Lone Star College-CyFair’s Dual Credit program offers homeschool students the opportunity to take core college classes at a reduced tuition rate, that count for high school credit and will transfer to most Texas colleges and universities.
“I thought that was a huge benefit, not only for my pocketbook, but my son as well,” said Trina Nettleingham, whose son, Jackson, took Dual Credit classes for two years.
However, there were other more personal benefits. The homeschool Dual Credit department staff at LSC-Cypress Center were an amazing resource, prompt with responses and helpful in advising, she said. And she liked the fact that Dual Credit students could be involved in campus activities and Student Life. She added that Jackson enjoyed all his classes and learned a lot from the faculty, who were all very professional.
“My son has learned how to study as well as go to class and advocate for himself in an environment where I could be there for him if he needed,” said Nettleingham.
Jackson graduated earlier this May in LSC-CyFair’s class of 2023 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Communication, a program offered at LSC-Westway Park Technology Center. He is transferring to Dallas Baptist University this fall to pursue a bachelor’s in Environmental Science and has already found a job editing website photos for the summer.
“I feel completely confident he is prepared to enter the next stage of his journey,” she said.
Elizabeth Saulnier said LSC-CyFair’s homeschool Dual Credit program helped prepare both her daughters, Rebecka and Madilyn, to be better equipped to test out of entry level courses and to handle college level academics, communicate with professors, time management and study habits going into their freshman year of college.
Rebecka, who graduated high school in May 2021, attends Baylor University as a Special Education Major with an ASL minor and is considering getting her master’s in behavior management/assessment. Madilyn, who graduated this May, will be attending Virginia Tech as a first-year Air Force Corps cadet majoring in aerospace engineering with the goal of serving in the Air Force.
“What we aimed to get out of the program was different for each daughter, but valuable either way. There were things that worked and things that needed to be worked out. In it all, students and parents gain life experiences and learn life lessons that are valuable in future endeavors,” Saulnier said. “The advisors, professors, deans and others took time to invest in Rebecka and Madilyn, listen and address any issues we had in a professional manner, were extremely easy to reach out to and eager to help. This is what made a difference.”
There will be a Dual Credit Interest Session for parents of homeschool students in 9th- through 12th-grade from 9 a.m. to noon June 14 at the LSC-Cypress Center. Get all the information on program resources available and eligibility requirements needed for students to be part of LSC-CyFair’s Dual Credit experience. Go to LoneStar.edu/RSVP-DCinfo to complete the RSVP form due by June 10.
Registration is under way for summer classes starting June 5 and July 13, as well as fall classes starting Aug. 28. For information, go to LoneStar.edu/regcyfair.