Expanding Dual Enrollment Pathways in the Rio Grande Valley
How Do You Build a Regional Approach to Dual Enrollment?
Mapping the Landscape & Building a Strategy
Dual enrollment is a proven game-changer for expanding college access, but how do you scale it across an entire region? How do you align 8 counties, 48 school districts, and 5 higher education institutions to create seamless pathways for students? Educate Texas and Region 1 ESC were facing this challenge in the Rio Grande Valley, where participation rates varied widely, data gaps made decision-making difficult, and logistical barriers limited access for students in rural areas. They needed a strategy to bring these stakeholders together and create a scalable, sustainable approach to dual enrollment expansion.
That’s where Kinetic West came in. Our approach to uncover insights and shape a strategic plan paved the way for more students to access dual enrollment.
Data-Driven Analysis: We collected and analyzed participation data from four community and technical colleges. We developed and deployed a survey to 44 districts with no centralized school district data available to fill the gap. One of the biggest challenges wasn’t just increasing enrollment—it was simply knowing where things stood. Collecting comprehensive dual enrollment data required extensive effort, highlighting the need for a streamlined, sustainable data infrastructure that schools and colleges can maintain independently.
Stakeholder Voices: We conducted interviews with 6 local employers, 7 partner organizations, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) leaders from 6 school districts. A focus group with community college partners shed light on systemic barriers. We found that strong relationships between school districts and higher education institutions were key to successfully growing dual enrollment opportunities. The most successful programs were those where partners were aligned and working collaboratively to solve challenges.
Labor Market Alignment: By focusing on healthcare and education pathways—two of the highest-demand and best-paying industries in the region—we ensured dual enrollment programs were directly tied to strong career prospects. This meant students had a clear route to not only earning college credit but also entering fields with stability and competitive salaries.
Community Commitment: What made this project stand out was the deep commitment from local educators and leaders. Unlike some regions where collaboration can be a challenge, the Rio Grande Valley showed a strong, shared desire to improve outcomes together. The willingness of partners to work across institutions was a major asset in shaping a plan that would have real, lasting impact.
A Clear Roadmap for Growth
With a deep understanding of the region’s dual enrollment landscape,
we facilitated a full-day strategy workshop to co-create solutions with Educate Texas and Region 1 ESC. The result? A targeted strategic plan with clear, actionable recommendations to:
Improve data-sharing systems to track and boost participation.
Align K-12 and higher ed goals for sustainable partnerships.
Expand access in rural areas through transportation solutions and online learning.
Strengthen workforce-aligned pathways in healthcare and education.
Why It Matters
Expanding dual enrollment isn’t just about giving students a head start
on college—it’s about building a skilled workforce and creating equitable opportunities for students in the Rio Grande Valley. Our strategic planning work is now guiding regional partners as they implement these changes, making dual enrollment more accessible
for thousands of students.
Let’s Talk
Are you working to expand college and career opportunities for students? Let’s discuss how our strategic planning and facilitation expertise can help. Email Andy at andy.ferrera@kineticwest.com to explore how we can boost your efforts.
