Brentwood Christian juniors and seniors are now eligible to earn college credit while still in high school through Austin Community College’s Early Start program.

Through a co-enrollment agreement, BCS students can take up to two ACC courses per semester, earning credits that will likely transfer to whichever college or university they decide to attend when they graduate from high school.
Students who live within the ACC taxing district can take classes for free, and those who live outside the district can enroll for just $40 per class, potentially saving families  hundreds of dollars in tuition and fees they would otherwise pay at a university.

A few classes, such as foreign language or computer, may also be taken for BCS credit if needed, explains school president Marquita Moss, “But for the most part, we want the classes that meet our graduation requirements to be taught with a Christian worldview in preparation for college, where students will likely get other perspectives.”
The Early Start program also allows students to get several basic liberal arts credits under their belts ahead of time so they can finish college and/or begin working toward advanced degrees sooner. In addition to saving money on credit hours, students may also save on room and board by reducing their overall number of semesters in college.

Because the co-enrollment opportunity is new for BCS students, only five seniors are currently taking advantage of the Early Start program, says school guidance counselor Lacy Dyke. However, she now includes advisement about which classes to take and when as part of her overall education plan for students, so that those who want to participate in future years can plan their schedules accordingly.

For example, she says, students who opt for fewer study hall periods during their early years of high school will have more available time to spend on ACC classes when they are juniors and seniors.
BCS juniors are not allowed to leave campus during the day, and although seniors have off-campus privileges, the hours in which they can leave the school are restricted, Dyke says. Therefore, many students take summer, evening, or weekend ACC classes on their own time.