Seven Copperas Cove Students Earn Associate Degrees Through Dual Credit

Seven students from Copperas Cove High School completed associate degrees through Central Texas College as part of Copperas Cove Independent School Districts Dual Credit and Early College program and graduated at Central Texas Colleges Fall 2025 commencement on December 12, 2025. The students named by the district are Michael Dennis with an Associate in General Studies, Isabel Orta with Associates in General Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies, Sophie Palafox with General Studies, Erinn Sewell with General Studies, Jadon Thomas with General Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies, Marques Uini with General Studies, and Chloe Wilkins with General Studies.

District leaders framed the program as a pathway that allows students to enter four year college programs with prerequisites already completed or to pursue workforce credentials that boost employability sooner. Since 2023 CCISD says its partnerships have yielded dozens of associate degree graduates, indicating a growing pipeline between Copperas Cove High School and regional higher education institutions.

For local families the immediate impacts are concrete. Students who complete associate degrees while in high school can save on tuition costs, shorten time to a bachelor degree if they continue on that path, or move into the workforce with credentialed training. For local employers and community colleges the cohort represents an emerging talent pool with postsecondary credits and, in some cases, industry relevant coursework.

At the policy level the expansion of dual credit and early college programs raises practical questions for school and college administrators. Sustaining accelerated pathways requires consistent funding, robust academic advising, transfer articulation that protects earned credits, and targeted support to ensure equitable access for students across income and demographic lines. Tracking outcomes beyond graduation, including college persistence and employment metrics, will be important for measuring return on investment for the district and for county taxpayers.

As CCISD continues partnerships with Central Texas College and potentially other institutions, elected school trustees and college leaders will face decisions about scaling the program while maintaining quality and access. For Copperas Cove residents the program offers tangible benefits now, and it calls for sustained oversight to ensure those benefits reach a broad and diverse group of students.