Accelerate ASU and the Archdiocese of LA expand college access for Catholic school students

In the midst of pandemic disruptions, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (ADLA) made a bold move: partner with Accelerate ASU to give high school students—especially first-generation college-goers—access to university credit before graduation.

Today, the program is thriving. With funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Dan Murphy Foundation, and support from Arizona State University’s Learning Enterprise, ADLA has scaled dual enrollment across multiple Catholic schools in the region, including St. Paul High School, Pomona Catholic School, Sacred Heart High School, Santa Clara High School, and more.

Accelerate ASU offers flexible, university-level courses taught by ASU faculty, with no GPA or transcript required to start. The approach is designed to reduce risk and increase access—especially important in a region where many families are navigating complex academic, financial and cultural challenges.

Initially launched as a summer program, early completion rates were low. But ADLA pivoted. Students now take ASU courses during the school day, supported by in-school facilitators who monitor progress and offer guidance. The result: stronger engagement, better completion rates and greater student confidence.

The partnership has also helped schools fill gaps in career and technical education. Students can explore fields like data analytics, health and leadership without schools needing to launch full CTE tracks. One standout: the Leadership for Change certificate, co-designed by ADLA and ASU, which builds social justice leadership skills rooted in Catholic values.

The flexibility of Accelerate ASU—paired with in-person support—is key. Students can complete courses at their own pace while still benefiting from structured oversight. Some take one course per year. Others, as many as nine.

ADLA’s long-term vision is clear: normalize early college credit and show every student they belong in higher education. As Edgar Salmingo, Jr., Director of Early College and Online Learning, puts it, “Many start out thinking, ‘This is too hard. I don’t know if I can handle it.’ But by the end, they’re saying, ‘Oh, I can do this.’”

Learn more about how Accelerate ASU supports flexible dual enrollment at scale with ADLA.