Students Rack Up College Credits In Point Pleasant Beach-OCC Dual Enrollment Program

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — When the Point Pleasant Beach High School Class of 2023 receives their diplomas on Wednesday at graduation, a number of them will have a head start on college credit.

That's thanks to the dual enrollment program the district offers in cooperation with Ocean County College.

The program, which the district calls Gull Flight School, offers the opportunity for students to earn college credits for courses through Ocean County College that are taught at Point Pleasant Beach High School. The courses follow a college syllabus and have the rigor of being in college, and are offered at a reduced tuition from that of a student enrolling after graduating high school.

Some students earn enough credits to graduate from Ocean County College with an associate's degree.

Superintendent William Smith, in his monthly update, said a member of the Class of 2023 achieved this and received her associate's degree at the OCC graduation in late May.

For students attending college within New Jersey, many of the credits earned at OCC through the dual enrollment are transferrable, which saves them tuition at four-year universities.

Point Pleasant Beach offered 44 dual enrollment courses in the 2022-23 school year, and Ocean County College officials estimate students who participated saved more than $652,000 in future tuition costs.

Students do not have to apply take part in Gull Flight School; it is open to every student who wants to enroll.

"Students may take one or two classes, classes in a certain subject area, or fulfill all of the requirements to earn a two-year OCC Associate’s Degree upon their high school graduation," the district's website says. "It is an open-access program, with many paths for students to explore."

The district is increasing the offerings to 47 courses for the 2023-24 school year.

Information on the program is on the Point Pleasant Beach school district website.