Rim Country Dual-Credit Program

Geographic Scope: Payson, Arizona (Rim Country) - Payson Unified School District including home-schooled students

Program Type: Tuition-free dual enrollment program

Award Coverage: Full tuition for up to 3 dual-credit academic courses per semester; textbooks and lab fees provided by Payson High School

Designed to encourage all high school students to earn college credits while still in high school. Since 2019, Aspire Arizona Foundation has fully supported the program by paying tuition for 9th-12th grade students who are eligible to enroll.

Partner Institutions

• High School: Payson High School
• College: Gila Community College

Covered Courses

Transferable general education courses including:

• English
• Mathematics
• History
• Chemistry
• Psychology
• Biology
• Physics
• Spanish

Course Details

• Students can earn between 9-12 credit hours per semester
• Courses are taught by Gila Community College certified instructors
• Most courses held at Payson High School (fits into high school schedule)
• After-school and online options available at Gila Community College
• All college-level general education classes are fully transferable to Arizona state colleges and universities

Cost to Students

• Zero out-of-pocket cost (tuition fully covered by AAF)
• Free textbooks and lab fees (provided by Payson High School)

Continuation

Students who maintain a B average in dual-credit courses may continue to receive dual-credit tuition in subsequent years until high school graduation

Eligibility

• All Payson High School students (9th-12th grade)
• Home-schooled students living in Payson Unified School District

Contact

For home-schooled students: Contact Gila Community College directly for placement testing and enrollment

How to Enroll in Dual Credit

1. Talk to Your High School Counselor
- For Payson High School students: Contact your school counselor
- For home-schooled students: Work directly with Gila Community College

2. Take the Free Accuplacer Placement Test
- Free placement test to qualify for college classes
- Required for college admissions

3. Complete College Paperwork
- Complete admission paperwork with Gila Community College
- Gain admission as a college student

4. Sign FERPA Release Form
- Sign FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) release form
- Allows AAF to track your performance in courses

5. Enroll in Courses
- Register for up to 3 dual-credit courses per semester
- Can take courses at Payson High School, after school at GCC, or online

Required Materials

• Accuplacer placement test results
• Completed Gila Community College admission forms
• FERPA release form

No Application Fee

• All tuition is paid in full by AAF
• Textbooks and lab fees provided by Payson High School
• Zero out-of-pocket cost to students