Lynwood Unified Opens College Doors for Middle & High School Students through Dual Enrollment

Lynwood Unified School District is redefining what’s possible for students by expanding opportunities to earn free college credit before graduating high school – and, for the first time, before entering it – thanks to growing partnerships with Compton College and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

This past fall, 15 students from Firebaugh and Lynwood high schools completed a college-level economics course through Cal State Dominguez Hills. The opportunity was available to students already participating in the District’s AB-288 Dual Enrollment program with Compton College and will be offered again in Fall 2026. At the same time, Cesar Chavez Middle School launched a pilot partnership with Compton College, giving middle school students the chance to complete their first college course without leaving their campus.

“This experience has helped me find my passion and introduced me to college classes early, so I’m learning how to manage the workload now instead of later,” said Ivan Arias, a Lynwood High School senior who discovered his passion for anesthesiology after the loss of a family member.

Launched in 2020, Lynwood Unified’s Dual Enrollment program allows students to take free, transferable college courses and earn college credit toward an associate degree from Compton College. Through partnerships with the National Education Equity Lab, students can also earn college credit from universities such as Cornell, Howard and Yale.

“This expansion reflects our belief that college and career readiness should start early and be accessible to every student,” Superintendent Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D., said. “By bringing college courses into our middle and high schools, we are removing barriers, building confidence and showing students that higher education is within reach.”

With District-provided transportation, students attending off-campus courses can experience college life firsthand while continuing to receive academic support from their schools.

Firebaugh High School senior David Martinez spent the Fall 2025 semester at Cal State Dominguez Hills, experiencing a college campus for the first time.

“It gets me out of my comfort zone and makes me feel more independent,” said Martinez, who plans to attend law school and become an immigration attorney.

College access now begins even earlier. Leonardo Garcia, an eighth-grade student at Cesar Chavez Middle School, enrolled in a weekly Compton College course on career exploration without leaving his campus.

“My favorite part is learning how to prepare for the future,” he said.

Dual Enrollment has expanded into career-focused courses, offering Vista High School students hands-on classes such as welding and machinery at Compton College, where they can earn college credit while preparing for high-demand careers.

Families can explore early college opportunities like Dual Enrollment by ENROLLING NOW for the 2026-27 school year.