Dual Enrollment Through Nashville State Increases Opportunity for Tennessee High School Students

Between 2021 and 2023, dual enrollment through Nashville State has grown by 47% in the college’s seven-county service area and has seen a nearly 75% student increase in Davidson County alone.

This growth increases opportunities for students throughout Tennessee, providing high school students the chance to graduate with not only a high school diploma, but with college credit, and, in some cases a college degree. 

What is it about the Nashville State dual enrollment program that is drawing so many students?

“The opportunity is right here; for zero dollars,” Jeremy Calico, director of high school initiatives and dual enrollment, said.

For Calico and his hard-working team, it is all about students and “keeping them informed of what can be done here,” he said.

This focus on students is echoed by Amanda Dardy -- a Gear Up Nashville coordinator with Metro Nashville Public Schools -- where she works as the dual enrollment point of contact and advisor at Cane Ridge High School.

“It’s about meeting students where they’re at,” Dardy said. “Giving them support and encouragement every step of the way.”

For both Calico and Dardy this focus on students and “meeting them where they’re at” is critical to the growth and success of the dual enrollment program.

And, it is not just the administrators and teachers who see this approach bear fruit. It is shown in the experiences of the students themselves.

Mario Faragalla, a 2024 graduate from Cane Ridge High was a dual enrollment student. At an early age, Faragalla knew he wanted to get ahead with his studies, learning about dual enrollment he jumped at the opportunity.

“One thing I did right in high school is dual enrollment,” Faragalla said.

While attending Cane Ridge, Faragalla signed up for dual enrollment courses in the spring of his junior year and continued in them throughout his senior year. By graduation, he earned his high school diploma and 27 credit hours through Nashville State.

He now heads to Lipscomb University to study bio-science and philosophy.

“Thanks to dual enrollment I will have the opportunity to graduate a year early,” Faragalla said. “It definitely worked for me.”

Cane Ridge students will now enjoy even more early college opportunities at the high school.

Metro Schools, Nashville State, and Cane Ridge recently announced that an Early College program is starting this fall.

Cane Ridge becomes the third MNPS-zoned school with an embedded Nashville State Early College program. Others include Whites Creek High School and Glencliff High School. Nashville State’s White Bridge campus is home to MNPS Early College High School, which provides a fully immersive college experience.

The program broadens the already robust options for students to gain college credit while still in high school.

“This is giving students the opportunity to get early exposure to post-secondary education,” Calico said. “It can build confidence in themselves.”

With a focus on students, support, encouragement, and a broad range of options, dual enrollment and early college programs through Nashville State continue to gain steam—bringing increased opportunity and low and no-cost access to college for students throughout the area.