If my son is in high school and taking dual enrollment courses, is he considered to be in his first year at a college?

[Jon-and-Ginga]

He is a sophomore and did take dual enrollment his freshmen year as well.  

[Bsch4477]

No. He is a high school student. If you pay tuition for his college courses you can claim Lifetime Learning Credit on your return. 

[xmasbaby0]

Good for him---sounds like he is a great student!   Do not blow the American Opportunity Tax Credit on dual enrollment high school and college classes. Save it for when he is a full-time college student.   You may be able to use the Lifetime Learning Credit if you are paying tuition for the dual enrollment classes.

[Hal_Al]

The ability of the parent of a high school student to claim the education credit is limited.  If these courses are provided by an eligible college, this cost qualifies for the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC). The school must have policy of granting college credit for that course, already taken, if the student ever enrolls there. In other words, it is a requirement that the course be a college credit course, even if the student isn't currently a college student. It’s not that the student is post-secondary, it’s that the course is post secondary. Books are not a qualifying expense, unless included in the course fee. You must have paid tuition to the college and not the high school in order to claim the expenses on your return. 

Reference: https://www.taxact.com/support/22177/2023/education-credits-high-school-student-taking-college-class...

High school students are not usually eligible for the more generous American Opportunity Credit, unless they are officially enrolled as a degree candidate.