A Butler County Community College dual-enrollment program this fall has set records in seat count and in BC3 credits pursued by high school sophomores through seniors across seven counties in western Pennsylvania.

According to a news release from the college, the 654 seats occupied and 1,887 credits pursued in the fall 2021 semester are the most in the 24-year history of BC3’s College Within the High School program.

During the 2019-20 academic year, 19,950 high school students were enrolled in Pennsylvania community college courses, an increase of 58 percent since 2009-10, according to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

BC3’s College Within the High School program is designed for college-bound high school students who have demonstrated a strong academic performance by the end of their freshman year. Sophomores must have a 3.25 grade-point average, juniors a 3.0 and seniors a 2.75 to be eligible for the BC3 program.