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POLICY FOR ENROLLMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER YOUNG STUDENTS

POLICY FOR ENROLLMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER YOUNG STUDENTS

Students sixteen (16) and older

The core mission of the community colleges is to serve adult learners. Palomar College classes are designed for adults, but high school students aged 16 and older are eligible to enroll in Palomar classes with the permission of their local accredited school district, and their parent or guardian. No special permission from the instructor is required for students 16 and older to enroll. Please see the K-12 Special Admission Approval form for instructions and details. (Note: The steps below do not apply to students 16 and older.) 

Children younger than sixteen (16)

Because the curriculum of the World Languages Department is designed for adult learners, it is the department’s policy to limit the enrollment of children. Special permission may be considered for children younger than 16, but students must have completed the eighth grade (PCCD Procedure AP 5001). These special permissions are rare and only made in special circumstances.  

  • Some instructors will not accept any student younger than 16 under any circumstances. 
  • For some high-demand classes (e.g., Online Spanish), instructors will NOT accept any student younger than 16. 
  • In some smaller programs where space is available (e.g., German, Italian, Arabic and Chinese), instructors may be more inclined to consider accepting a student younger than 16.
  • The final decision as to whether a minor under the age of sixteen may be enrolled in a class rests with the instructor (California Education Code 76000-76002).

Further considerations for possible enrollment of children younger than sixteen (16) 

  • Admission of any student younger than 16 is subject to seat availability (Palomar Community College District Procedure AP 5001).  
    • Admission shall not be granted to any student younger than 16 outside of the open registration period. 
    • Admission shall not be granted to any student younger than 16 to a class with an active waitlist. 
  • In order to avoid displacing Palomar adult students, admission for children younger than 16 will begin to be considered two (2) weeks after the college’s open registration period has begun.  
    • Open registration for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 begins May 12, 2025. 
    • Special permission for children younger than 16 for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 will be considered after May 26, 2025.

How to request special permission from the instructor if you are younger than sixteen (16)

Children younger than 16 who would like to request special permission to take a class should send an email to instructor assigned to the course to inquire about the possibility of joining. 

Include the following in your message:

  1. Your full name 
  2. Your email address
  3. Your date of birth 
  4. Name of your high school 
  5. Your grade level (e.g., 11th grade in Fall 2025) 
  6. The name and level of the class you are interested in (e.g., Germ 101) 
  7. The semester you are interested in (e.g., Fall 2025) 
  8. The 5-digit class number (e.g., #23456)
  9. A short statement describing your academic preparedness and your interest in taking the course.