Taking College Courses

High School Special Enrollment

Nea learners have the opportunity to benefit from college-level instruction through our High School Special Enrollment partnership with the Peralta Community College District.

Learners can take in-depth, accelerated courses at any of the Peralta colleges including Berkeley City College, the College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College.

Nea learners take a wide variety of community college classes, such as:

Benefits of taking college courses in high school:

• You can complete Nea graduation requirements or additional challenging classes
• 1 semester at a community college = 1 year of credit at Nea
• College courses are weighted for 1 extra point on your GPA. An A = 5 points instead of 4 points.
• College courses may transfer to your college or university of choice.
  • To view which courses are transferable to UC's or CSU's, visit Assist.org

Useful Links:

Things to consider:

• Students with C's or higher are eligible to register for classes at the colleges.
• College classes must not interfere with your core class schedule. Schedule for after school hours.
• Community college tuition and most fees are waived for high school students taking courses at the Peralta Community Colleges.
• If you enroll for over 6 units you will be required to pay a Transit/Health fee. This means you would qualify for an Unlimited AC Transit EasyPass for the semester. For info, click here.
• If you sign up for a college class, you will be responsible for finding and paying for textbooks. Renting, buying used, or borrowing textbooks can be more affordable. Check with Nea Counseling for options.
• Consider taking courses with other learners to have a support system for carpooling, textbooks, and studying. Check with Nea Counseling to connect with other learners interested in a class.
• It is a good idea to look up reviews for your professors to get an idea how the class will be run. Many learners use Ratemyprofessor.com .

Additional Community College Options

Learners may also enroll at community colleges outside the Peralta Community College District, such as:

Chabot College: Concurrent Enrollment Program

Located in Hayward, CA. Concurrent enrollment for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders only.

Foothill College: Concurrent Enrollment Program