10 Berks high school students earn college degrees.

A group of 10 local high school students gathered this week, clad in graduation gowns.

It wasn’t a typically unexpected scene. After all, springtime is when seniors prepare for commencement ceremonies.

But these students weren’t getting ready to finish high school. They were on the verge of collecting college degrees — weeks before grabbing their high school diplomas.

The students, from four different Berks County high schools, each earned enough credits through Reading Area Community College’s dual enrollment program to secure associate’s degrees.

The program allows high school students to start taking college credits at their home schools beginning in ninth grade. Students can also take courses at RACC over the summer.

The following earned associate’s degrees this year:

• Emma McNamee, Twin Valley High School.

• Ryan Johnson, Daniel Boone High School.

• Chloe Weber, Daniel Boone High School.

• Brianna Bodolus, Daniel Boone High School.

• Kathryn Wroten, Daniel Boone High School.

• Miller Kase, Daniel Boone High School.

• Anthony Chiapperino, Daniel Boone High School.

• Gabriel Geisler, Daniel Boone High School.

• Joseph Wentzler, Gov. Mifflin High School.

• Marissa Millar, Exeter High School.

According to Kristen Marcinko, director of academic partnerships at RACC, a total of more than 1,600 students took at least one class through the program this past school year.

Those students are from 17 Berks public high school, Berks Career and Technology Center, Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center, Berks Catholic High School and Blue Mountain High School.

The program costs $99 per credit, about half of what regular RACC students pay.

Marcinko said nearly all of the students enrolled in the program have plans to attend a four-year college after high school, and earning credits in advance provides a big head start that will save them time and money.

Many students enrolled in the program will save even more money starting next year.

Rhonda Hudak, director of grants for RACC, said the school recently learned it was one of 10 institutions across the state to receive Dual Credit Innovation Grants from the state Department of Education. The RACC grant is for $1 million paid over the next two years.

Hudak said the grant will allow the program to add two new school districts to the fold, as well as to provide courses to 1,000 students each year for free.