Forest Trail Academy (FTA) is proud to unveil our latest services—the Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Program. This innovative program allows students in grades 9th-12th to earn high school and college credits simultaneously while enrolled full time at Forest Trail Academy.
Our Accredited Online High School Diploma is
Recognized in 1000+ Colleges and Universities Worldwide
What Is Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program?
Dual enrollment, also referred to as dual credit or concurrent enrollment, is a program that empowers high school students to take courses at both their high school and a college or university. By participating in this program, students have the opportunity to earn credits that count towards both their high school diploma and their future college degree.
Forest Trail Academy’s Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program
We believe that our Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Program offers numerous benefits for ambitious students who are eager to excel academically and get a head start on their college education. Recognized as one of the best online dual enrollment programs, Forest Trail Academy provides students with a flexible and accredited pathway to earn college credits while still completing their high school requirements. By joining this program, students can:
Earn College Credits While Completing High School
Our program enables students to embark on their college journey early by earning credits that are recognized by both Forest Trail Academy and our partner universities.
Transition To Higher Education
By participating in college-level coursework, students gain valuable experience and develop the necessary skills to thrive in a university setting. This program helps facilitate a smooth transition from high school to college.
Expand Academic Opportunities
Our program opens doors to a wider range of academic subjects and disciplines that may not be available at the high school level. Students can explore their passions and delve deeper into subjects of interest in college.
Enrollment As Full-Time Students
Students must be enrolled as full-time students at Forest Trail Academy to participate in the Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program.
Grade Level:
The program is open to students in grades 9th-12th, allowing them to begin their college journey early.
There is a $75 non-refundable registration fee for the program (excluding Palm Beach State University (PBSC) and University of South Florida (USF), which are free for Palm Beach county and Florida state residents).
Are Supported With Academic Coaches
Students will have access to an academic coach and a professor who will guide and support them in their educational journey. The academic coach will assist students in setting goals, managing their coursework, and staying on track for success. They will provide expert instruction and resources to ensure students have a thorough understanding of the course material.
Save Time And Money
By taking advantage of dual enrollment, students can complete college courses before graduating from high school. This not only saves time but also reduces the overall cost of a college education.
How To Join: General Eligibility And Requirements
To qualify for Forest Trail Academy’s Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program, students must meet the following criteria:
How The Program Works
Forest Trail Academy’s Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program allows students to be simultaneously enrolled at FTA and their chosen partner university. The program is designed in a self-paced, asynchronous format, giving students the flexibility to complete their coursework within a 16-week period.
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or Higher:
Students should maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible for the program.
List of Partner Universities (as of February 2024)
Forest Trail Academy has established partnerships with esteemed universities, offering our students a variety of options for earning college credits. Our university partners include:
Associate Degrees for Domestic and International Students
- Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma
Classes For Domestic And International Students
- Dallas International University in Dallas, Texas
- Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona
- Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Associate Degree Open And Free to Residents in Palm Beach County, Florida
(*appropriate fee applies as an FTA student*)
- Palm Beach State University (PBSC) in West Palm Beach, Florida
- Florida International University in Miami Florida
College Credits Open And Free to Residents in Florida
(*appropriate fee applies as an FTA student*)
- University of South Florida in Florida (USF) in Tampa, Florida
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many credits can students earn through the Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program?
Due to the self-paced and asynchronous nature of our partnership with our accredited universities, students are able to take as many college courses as they want while enrolled at FTA as a full-time student.
Can international students participate in the Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program?
Yes, both domestic and international students are eligible to apply for the program at applicable universities.
Are the college credits earned through this program transferable to other universities?
Accredited college credits earned through Forest Trail Academy’s Dual Enrollment/ Dual Credit Program are generally transferable, but it ultimately depends on the policies of the receiving institution. We advise that you contact your desired university before joining the program.
Can students enroll in individual courses without pursuing an associate degree?
Yes, students have the flexibility to choose individual courses offered by our partner universities if they are not interested in pursuing an associate degree.
How can students apply for the Dual Enrollment/ Dual Diploma Program?
To apply for the program, students must contact Forest Trail Academy at registrar@foresttrailacademy.com for detailed instructions and application requirements.
Are the programs in partner universities also self-paced and asynchronous?
Yes, students are self paced and asynchronous within the time frame of the course. Students have 16 weeks to complete all assigned college credit courses from the initial date of registration.
Flexible K-12 Online Programs Available in Flexible Payment Options
OUR Tuition Rates
Imagine giving your child a flexible, accredited online education that caters to their individual needs – all at an accessible price.
