By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Community colleges are keeping an eye on whether more cuts will squeeze some high school students out of the state's dual enrollment program.
For nearly 20 years, North Carolina high school students have been able to take classes for credit at community colleges.
Budget cuts last year slashed most of the liberal arts classes. Those cuts, coupled with growing enrollment at community colleges could keep even more high school kids off campus.
Don Herring is Director of Student Services at Coastal Carolina Community College.
"By state law, a high school student whether it be a public school, private school , church school, home school, a public school student can not displace the enrollment of a full-time college student."
Cape Fear Community College says Hoggard High School lost all of its Dual Enrollment students due to the cuts.
So far the Earn and Learn program, that gives at-risk high school students a diploma and associate's degree after five years, has gone unscathed.
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