Dual Enrollment at SBCC
Our College Cooperative is a program of Dual Enrollment with Santa Barbara City College. Students who opt to take part in our Dual Enrollment program build college experience and credit alongside their SB Free peers, graduating from our school prepared to thrive in a college environment.
For some students, it’s simply a way to explore their passions and interests in an academically rigorous way. For others, Dual Enrollment is the path towards a higher degree, with the ability to graduate SB Free with two full years of college credit, ready to transfer to a 4-year degree program.
Why SB Free + SBCC?
Support
For those students who are college-bound or simply interested in higher ed, dual enrollment is the perfect way to build college credit and get experience in the collegiate environment with the support of their community at SB Free. By taking classes alongside their peers, and with the support of their SB Free mentors, high school aged students can get that experience in a safe, supported, and socially appropriate way.
Preparation
Students at SB Free can graduate better equipped and better prepared for college than their conventionally schooled peers, with years of college credit on their transcripts. And more importantly, years of setting and achieving personal goals– standing out from the crowd. The skills young people need to thrive in college like goal-setting, leadership, collaboration, communication, flexibility, initiative, organization– for us, they’re not just buzz-words, they’re our daily practice at the Free School. Our student-led program ensures that our students not only practice these skills every day, but that they hone them over time with personal mentorship.
Breadth of Experience
Our students benefit from a rich balance. At the Free School we fill our time with personal projects, workshops and seminars, music, art, outdoor exploration, trades and crafts, and lots of games and fun. Those things aren’t just great, they’re necessary complements to an academic course load. At SB Free, students have the opportunity to dip their toes into the rigors of college classes, without giving up their adolescence.
About SBCC Dual Enrollment
- Santa Barbara City College allows SB Free students over 14 years old to enroll in most college courses. Aside from required books and materials, Dual Enrollment students are not required to pay SBCC enrollment fees. Students may take up to 11.5 credits per semester.
- Students dedicated to the college track have the opportunity to leave SB Free with enough credits to transfer to a 4-year college with Junior standing or gain an Associates Degree, and all students participating can include their college credit on their SB Free transcript.
- The TAG (Transfer Admissions Guarantee) program through the University of California guarantees college admission to students who have fulfilled certain prerequisite classes in their chosen major.
- Staff at SB Free play a major role in navigating the college path with our students and families. We support our students with enrollment, selecting courses, registration, mentorship and guidance, scheduling, and coursework.
- When it comes time to apply as a freshman or transfer student to a 4-year degree, staff at both SB Free and SBCC are there to provide resources and guidance through the college admissions process.