How Dual Enrollment Confronts America’s College-Readiness Crisis
Imagine you’re a parent with a high-achieving student. They have all A’s and high B’s, with a GPA around 3.5. They were accepted into all of the colleges where they applied, even getting large merit scholarships that helped cut down the tuition bills.
Now imagine your surprise when this same student gets their first semester course schedule and finds they were enrolled in remedial math and composition. You have to pay tuition for these classes that don’t count toward general education credit or your major requirements.
This situation can be very disappointing, and yet, it’s happening all across the country for college-bound high school students who thought they were college-ready. Many high-achieving students find themselves facing competence gaps when they finally enter the higher education pipeline. It’s disheartening and can challenge their confidence, as well as set them behind schedule to graduate in four years.
Fortunately, there’s something you can do to reduce the risk of this happening. Dual enrollment courses are designed to fill learning gaps, demonstrate aptitude, and prepare students for the hard realities of college life. Here’s how they work and what you should know before choosing one for your student.
More Students Aren’t Prepared for College
Despite higher GPAs and more AP credit completions than ever before, students don’t seem to be ready for college-level work. National data shows more first-year college students taking remedial foundation courses, even as 4 in 5 high school seniors claim to be ready for college. The Department of Education also reveals that up to 65% of community college students take at least one remedial course upon enrolling. But the issue isn’t limited to community college students.
When UC San Diego found around 900 students woefully unprepared for math (up from 30 students just five years ago), it created a remedial math course just for these students. Unfortunately, a recent cohort was found to be unable to perform basic middle-school math, with the most gaps found in math logic, not necessarily retention of math facts.
In reading, the challenge lies with reading longer-form texts. University professors and experts are seeing a disturbing trend: students who can’t read long sentences or engage with books long enough to understand them.
Escaping the GPA Trap in College Readiness
High school grades are only one indicator of future college success, and the ACT Board even put out a paper on how grade inflation should be recognized and handled. According to the report, students from high schools with a history of grade inflation may not be college-ready as we think, as these grades exaggerate their academic preparedness. The ACT may be one of the best sources we have for this trend; its data shows a grade improvement of 10-20% in some subjects with no ACT testing results to support the rise.
So, while colleges may very well know that GPAs mean less than before, they haven’t updated their admissions policies to account for it. Which schools’ grades inflate? How are high-achieving students recognized? Until institutions create an alternative way to measure aptitude, more students are likely to fall through the cracks.
Families looking at how to prepare for college need more than a GPA; they need proof that a student can handle college-level courses.
Why It’s Not Better Late Than Never
Of course, remedial math and language courses can help some students ramp up their aptitude and get back on track with learning. They may end up only a semester behind. This is more likely to happen in degree programs where math or writing aren’t central to the curriculum. For those with an interest in STEM, however, the delay can prove devastating to their career goals. Many of these students come into college thinking they have what it takes to be an engineer, for example, only to flounder in remedial courses and lose the confidence to continue.
What if the student had received extra math support earlier in their educational careers (high school, preferably)? They could have raised their aptitude while they still had the time to get skills and confidence – or even course-correct on the appropriate career for their natural interests.
How Dual Enrollment Confronts the Problems
Dual enrollment offers a reality check for high school students before they ever set foot into a college setting. These courses offer the same rigor as college courses but can be taken with the support and guidance of the high school instructor or homeschool parent. Working through these courses in a systemized way can answer a few questions for the student – and their family:
- Am I ready to do college-ready work? If the course feels difficult or there’s more “catch-up” than expected to complete the work, it can signal to the student that they should carefully consider next steps before jumping into a full-time college career. At a minimum, parents can look into tutoring or supplemental materials to fill in the skills gap.
- Does my GPA tell the whole story? While no one wants to admit that their GPA is a poor reflection of aptitude, it’s smart to at least consider grade inflation. If a student excels at dual enrollment coursework, there’s likely no issue. If a student with a 4.0 in math courses struggles with basic college algebra, however, families should consider whatever inconsistencies may be hidden by the inflated GPA.
