Dual enrollment, reimagined: Expanding college access for neurodivergent students

Across the country, traditional dual enrollment models rely on GPA thresholds, placement exams and rigid pacing that can limit access for neurodivergent students. For many learners, college readiness is determined before they have a chance to experience college-level work.

Arizona State University addresses that gap for neurodivergent high school students through Accelerate ASU, part of ASU’s Learning Enterprise. The program delivers Universal Learner Courses taught by ASU faculty that remove common entry barriers while preserving academic rigor. Students can start without GPA or test requirements, learn at a flexible pace and choose whether to add grades to a transcript — reducing risk while building real college experience. At scale, the model allows schools to expand access without restructuring staffing or schedules.

Palmetto Bay Academy in Miami offers a clear case study of how this system functions for neurodivergent learners. Serving a student population where most learners learn differently, the school found that conventional dual enrollment structures limited opportunity rather than readiness. The partnership with Accelerate ASU emerged through a grant supported by the Morgridge Family Foundation, part of a broader effort to expand college access for students often left out of traditional pathways.

“Traditional dual enrollment limits some of our neurodivergent student body who otherwise could do exceptional work,” said Maggie Eubanks, Palmetto Bay Academy’s owner and director.

At Palmetto Bay Academy, students use ASU coursework to learn how to interpret syllabi, manage deadlines and seek academic support — skills that matter beyond a single course. More than 45% of the school’s seniors have completed at least one ASU course for college credit.

For ASU, Accelerate ASU represents a system-level approach to college readiness: one that allows readiness to develop through experience. As demand grows for adaptable, college-ready learners, the model shows how scalable, faculty-led dual enrollment can expand access and help more students see college as a realistic next step.Read the full story in the Accelerate ASU newsroom.