For the coming 2025 – 2026 school year the social science department is adding Dual Enrollment (DE) US Government to their class selection. Like all DE classes at Lightridge, this course is a collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College. Students who take this class will earn college and high school credit for completion.

Prior to the 2025- 2026 school year, 12th graders to take have had the opportunity to take AP US Government Policy & Comparative Government, as well as US & Virginia Government. Because this department is growing, Lighridge is hiring one new teacher to teach this class. Tyson McCord, who currently teaches the class at Freedom, will be transferring over in the fall.

Rhapsody Barbrow, Social Science Department Chair, believes this is going to be a popular class to take.

This class uses the college grading and retake standards, and digital platforms Canvas and Blackboard.

“They get that [college] experience,” said Barbrow, “ but also while being in the bounds here at school.”