Expanding access: Phoenix high school opens doors to college courses for all students

As a former high school principal, James Arndt believes that every student deserves access to college credit. 

Arndt served as principal at Camelback High School, a large Title 1 school in Phoenix where over 30 languages are spoken until the summer of this year. Arndt sees dual enrollment not as a one-time opportunity for students, but as a driving force for his students’ future success.

Research from Helios Education Foundation shows that students in dual enrollment programs are twice as likely to attend college — and once they enroll, are more likely to complete their degree. 

In 2023, Arndt and Ohad Kadan, dean of ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, collaborated to create a college-level financial literacy course offered to all Camelback students.

The collaboration marked the beginning of Camelback’s partnership with Accelerate ASU, a nationwide, university-based dual enrollment program. 

From the beginning, Arndt has championed the importance of equal access when offering college-level courses. 

“This was not about cherry-picking kids for an AP course,” he said. “No matter who you are, no matter your history — even if you have zero high school credits — you are going to get this shot.”

Hands-on support through rigorous learning

Camelback’s collaboration with ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business led to the creation of Finance 123: Money Matters, one of ASU’s Universal Learner Courses that covers financial literacy topics including budgeting, investing and funding life goals.

To Laura Lindsey, chair of W. P. Carey’s Department of Finance, the initiative is about equipping students with practical skills long before they reach college.

“The partnership with Camelback and the Phoenix Union High School District is a key component of our outreach efforts to increase access to financial knowledge and capability,” said Lindsey. “It is important to reach students early so that they can avoid mistakes and can establish healthy habits. We are very grateful to the donors who enable W. P. Carey to make this program available at no cost to students or the District and look forward to expanding the program to other schools.”

At the start of the partnership in 2023, 90 Camelback students enrolled in the course. By 2024, enrollment had doubled to 180 students. 

Camelback teacher John Morgan facilitates the course, which is taught by ASU faculty. Through Accelerate’s model, Morgan is able to provide in-person support as students develop college-ready skills, including self-advocacy and working independently.

To Arndt, in-person facilitation is a key part of the program’s success.

“You need a strong champion leading the work,” said Arndt. “That’s helped us keep kids on track to get their credit. Sometimes they need to be reminded that this is a pretty unique and special opportunity.”

Boosting college readiness and confidence  

More than half of participating students had completed the course as of the second year of the program at Camelback, with 90 students earning college credit. 

By this spring, 108 students had already earned college credit, with many more eligible for credit by the end of the school year. Principal Arndt was leading efforts to build on this momentum and expand student success.

“I’m really [challenging] people to disrupt the systems that don’t serve every kid,” said Arndt. “[The thinking] used to be that we don’t have the staff, we don’t have the resources — but with Accelerate ASU, that’s just not true. The resource is right there that makes it possible, so quit making excuses. Let’s make college accessible now.”

The program has made a particularly meaningful impact on students typically excluded from dual enrollment.

Arndt remembers a poignant moment during the first year of the program, when Dean Kadan came to Camelback to present course completion certificates to students. One student, who told Kadan that he had an IEP and was in the special education program, shared that he had never imagined going to college before participating in dual enrollment. 

“It was so special to see every student be recognized for their college credit, especially those who are often underrepresented in these spaces,” he said.

Removing barriers, increasing access 

Going forward, Arndt hopes Camelback will be able to offer ULCs in additional subjects, including BIO 160: Anatomy and Physiology. With the outsized impact of dual enrollment on student success, the program is a priority for Arndt.

“When access expands, your students will rise to the challenge,” said Arndt. “There are a hundred things to do as a principal every day. The question is, am I brave enough to move dual enrollment from number 98 to number 1? You can build a system of scarcity or abundance.”

Camelback High School is one of Accelerate ASU’s 800+ past and current partners from across the globe. Audrey Moreno senior director of Accelerate ASU, highlights ASU’s commitment to expanding access.

“Camelback has done something really powerful by making this part of the fabric of the student experience, not just an opportunity for a select group,” says Moreno. “Every student now has a clear option to engage in college-level work, and that matters for how they see themselves and what they believe is possible after high school. Just as important, they haven’t kept it contained to one campus — they’ve actively pushed to expand access across their district, which is how real systems change happens.”

Through Accelerate ASU, high school students gain access to a full catalog of online first and second year ASU Universal Learner Courses (ULCs) taught by university faculty, with no GPA, transcript or application required. 

ULCs offer a flexible pathway to college credit, allowing learners to work at their own pace. Learners choose whether to add the course to their transcript based on their final grade, creating a structured, low-risk entry point to college-level work. 

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