- Am I passionate about this subject? While math and reading are table stakes for a successful college pathway, other courses can shine light on natural interests and “fit” for a student. If they don’t enjoy a dual enrollment business course, they may not be destined to finish an international business college degree.
Putting Dual Enrollment into Practice for High School Students
Dual enrollment courses like those offered by TEL Education are accessible enough for all families to use as part of their college readiness self-assessment process. They are self-paced, giving students time to work through obstacles and complete coursework between busy work, athletic, and tutoring schedules.
TEL courses are fully college-level, but designed for students with different strengths and starting points. In this flexible setting, students who struggle in traditional classrooms often get the space to focus, ask for help, and close skill gaps, so their grades reflect what they can really do—not just what their GPA might suggest.
Parents and students can review the syllabus for any course in advance, easing worries that key topics might be skipped. As students move through the course, they use the same type of learning platform that top colleges use to track deadlines, post in forums, and complete typical college-level activities.
This real-world practice both measures aptitude and builds confidence. Instead of relying on a GPA to feel ready, students can point to actual grades and earned college credits as proof they’re prepared for bigger challenges.
Here’s how it might look in practice:
- Use a first dual enrollment course as a “diagnostic” in the student’s weaker area. College Algebra or Composition I are good choices. TEL also offers a college success course that’s perfect for assessing time-management and communication skills.
- If the course reveals gaps, combine future dual enrollment with targeted skill-building resources or tutoring.
- Intentionally sequence courses so students complete at least one gateway math and one college-level writing course before graduation.
- Request that the college transcript of the dual enrollment course be sent to the college before the freshman year. (Many colleges will request this before setting a student up with their first semester schedule.)
For homeschoolers, the dual enrollment credit can be used to further support the parent’s homemade transcript. While homeschool transcripts are typically accepted without issue, the additional college credits lend credibility – especially when applying to competitive colleges.
Questions to Ask of Dual Enrollment Providers
If you’ve decided that dual enrollment can alert you to gaps and fill them before your student heads to college, you will need to research the many options available. TEL Education has taken the guesswork out of registration, payment, and enrollment. Your student can sign up and get started in an afternoon.
If looking at other providers, ask these questions to ensure a good fit:
- Is it truly credit-bearing and transcripted by an accredited college?
- What supports are in place for first-time college learners (tutoring, pacing help, writing labs)?
- How do its math and English pathways map to common college majors (so students really can skip remedial classes later)?
Learning providers should demonstrate results through actual student or parent testimonials, a clear, per-course pricing structure, and a concrete explanation of how your student’s transcript will look. Some providers only provide AP or IB credits, for example, and not true college credits. These aren’t the same as true college classes and may not transfer fully to an actual college.
Dual Enrollment as the Solution to Unpreparedness
Compared to GPA, dual enrollment creates a more transparent academic story for admissions officers and scholarship committees. These courses can offset the credibility loss from GPA inflation, especially in high schools where inflation is rampant or among homeschool students who want to demonstrate additional credibility.
We know that they can help college-bound students skip remedial classes, saving time and money, while supporting a four-year degree completion timeline. But it’s also useful for trade-bound students, who may find the early exposure to technical math and writing just what they need to boost workforce readiness and certificate completion.
Remember, the real crisis isn’t students getting into college; it’s students arriving unprepared and burning time and money in non-credit courses. Dual enrollment through programs like TEL Education is one of the few tools that directly tackle all three concerns (unrealistic GPAs, weak foundational skills, and remediation), while students still have time to course-correct.
Dual enrollment isn’t a bonus; it’s a key part of modern college readiness planning. Learn more about our offerings, or sign up for the 3-credit College & Career Success course to get a jump-start on preparing your student for whatever the future holds.
