Scobey Students Find Success With Dual Enrollment Classes

Many of Scobey High School’s senior and junior students are getting a jump on their college credits by taking online classes for a period or two a day at the high school.

Principal Caitlin Buer said the program has been in existence for the past three or four years. “We’ve really pushed it the last two years,” she said.

This year, a total of 31 students are taking advantage of the courses. Scobey High School’s enrollment includes 17 seniors and 23 juniors.

“That’s a very high number,” counselor Raelee Rask said the participation.

Most classes are taken through Miles Community College or Montana State University Billings.

Rask explains that Montana’s One-Two-Free dual enrollment program can benefit area students. Started in 2018, the program seeks to increase access to higher education for high school students, reduces education costs for Montana families and enhances student success.

The One-Two-Free program covers the cost of tuition for two dual enrollment courses for all eligible students. After that, Rask said other classes are offered on a discounted price.

“I think it’s great because the students can get some of the classes done and save some money now,” Rask said.

The counselor talks to students in April or May about the dual enrollment opportunities for the next school year. She said students have graduated from Scobey with as many as 12 college credits already achieved.

Popular classes include public speaking, intro to psychology, accounting, college algebra and college writing.

“We really push the beginning college courses,” Buer said. “Some can skip a whole first semester of generals.”

Scobey’s students can take up to two independent studies periods in order to enroll in dual enrollment classes.