Wareham High School has always encouraged upperclassmen, juniors and seniors, to challenge themselves though a dual enrollment program course of study where they attend local colleges to take courses that result in both college and high school credit.

While many students consider dual enrollment each year, traditionally, only a small percentage take on this challenge. Through many student interviews, transportation was found to be the main obstacle.

For the past few months, Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino and Assistant Principal Deborah Freitas have worked with the administrative team at Bridgewater State University to overcome this obstacle.

Bridgewater State University President Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, a former resident of Wareham and the first member of his family to attend college, understood this problem and was in full support of finding a way around it.

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, Wareham High School and Bridgewater State University will begin a new partnership that will provide students with a cost-savings opportunity.

Students will benefit from this partnership in two ways: a reduced tuition cost per course as well as transportation to and from BSU each day.

Palladino said of this new opportunity, "It's great that we can offer this program to our students through this generous partnership with BSU without financially burdening the Wareham School District. Their stepping up to help students in the Wareham community is phenomenal, especially in these tough economic times."

Palladino will be sharing this news with students and their parents during an upcoming AP/Dual Enrollment Parent Night on March 13 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Palladino and Freitas will share information about the school's Advanced Placement program and the Dual Enrollment program for upperclassmen.

The outcome of participating in dual enrollment during both the junior and senior year can result in a student graduating from high school with as many credits as a sophomore in college.