School district, COD launch new program for high schoolers to earn college credits and even a degree
The new program will let students earn high school and college credit together and will coincide with the opening of the COD Palm Springs campus next year.
Palm Springs Unified high schoolers will soon be able to earn college credits and certifications alongside their high school diplomas, thanks to a new partnership with College of the Desert.
Scheduled to open for the 2027–28 school year, the program will allow a cohort of students to split their schedules between Desert Learning Academy and COD’s new Palm Springs campus, taking college courses and accessing campus resources as official COD students.
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The initiative, known as a “middle college,” marks the valley’s first program of its kind. District officials unveiled the partnership during a joint event at the Desert Learning Academy at the end of July, describing it as a flexible learning model designed to fit individual academic and career goals.
Unlike traditional dual-enrollment classes, which are taught by high school faculty within a standard high school bell schedule, the new program gives students direct access to College of the Desert’s broader course catalog, tutoring services, and student clubs.
Coursework will not be tied to a single career track. Instead, enrolled students can customize their schedules to work toward an associate degree, university transfer requirements, or specific industry certifications.
The program will launch with underclassmen before expanding, mirroring the district’s strategy for opening new campuses. While total enrollment caps have not yet been finalized, district leaders plan to work out specific numbers with the incoming principal, Kim Ballard.
PSUSD plans to hold family information and orientation sessions this coming spring ahead of the official 2027 launch.
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