@tmf2018 My daughter does full time dual enrollment but doesn’t take any classes at her high school. All of her classes are at a college campus mixed with college students. We do have adjunct professors at our local community college but most are regular professors at a Boston area four year schools and teach the classes with the same books, syllabi, assignments etc as at four year schools with the identical grading requirements. That said the teachers at our high school all have a master’s degrees.
There are definitely some colleges that accept dual enrollment but not if it is taught at the high school so that would be a consideration. BU and NYU are examples. In addition top colleges often don’t accept either AP or dual enrollment for credit as @Waterborne said.
To OP do not assume that taking all dual enrollment or AP will get you a full year’s worth of credits. If you have a college your interested in call the admissions department and talk to them since it is college specific. Just make sure you clarify that your dual enrollment is taught right at your high school so there are no surprises. However you might be pleasantly surprised and learn that many of your classes will benefit you and maybe save you a semester etc. We contacted tons of schools in the Northeast public and private in and out of state before dd made the decision to do dual enrollment. Some colleges have a way to look up what classes will transfer from a specific college to give you an idea.
My D is currently in a dual enrollment program and will graduate with an AA in Social Science from a CC before her actual high school graduation. Unfortunately because the classes were held at her high school her college of choice will not accept those credits. Her DE program required only 2 classes taken onsite at the CC over summer break after her freshmen year. Hopefully we can at least get credit for those classes. Many schools do accept DE credits However many do not, Its best to really research the schools you’re interested in for acceptance of DE credits. Its a little frustrating that she will have to retake some classes.
We lived in Sandy Springs, GA the AP Exams were FREE. However, we relocated back to Texas and I had to pay $95 per exam for my twin daughters (ouch) missing Fulton County and feel your Mom’s pain.
As was previously mentioned, most highly ranked colleges will not accept DE classes unless taken at the college itself. The ones taken at the high school will be accepted at many colleges but not the highly ranked. You can actually email the different colleges you are applying to with your DE info, which CC etc and they can tell you if those classes are accepted. We did this with my kids,unfortunately the colleges they selected did not accept. You email admissions, it is usually the registrars office that will get back to you with what info is required to determine if class is accepted.
At our kids high school, the duel enrollment classes must be paid for as well. Checks get written to the affiliated college for a few hundred dollars I believe