Texas' first dual enrollment high school for adults opens in Fort Worth

Texas’ first public school offering dual enrollment for adults officially opened in Fort Worth earlier this week.

New Heights High School — located in the Tarrant County College (TCC) Opportunity Center in Stop Six — provides a fresh educational start to adults ages 18-50.

The school allows students to earn their high school diploma, career certification, and college credits from TCC for free — all of which will ideally lead to higher-paying workforce positions.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Mayor Mattie Parker, and Mayor Pro Tempore Gyna Bivens were present to celebrate the opening of the school that seeks to improve education and career opportunities in Fort Worth, where 39% of adults do not have a high school diploma and 35% of those individuals live below the poverty line.

Texas’ first adult charter high school opened in Austin in 2014, but New Heights is the first in the state to offer dual enrollment for college courses.

The leaders of New Heights originally expected an inaugural 350 students, but when classes commenced at the beginning of September, the school had 500 students. Over 1,400 more are in the process of enrolling.

“I am able to take night classes which is great for my schedule because I work in the morning,” New Heights student Aric Dunmore said in a press release. “I’m getting my education and am still able to be a father to my kids and a husband to my wife, so it’s perfect.”