PVSchools to host dual enrollment registration events for students and families

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Dual enrollment offers benefits for high school students in Paradise Valley Unified School District.

Beyond earning college credits early, students see reduced tuition rates, the opportunity to build confidence and explore career pathways, and most importantly, the ability to graduate from college earlier. 

“Dual enrollment gives students the opportunity to experience college while they are still in high school," said Yolanda Espinoza, dean of strategic enrollment and partnerships at Rio Salado College. "Through our partnership with PVSchools, students can earn transferable college credit, build confidence in their ability to succeed, and take an important step toward achieving their educational and career goals.” 

High school students interested in earning college credit while completing their high school coursework will have an opportunity before the official start date to learn more about the PVSchools Dual Enrollment program and receive hands-on assistance with the enrollment process.

PVSchools is hosting an in-person registration event to help students and their families understand the benefits of dual enrollment and complete the steps needed to participate during the 2026-27 school year.

In-Person: July 25, 2026

Students can receive one-on-one enrollment support during an In-Person Dual Enrollment Registration Day 9-11 a.m. Saturday, July 25 at Paradise Valley Community College, Building KSC-1000A.

College representatives from Paradise Valley Community College and Rio Salado College will be available to guide students through the process, review required documentation and answer individual questions.

"Dual Enrollment gives high school students a powerful head start by boosting college readiness, expanding access, saving on tuition, and shortening time to degree completion," said Dr. Kimberley Patterson, dean of instruction at Paradise Valley Community College. 

Students planning to attend the registration event should bring a fully charged Chromebook or laptop, a form of identification, an unofficial transcript and ACT or SAT scores if applicable. Students applying for the Maricopa Grant should also bring documentation verifying eligibility, such as a free or reduced-price meal letter, tax return or tax receipt.

School officials encourage students and families who are considering dual enrollment to participate in this event, whether they are exploring the program for the first time or are ready to complete the registration process.

"At PVSchools, we're intentionally expanding dual enrollment opportunities across all of our high schools because we know early access to college coursework helps students build confidence, save time and money on a college degree, and better prepare for college and future careers," said Jackie Clayton, school counselor. "Our goal is to increase dual enrollment offerings across the district so more students can earn college credit while still in high school."

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.