Elementary
(Kindergarten to Grade 5)
- $3,069 Per year, inclusive of 24/7 access to FTA Online Learning Courses, Free Academic Advising, Free Registration to Clubs and other FTA Online Activities, Exclusive Access to other Learning Resources and Opportunities for FTA Families
Middle School
(Grade 6 - 8)
- $3,669 Per Year, Inclusive Of 24/7 Access To FTA Online Learning Courses, Free Academic Advising, Free Registration To Clubs And Other FTA Online Activities, Exclusive Access To Other Learning Resources And Opportunities For FTA Families
High School
(Grade 9 - 12)
- $4,269 Per Year, Inclusive Of 24/7 Access To FTA Online Learning Courses, Free Academic Advising, Free Registration To Clubs And Other FTA Online Activities, Exclusive Access To Other Learning Resources And Opportunities For FTA Families
Hear from FTA families
Students are thriving under our accredited online school programs according their parents.
Krista Dauenhauer
FTA Parent
“Wonderful interactions with the teachers and administrative staff. The website and access to assignments lessons and videos could use more development. But overall it’s been a positive experience for my child and our family.”
Francisco Vega
FTA Parent
“Forest Trail Academy is really worth it. We’ve entrusted our children to Forest Trail Academy for the last five years for their education, and we’ve never regretted it. We can’t say enough about Forest Trail Academy.”
Yonathan Ben Zeev
FTA Parent
Forest Trail Academy is the best online school I’ve ever seen! My son Michael is currently finishing 5th grade and we plan to continue studying at this school further. We are Israelis, so English is a foreign language for my son. My son goes to a regular Israeli school and is additionally studying at the FTA.
Why Forest Trail Academy Is The
Perfect Online School For You
- Proven Track Record: We are an established online school boasting 10,000+ successful students since 2007.
- Flexible Learning: Enjoy 100% online, self-paced learning from Kindergarten to High School with no live classes.
- University-Ready Graduates: Prepare for higher education with a curriculum designed to help students gain acceptance at top universities and colleges worldwide.
- Credible & Accredited: Learn with confidence from a regionally, nationally, and internationally accredited institution.
- Higher Achievement: Students consistently achieve higher than average SAT and ACT scores.
Quick answer: Dual enrollment lets a high school student take a college course and earn credit for it at two levels at once: toward the high school diploma and toward a college record. A parent usually needs to check three things: whether the student is eligible, whether the target college will accept the credit, and what the course costs. Forest Trail Academy lists its dual enrollment fees on its tuition page.
What is dual enrollment in high school?
In dual enrollment, one course counts twice. The student takes a college class, passes it, and the grade appears on the high school transcript as well as on a college record. Schools and colleges also call it dual credit or concurrent enrollment, and the exact meaning of each term changes by state.
The U.S. Institute of Education Sciences reports that dual enrollment grew to nearly 2.5 million students in the 2022-23 school year, about one third of all 11th and 12th grade public high school enrollments. Source: IES, Outcomes Associated with Dual Enrollment Programs.
Who is eligible for dual enrollment?
Each college and each state sets its own rules, so there is no single national standard. These requirements appear most often:
- A minimum grade level, often 11th or 12th grade, with some programs starting earlier.
- A minimum GPA.
- A placement test or a test score for English and math courses.
- A signed parent consent form and a high school transcript.
Programs also differ on whether the student must be enrolled in a particular school. Ask the college for its written requirements before you plan around any course.
How dual enrollment credit transfers to other colleges
Earning a college grade and having a different college accept it are two separate steps. Each college decides which credits it takes and what they count toward. Some colleges accept the credit as a general elective, some match it to a specific course, and some do not accept it.
Check transferability with the college your child hopes to attend, before the course starts:
- Name the exact course and the college that offers it.
- Ask the target college’s admissions or registrar office whether it accepts credit from that college.
- Ask what the credit counts as: a major requirement, a general education requirement, or an elective.
- Ask for the answer in writing, or find the college’s published transfer credit policy.
How dual enrollment shows on the transcript and GPA
The course appears on the high school transcript with a grade, and the grade counts in the high school GPA. A low grade in a college course lowers that GPA, so choose a first course the student is ready for. Some schools weight dual enrollment grades the way they weight honors or AP courses, and some do not. CollegeAdvisor advises families to check whether dual enrollment courses are weighted in the GPA.
Also ask whether the course creates a college transcript, because a later college may ask to see it.
