our graduating class earned an Associate Degree, and we are currently projecting approximately 60% this year.
That doesn't happen by accident.
Jackson Day makes a significant annual budgetary investment in this program by providing the college classes and books our students need to participate. We build cohorts, provide transportation, and provide staff support. We have intentionally built a program that gives our students an opportunity that is difficult to find elsewhere at this level.
And these students aren't simply earning degrees. They are excelling. Many of our Dual Enrollment students graduated last year with honors, successfully balancing high school requirements with college-level coursework.
What started as a small program has grown into something truly extraordinary. This year, 64% of our 10th–12th grade students participate in Dual Enrollment.
There is also a significant financial side to this opportunity that is important to recognize. I looked at projected college costs for 2029–2030 this morning, when the 10th graders pictured above are scheduled to graduate. By then, the estimated total annual cost of attendance—including tuition, books, housing, and meals—is approximately:
$28,000–$29,000 per year at an in-state public college
$78,000–$80,000 per year at a mid-tier private college
$95,000–$120,000 per year at an elite private college
Every college course our students successfully complete while they are at Jackson Day represents college credit they may not have to pay for later. For some students, completing an Associate Degree before graduating high school could potentially cover a significant portion of the cost of a Bachelor’s degree or allow those savings to be applied toward a master’s degree or other graduate education.
The financial savings are important, but the academic preparation is even more valuable. Our students are entering college with experience taking college-level courses, managing college expectations, and proving to themselves that they are capable of doing difficult things. Research has also shown that students who participate in Dual Enrollment are more likely to enroll in and graduate from a four-year college than comparable students who do not participate.
When I look at the students in this picture, I don't just see a group of 10th graders beginning college classes tomorrow.
I see opportunity.
I see students getting a head start on their futures.
I see families potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars in future college expenses.
I see students who will arrive at college with credits already completed, giving them greater flexibility to pursue additional opportunities—whether that means a second major, internships, study abroad, graduate school, or simply graduating with significantly less college debt.
And I see another example of what happens when a school community is willing to dream a little bigger for its students.
This program began small, and together we have built something that I believe is one of the things that makes Jackson Day truly special.
To our newest Dual Enrollment students: we are incredibly proud of you. Your journey begins tomorrow, and we cannot wait to see where it takes you.
And to our JDS families—thank you for trusting us with your children and allowing us to continue creating opportunities that can change the trajectory of their futures.
This is Jackson Day. And this is something we should all be very proud of.
