Submitted by Dwayne Conway, Principal of Maranacook Community High School
At Maranacook Community High School, to best support our students and community we have worked to create the most extensive dual enrollment program in the state. Routinely each year, students from Maranacook graduate with an Associates Degree in Liberal Studies from Thomas College before they graduate from Maranacook Community High School. This year 6 students will graduate along this pathway. That means 7 percent of our graduating class will have earned an associates degree before earning their high school diploma.
Beyond the pathway to an associates degree, roughly half the students at Maranacook in grades 9-12 take dual enrollment courses. Maranacook offers over 100 credits of dual enrollment for students to choose from which saves the community over 1,000,000 dollars a year in college tuition. Maranacook collaborates with 4 partner institutions and our primary partnership is with Thomas college. Through dual enrollment, Maranacook also offers a French Certificate program in conjunction with the University of Maine at Augusta. Students can also pursue dual enrollment credit through collaboration between Maranacook and the Capital Area Technical Center.
Finally each summer, roughly 50 Maranacook students participate in 2 week long summer intensive courses offered through Thomas College. Students choose to do this even though their summer vacation has begun. Students of all ability levels are able to access our dual enrollment program. We are proud of this support we are able to provide our students.