Dual enrollment vs AP: how they compare
Both give high school students college-level work. They differ in how the credit is earned. Dual enrollment credit comes from the grade in a college course. AP credit comes from an exam score, and the College Board states that each college decides which scores it accepts for credit or placement.
| Feature | Advanced Placement (AP) | Dual enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| How credit is earned | A score on the College Board AP Exam, graded 1 to 5. Many colleges grant credit for qualifying scores. | A passing grade in the college course. |
| Exam | Yes. A national exam in May. | No single exam. Each course sets its own tests and assignments. |
| Cost | Exam fee of $99 per exam at U.S. schools for 2026-27, with a $37 reduction for eligible students (College Board). Your school may add its own charges. | Set by the college or program. Forest Trail Academy lists its fees on its tuition page. |
| Who teaches | A teacher at a high school or an online course provider that completes the College Board AP Course Audit. | A college instructor or a professor at the partner college. |
| How colleges treat it | Each college sets its own score cutoffs for credit and placement. | Each college sets its own policy on accepting credit from another college. |
The two work well together. A student can take AP courses in subjects with a strong exam fit and dual enrollment in subjects where a college course makes more sense. Forest Trail Academy also offers Advanced Placement courses.
A four-year plan with dual enrollment: worked example
This is an example only. Course choices depend on the student, the target college and the school’s rules. The student below wants to study business at a four-year university.
| Grade | High school courses | College or exam work |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | English 9, Algebra 1, Biology, World History, an elective | None. The student builds a strong GPA. |
| 10 | English 10, Geometry, Chemistry, U.S. History, an elective | One AP course to test the pace. |
| 11 | English 11, Algebra 2, Economics, electives | One AP course and the first dual enrollment course, such as college composition. |
| 12 | English 12, Pre-Calculus or Statistics, electives | Two to three dual enrollment courses, such as introductory business, psychology or statistics. |
Before grade 11, the family asks the target university which of those courses it accepts. The family adds up the per-course fee for the four college courses and compares that total with the target college’s per-course tuition and the AP exam fees above.
A student who is not sure about a major can use the same plan with different courses, picking college classes in subjects the student wants to try.
Dual enrollment for homeschoolers and online students
Homeschool and online students can take dual enrollment, and colleges set the paperwork. Some colleges treat the parent as the school official. For example, Crafton Hills College asks homeschool students for a copy of the home-school affidavit, and the parent or guardian signs the request in place of a high school principal.
Keep a home transcript that lists each college course, its grade and the high school credit assigned. Forest Trail Academy offers the program to full-time students in grades 9 to 12, and the program is self-paced. See the online high school curriculum for grades 9 to 12 for the courses that surround it.
Questions to ask before enrolling in dual enrollment
- Will my target colleges accept this credit, and as what?
- How many high school credits does each college course earn?
- Is the course weighted in the high school GPA?
- What is the total cost: tuition, registration, books and technology fees?
- What grade does my child need to earn credit?
- What happens if my child withdraws or earns a low grade?
- Does this course fit with the AP courses and graduation requirements my child already has?
- Who is the contact if my child needs help?
Frequently asked questions
What is dual enrollment?
Dual enrollment is a program that lets high school students take college courses and earn credit that counts toward both the high school diploma and a college record.
Is dual enrollment the same as dual credit?
The terms often mean the same thing: one course that earns both high school and college credit. Some states and colleges use the words differently, so ask the program how it defines each.
Does dual enrollment look good on college applications?
College-level coursework shows on the transcript, and the grade is part of it. Choose a course that fits the student’s current skills so the grade reflects them.
Does dual enrollment count toward high school GPA?
The grade is part of the high school GPA. Whether it is weighted depends on the school, so ask for the school’s weighting policy in writing.
Is dual enrollment better than AP?
Neither is better in every case. Dual enrollment bases credit on course grades, and AP bases it on an exam score. The right choice depends on what the target college accepts and how the student learns. Many students take both.
Can homeschoolers do dual enrollment?
Yes. Colleges set their own paperwork. At some colleges a parent signs where a principal would sign for other students.
How much does dual enrollment cost?
The cost depends on the college or program. Forest Trail Academy lists its fees on its tuition page. Ask any program what else it charges before you enroll.
Get Enroll Today With Forest Trail Academy
We’re glad you have decided to enroll in Forest Trail Academy, you can submit your contact details through our Apply Online Form and our team will contact you at their earliest convenience.
For further information, you can contact our Academic Advisor, available to answer you online and over the phone at 800.890.6269/561.537.5501.
