Middle College Lets High Schoolers Earn an AA by 2027

High school students can earn a college degree before graduation through new Middle College partnership

A new Middle College dual enrollment partnership between Rock Hill Schools and York Technical College will allow an inaugural class of 20 high school students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree optimized for transfer to a four-year university. The program launched on Aug. 20, 2025, and the first cohort is expected to complete both credentials by May 2027.

Key program details and funding

Students will enroll in college-level courses in English, math, science, social studies and the humanities, giving participants roughly a two-year head start on a bachelor’s degree. Tuition and fees for participating students are covered by the S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance Program, while families are responsible for instructional materials and supplies. Program staff described the initiative as designed to accelerate college completion, improve transferability of credits, and expand postsecondary options for students at a younger age.

Who is overseeing the program

York Technical College’s director of dual enrollment is leading the academic coordination, and the college president highlighted the partnership as a route to both workforce entry and continued study at four-year institutions. Rock Hill Schools’ executive director of secondary education marked the program as an important new pathway within the district and noted the cohort’s role in establishing local precedent.

Related dual-enrollment expansion

The Middle College announcement followed closely on the heels of a separate dual enrollment program between Rock Hill Schools and Winthrop University. That Business & Leadership Dual Enrollment program began one week earlier with a cohort of 28 students and offers the chance to earn up to 36 college credit hours while still in high school. Courses in that program include writing, economics and accounting, and they award simultaneous high school and college credit.

Student experience and outcomes

Program planners outlined two primary outcomes for participants: earning a transferable associate degree by the time of high school graduation, and entering the workforce or a bachelor’s program with advanced standing. The associate degree in the Middle College track is structured to be transfer-friendly, reducing the likelihood of lost credits when students move to a four-year institution.

Costs and responsibilities for families

While the state lottery program covers tuition and mandatory fees, families will need to pay for textbooks, course materials and any optional expenses tied to college courses. Students will be expected to manage a schedule that combines high school requirements with college coursework, including adherence to college-level academic standards and timelines.

Background and broader context

Dual enrollment programs have been growing as districts seek ways to boost college completion rates and reduce the time and cost of a bachelor’s degree. Examples from other regions show dual enrollment can lead to early associate degrees and career-focused outcomes. One student example from a separate program at an aviation-focused university demonstrates how a motivated participant can graduate high school with an associate in a technical field and proceed directly into a bachelor’s program while maintaining extracurricular training and workforce preparation.

Program timeline and next steps

The inaugural Middle College class began coursework in the 2025–26 school year and will progress through a planned sequence of college classes across two academic years to reach associate-degree completion in May 2027. Rock Hill Schools and York Technical College indicated plans to monitor outcomes, enrollment demand and credit transfer success to inform possible expansion and to refine student supports.

What this means for students and the district

For participating students, the program provides a pathway to save time and money on postsecondary education and to gain a credential that supports immediate entry into technical or entry-level professional jobs. For the district, the partnership represents an effort to broaden educational options, promote equity in college access, and create new college-to-career pipelines in collaboration with local higher-education partners.