It will be an opportune time to be a junior or senior at Douglas High School next fall.

Students entering their junior or senior year at Douglas in 2017-18 will have the opportunity to receive dual credit through Western Nevada Colleges Jump Start program.

Now in its third year, WNCs Jump Start Colleges dual-credit academic program allows Northern Nevada high school students to earn up to an associate degree before graduating from high school.

That means juniors can earn as many as 60 college credits and seniors can pass up to 30 credits before graduation. More importantly, they will enter college with 1 to 2 years of college requirements completed, saving them thousands of dollars.

Previously, Jump Start was only available to Douglas High School seniors. They earned math and English requirements totaling 12 credits during two semesters in the program.

Now, students will be able to take 15 credits of college general education required coursework per semester.

Douglas joins other Northern Nevada high schools already fully participating in WNCs Jump Start College, including Carson, Churchill County, Dayton, Fernley, Pioneer, Pyramid, Silver Stage, Smith Valley and Yerington, as well as I-School, Nevada Homeschool Network, Nevada Virtual Academy and Oasis Academy.

Douglas County School District Superintendent Teri White said the district will be seeking grant funding to help students and their families pay for their college classes.

The Douglas County School District is very excited to expand our opportunities for students to earn dual credits for college and potentially an associate degree upon graduation from high school, White said. We have a very talented group of students and know that this opportunity will open doors for bright futures.

Students who qualify to test for the Jump Start program will receive a letter in the mail, notifying them of their opportunity and inviting them to an information night with their parents.

Douglas has arranged a Jump Start information meeting for parents and students at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12 at Douglas High School.

Parents and students can read about previous Jump Start success stories by clicking on the following links:

• https://www.wnc.edu/qa-wnc-jump-start-grad-brandon-miller/
• https://www.wnc.edu/wncs-seasoned-jump-start-program-adding-success/
• https://www.wnc.edu/jump-start-students-earn-degrees-diplomas/

For more information about Jump Start, contact WNC Jump Start Counselor Tricia Wentz at 775-445-3250 or tricia.wentz@wnc.edu.