Summit High School helps students excel in college coursework using Accelerate ASU

Across the nation, students need to see the possibilities of a college education to envision it in their own lives. Without direct experience, higher education can seem unattainable. In downtown Phoenix, Summit High is working with ASU to provide this valuable experience, offering college courses to their students.

As an art teacher at Summit, Robert Johnson was familiar with ASU’s Earned Admission program and saw potential for his high school students. He collaborated with Summit’s school counselor, Carlos Perez, to bring college-level courses directly to the high school through Accelerate ASU.

Recognizing that many schools are underfunded and serve underserved populations, ASU partners with high schools nationwide to demonstrate the benefits and attainability of college education. Research indicates that students who complete college courses in high school are more likely to pursue higher education. ASU is dedicated to making college accessible for all students.

Accelerate ASU provides equitable pathways to higher education

Accelerate ASU enables students to take college-level courses designed by ASU faculty and aligned with ASU degrees. Summit High School offers dual enrollment opportunities, allowing students to earn college credit while fulfilling high school requirements. “This program removes barriers and lets them pursue college credit while still in high school, so they don’t have to wait until they’ve graduated. Many of our students believe they’re not good academically or capable of succeeding in college. Accelerate ASU gives students college credit they can have under their belt and maybe that’ll influence their decision to go to college down the road,” Johnson says. 

K-12 schools and universities must collaborate to create seamless opportunities that help students transition from high school to college and future careers. High schools can choose from payment options tailored to various budgets. At Summit, students pay only $25 per course, and the school helps those who cannot afford it. Johnson says, “You only keep your grade if you like it, which is a no-lose situation.”

Creating access to curriculum

In a collaborative and supportive online learning environment, students make progress toward their life goals. Schools facing resourcing constraints don’t need a teacher trained in the specific content areas to offer Accelerate ASU courses. This is beneficial for schools like Summit that can’t provide many electives using their own resources. 

Since Summit implemented the program, Johnson and Perez noticed an increase in attendance, and participation for students engaged in Accelerate ASU. “They’re really putting their full effort into understanding the content and doing well in the course,” Johnson says, “which is something that we rarely see.”

Growing the program to reach more students

Now Perez and Johnson are interested in growing the program and offering more classes to more students. They hope to pitch the program to younger students like freshmen and sophomores. Perez added, “If they start younger and accumulate credit earlier, that would be huge.”