Concurrent Enrollment - Gateway High School

The shared mission of Aurora Public Schools and Gateway High School is that all students graduate with an individualized post-secondary plan and the valuable credentials necessary to open doors to colleges and careers.

Now more than ever, it is critical that students receive some form of post-secondary education to make themselves competitive in our 21st-century knowledge-based economy. That is the reason Gateway High School is expanding our college-level concurrent enrollment opportunities for all students next year.

What is “concurrent enrollment?”

Concurrent enrollment refers to any high school academic program where students are enrolled in both high school and college courses simultaneously. Gateway students currently have opportunities to take various courses through the Community College of Aurora (CCA), Pickens Technical College, Metro State University, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and earn both high school and college credit. Next year, Gateway is expanding the number of on-campus CCA opportunities available to students; our goal is to make it as easy as possible for students to enroll in college courses by providing additional school-day on-campus courses in Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Art. This way students can count on the support of Gateway staff and avoid the hassle of commuting to and from an off-site college campus.

What are the benefits of concurrent enrollment?

There are many benefits for students enrolling in concurrent enrollment courses.

Students and families can save thousands of dollars on tuition and fees. As just one example, a semester three-credit college course typically costs a CCA student ~$600 including books and fees (and even more at universities). The same course taken with Gateway instructors would be absolutely free. What’s more, if a highly motivated student takes college courses early and often and ends up earning their associate’s degree (60 credits), they will have saved their family over $36,000! Similarly, students enrolling in Pickens Tech programs save thousands of tuition dollars and earn industry-based certificates that lead to gainful employment upon graduation.
Students who enroll in college courses in high school perform better once in college. These students figure out how to successfully navigate college requirements before even stepping foot on a college campus and begin their freshman year with great confidence. These students are also able to avoid enrolling in non-credit bearing remedial courses linked to lower college completion rates
Students who have finalized their post-secondary goals and are ready to specialize will find concurrent enrollment opportunities highly relevant and engaging. We know that students perform better when they are emotionally invested in their education. Our concurrent enrollment programs inspire students to take ownership of their high school experience and get excited about actualizing their potential.

Collegiate Partners & Eligibility

Who is eligible for concurrent enrollment?

Our goal is to enroll all students in a concurrent enrollment course at some point in their high school career, though specific eligibility requirements vary by program.

CCA

Pickens

Metro

UCCS

Community College of Aurora

Beginning freshman year, any student who takes the Accuplacer or SAT tests and earns a qualifying score may enroll in community college courses. We also have grade waiver options available for juniors and seniors who earn B’s or higher in their Math or Language Arts courses. Students interested in registering for the Accuplacer or SAT tests should consult their counselor to determine an assessment plan tailored to their post-secondary goals.

Pickens Technical College

Any junior or senior in good credit-standing may apply to a one- or two-year Pickens technical program (e.g. dental assistant, cosmetology, automotive technology — click here for a list of programs available to high school students with associated fees). Placement is limited and determined based on student attendance, behavior, credit-standing and expressed desire. Accepted students spend half of their day taking courses at Pickens and the other half at Gateway.

Metropolitan State University

Any junior or senior who enrolls in our food science program and earns a passing grade of C is eligible for college credit through Metro State University.

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Any student who earns a C or higher in one of our Project Lead the Way STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses is eligible for college credit through UCCS.

Visit us

Meet our students and staff. We know you’ll love them.

We’re not just a group of buildings where students come to learn. We’re a family that cares about the success of every individual. We’re located in Aurora and welcome all students — those in our district and beyond. We have an open enrollment process and typically take applications from January through May. Visit us and see for yourself why Gateway is a great place to learn!

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