Xavier College Preparatory has offered Rio Salado Community College dual enrollment classes since 1986, being the first high school in Arizona to offer dual enrollment.
Dual enrollment is a program offered at Xavier that lets students take college-level courses and earn credit for high school and college at the same time. Often students will take dual enrollment classes to get college required courses out of the way.
Xavier offers over 50 dual enrollment classes through Rio Salado College. These courses cover subjects such as English, math, science, computer science, social studies, language, and fine arts.
Students can get involved by registering for eligible courses through Rio Salado, paying a reduced tuition fee, and then earning both high school and college credits at once.
Each year, many Xavier seniors graduate with Rio Salado credits already completed. This gives them a head start in college, allowing them to bypass some introductory courses.
Taking dual credit during high school also helps prepare students for their future careers. While not only getting required classes out of the way, students can earn certificates that align with their career pathways.
Since Rio Salado students earn credits while in high school, families can ultimately save on tuition when their children enter college. Dual enrollment classes cost much less than taking the same class at a university. This makes it an affordable way for families to help students get a head start on college.
Last year, 93 Xavier students graduated with Rio Salado classes. “Having a significant amount of college credits is a huge benefit in more ways than just financial savings,” said Tara Metzger, director of Rio Salado Dual Enrollment Registration.
Dual enrollment also gives students a head start when applying to universities as many colleges see it as proof that students can succeed in higher-level courses.
During enrollment season, Rio Salado representatives visit Xavier to guide students through the process of enrollment, registration and credit transfers.
“Students who graduate with their AA can bypass a lot of the required introduction courses and graduate with their master’s degrees in four years,” Metzger explained.
The partnership includes progress tracking, so both Xavier and Rio Salado can monitor student success which can help identify when extra support might be needed.
Rio Salado provides dual enrollment students with access to tutoring, writing help and library resources. These tools make it easier for high school students to succeed in college-level classes.
Guidance counselor Amelia Videan ‘14 said, “Dual enrollment is beneficial as long as students are looking into universities that accept those credits and these credits fit their long-term goals.”
“I believe that taking Rio Salado is worth it because it not only helps you earn your college credits faster, but it also gives you a glimpse of what college classes are going to look like, ” said Savannah Simon ‘26.
By combining resources from both Xavier and Rio Salado, students have two schools supporting their success. This collaboration prepares them for college, careers and life beyond school.
