MARIETTA, OHIO — Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is pleased to share that Warren High School (WHS) has officially been designated as an additional location for WSCO. This designation means that students at Warren can now complete more than 50% of an Associate Degree through dual enrollment courses offered on their high school campus. They also offer courses in the Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity degree pathways. The education pathway is the only one that offers 50% or more on the high school campus.
To become an approved additional location for WSCO, WHS needed to have credentialed teachers on-site and offer academic advising support. In preparation, WHS educators completed extensive training to meet WSCO’s standards. These sessions covered topics such as WSCO’s Education Transfer courses, the Canvas learning management system, and grading policies. WHS Guidance Counselor Barbara Augustine highlights the ongoing collaboration between WHS and WSCO to maintain these standards. “We work closely with WSCO representatives—including Debbie Gurtis, Abbey Turner, and Dr. Jona Rinard—to ensure that the courses our students take align with WSCO’s degree programs,” says Augustine.
Another key requirement for approval as an additional location was a site visit conducted by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This visit took place in late 2024. “During the visit, our team met with the evaluators to review the Educational Pathway, including the required coursework and our capacity to offer both general education and education-specific classes,” explains Augustine. “One unique advantage we have is the ability to provide elementary and middle school field experience right here on campus.”
This partnership—and the approval of WHS as an additional location—is already having a meaningful impact on both schools, with WHS students especially benefiting from the expanded opportunities. “This collaboration has opened up an entirely new dimension in how we can prepare our students for the next steps in their career journey,” says Augustine. “They now have a clearer understanding of the path to earning a degree, along with the steps required and the purpose behind each one as they move toward their goals,” adds Augustine.
Debbie Gurtis, Early College Coordinator at WSCO, notes that the collaboration has significantly expanded academic opportunities for WHS students, pointing to the noticeable growth in dual enrollment offerings. “For the 2024–2025 school year, WHS is offering 28 dual enrollment courses—many with multiple sections—highlighting their strong commitment to providing accessible college credit,” says Gurtis. “Thanks to the dedication and vision of the WHS staff, the growing number of credentialed instructors, the development of academic pathways, and strong student interest, the number of dual enrollment offerings has steadily increased each year,” shares Gurtis.
Augustine echoes that sentiment, expressing her excitement over the increased available courses and student participation. “We now have more than 100 students enrolled in CCP courses on campus,” Augustine shares. “At the end of the day, it’s all about supporting our students, and having such a wide range of educational opportunities at Warren High School is a powerful way to do just that,” says Augustine.
