Arizona high school students build “grit and resiliency” through Accelerate ASU

When Cienega High School in Vail, Arizona, unexpectedly lost its Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology teacher, Principal Kim Middleton began searching for solutions. 

Rather than eliminate the course, she gave students the option to enroll in Accelerate ASU’s online, college-level Psychology 101. Accelerate ASU, a university-based dual enrollment program, offers flexible implementation options based on schools’ individual needs.

What began as a stopgap quickly became a model for expanding opportunity, allowing more students to access college-level coursework while building the confidence to succeed in higher education.

Through Accelerate ASU, students can enroll in ASU Universal Learner Courses (ULCs) across a wide range of subjects, taught by ASU faculty. Courses are low-risk. Students only add a course to their transcript if they’re satisfied with their final grade.

“Several of our juniors took the ASU class and did really well,” says Middleton. “Earlier that year, they hadn’t even considered taking a college class as a junior at all. Then they found success and have stayed with it.”

Later in the year, many of the same students enrolled in Accelerate ASU’s ENG101: English Composition. Word spread fast. ENG101 enrollment at Cienega grew from 78 students in fiscal year 2025 to 159 in fiscal year 2026. Across all Accelerate ASU courses, enrollment nearly doubled, climbing from 159 students to 293.

“Dual enrollment has been amazing for our kids,” says Middleton. “It’s extremely rigorous, but it also makes sense fiscally, number one; and then number two, it builds our kids’ grit and resiliency around attending a post-secondary institution for students who aren’t planning to go out of state.”

Helping a big school feel small

By October of 2024, Middleton faced an additional staffing challenge. The English teacher facilitating ASU’s ENG101 course had to leave for an opportunity overseas, leaving Middleton with a creative idea to move forward. 

“I sat down with my finance director for the district and asked, ‘What if I don’t hire a replacement for the dual enrollment English teacher?’” Middleton said. “Can I use the money that I would normally pay towards a teacher’s salary to offer the class online to my kids?”

After Middleton’s idea was approved, she was able to cover the costs of Accelerate ASU’s ENG101 course for Cienega students. She used the money leftover to offer a stipend to school counselors interested in supporting students through their online coursework.

“I am overstaffed in my counseling department, on purpose,” said Middleton. “I have eight counselors on my site for 1,800 kids. I believe that in order to make a big school feel small, connections between staff and students have to be completely fortified in trust and approachability. So our kids have their same counselor all four years, and they build a really strong relationship with that counselor.”

Students complete ASU coursework either independently or during a dedicated study hall, while counselors monitor progress, review grades and provide ongoing guidance. 

More broadly, Middleton sees Accelerate ASU as part of an effort to better prepare students for life after graduation, whatever their path may be. After initial resistance from some families who viewed AP courses as the only rigorous college-credit option, Middleton was able to demonstrate the unique advantages of dual enrollment options.

“Once the knowledge in regards to the differences between dual enrollment and AP started to spread, it caught on like wildfire,” she said. “The parents love that it makes sense economically and that it’s tied to where they see their kiddo’s educational path being in a couple years after they’ve moved out of the family’s home.” 

Today, she views AP and dual enrollment as complementary pathways, each serving different student goals.

A mindset shift for students

In the 2025-2026 school year, the number of students enrolled in Accelerate ASU courses grew dramatically, with 271 students involved in the program. 

“We’re seeing huge success with the kids in the class,” said Middleton. “208 of those kids currently have A’s, six of our kids have already finished. And so I’m beginning to get questions from my kids about it: ‘Can we take a second one, Mrs. Middleton?’”

More broadly, Middleton says the program has sparked a shift in how students see their futures. Many who never imagined themselves taking college courses now see higher education as an attainable next step. The online format of Accelerate ASU has also helped students build the resilience, independence and time-management skills they’ll need to succeed in college.

“That’s what the real world looks like now, right?” said Middleton. “We’re hearing stories of kids who have graduated from our school that are crashing and burning at university because they never had that online university class experience, whereas our Accelerate ASU students know how to navigate the system. They know how to plan in their calendar to get their work done, because there’s not someone reminding them every single week.”

Looking ahead, Middleton says she and her staff hope to offer additional ASU classes next year that fit with students’ postsecondary ambitions, including courses in science and healthcare.

Starting with “Yes”

Throughout Cienega’s partnership with ASU, Middleton says the Accelerate team’s openness to feedback has facilitated the school’s successful implementation of dual enrollment.

“They start with ‘Yes,’” says Middleton. “They’re centered around doing what’s good for young people and taking down those hurdles that keep young people from earning their college credits.”

For Middleton, the partnership supports Cienega’s values around preparing students for life beyond high school.

“High school is different from what it was when I went through it, and it should be, because our kids are different and they’re ready for more,” she adds. “So I’m really proud that we’re able to offer them this type of curriculum in a high school setting that’s still safe, but builds them up with skills that they need to be successful after they leave us.”

Cienega High School is one of Accelerate ASU’s 800+ past and present partners from around the world. 

“Cienega demonstrates what’s possible when schools are willing to rethink traditional pathways and put students at the center of every decision,” says Sarah Bixler, senior director of Accelerate ASU. “Our mission is to help schools expand access to meaningful college experiences that build not only college credit, but also the confidence, resilience and momentum students need to thrive after high school.”

To learn more about dual enrollment opportunities for your students or child, visit accelerate.asu.edu.