College Credit in High School
College in high school programs — programs that allow students to earn college credit through taking college courses offered in partnership between institutions of higher education and high schools — introduce postsecondary options to students early. When students have access to college courses in high school, they are more likely to persist in college and earn a degree. Yet too few students have access to these programs, particularly students of color — especially Black, Latinx, and Native American students, and those from low-income backgrounds.
Our Equity-Centered Approach
We work alongside our partners from the New York Equity Coalition to champion policies that provide equitable access to college credit in high school. We advocate at the state and district level to ensure programs center equity and are accountable to both student performance and postsecondary success. That starts with removing barriers to access for students of color and from low-income backgrounds while increasing data transparency about the access to and outcomes of college credit in high school programs — also known as early college and dual enrollment programs.
Latest Resource
Pathways to Opportunity: The Growth and Impact of College in High School Programs Across New York State
This brief highlights significant growth in college in high school participation and strong graduation outcomes for students across the state, particularly for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. The analysis examines enrollment and graduation data from the 2020-2021 through 2023-2024 school years across three primary College in High School models recognized by the New York State Education Department: P-TECH, Smart Scholars, and Smart Transfer programs.
Data Snapshot
Only
%
of young people in New York City report having access to dual enrollment courses.
In New York
%
of students from low-income backgrounds who took early college courses in high school graduated college in four years, compared to only 23% of their peers.
More Resources
EdTrust-New York Statement on Assembly and Senate One-House Budget Proposals
EdTrust-New York welcomes the Assembly and Senate one-house budget bills and appreciates that both include support for several key educational equity priorities. These proposals invest in initiatives included in the Governor’s Executive Budget, such as universal child care, evidence-based math instruction, professional learning for math and reading educators, high-impact tutoring in math and reading, emergency aid for SUNY and CUNY students, and expanded financial aid through broader eligibility for the state’s Tuition Assistance Program.
New Report Finds College in High School Programs Expanding Access and Boosting Graduation Rates Across New York State
A new report released by EdTrust-New York, Pathways to Opportunity: The Growth and Impact of College in High School Programs Across New York State, highlights significant growth in college in high school participation and strong graduation outcomes for students across the state, particularly for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.
EdTrust-New York Responds to Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State with Praise and Calls to Strengthen Educational Equity
Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address includes several important proposals aimed at advancing educational equity, with a strong emphasis on supporting New York’s children and their families through universal child care, investments in the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS), higher education emergency aid, high-impact tutoring in reading and math, and professional learning aligned with the science of reading for in-service teachers.
How New York Can Protect Students from Federal Attacks on Higher Education Access
New York has made real progress in breaking down financial barriers to higher education. But now, new anti-student and anti-borrower federal policies sabotage that very progress — pushing higher education further out of reach for the very students New York has fought to support.
Your Guide to College Credit in High School in New York
This resource guide, available in Bengali, Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Spanish, educates parents and caregivers about college credit in high school programs and how these opportunities can help students save time and money in the future.
EdTrust-New York Responds to One House Budget Bills with Support and a Call for Increased Investment in Education Equity
EdTrust-New York believes the state has not invested enough in an equitable, student-centered education system, despite some positive developments in the recently released One House Budget Bill.