Earning College Credit

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) gives students the chance to engage in college-level work while still in high school and earn college credit by scoring a 3 or better on an AP examination. College Board develops the scope and sequence of the AP courses and provides training for teachers. The examination for each course is a national standard used by colleges to grant college credits to those students who earn a qualifying score. Most colleges and universities consider students who take AP courses to be better prepared for the rigor of college courses, since courses designated as “AP” are college-level courses. Students should expect course subject matter and workload at a college level. Students enrolled in an AP course are expected to take the corresponding College Board exam in May. There is a $40.00 exam fee for each AP course in which a student is enrolled up to a maximum of $160 for any single student. Students should visit College Board AP to create an account and access AP resources.

Dual Credit

Dual Credit is an opportunity for high school students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously by attending classes at their home campus, on a Lone Star College-Kingwood (LSC-K) campus, and/or online. Dual credit courses are taught by LSC-K professors or NCISD high school teachers serving as adjunct LSC-K professors.

Students interested in dual credit must first demonstrate college readiness in one of the following ways:

PSAT/NMSQT: Evidence-Based Reading/Writing: 460, Math: 510
SAT: Evidence-Based Reading/Writing: 480, Math: 530
ACT: English & Reading Combined: 40; Math:22
STAAR EOC: English II: 4000, Algebra I: 4000 and passing grade in Algebra II
TSIA2: ELAR: 945+ or <945 with Diagnostic 5+
- ESSAY: 5+
- MATH: 950+ or <950 with Diagnostic 6

PSAT/NMSQ

The preliminary SAT, or PSAT, is a multiple-choice assessment that helps students prepare for the experience of taking the SAT and provides information regarding their future performance on the exam. The PSAT includes a Reading Test, a Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test. The PSAT score range is 320-1520. When taken in the fall of a student's junior year, the PSAT enters a student into National Merit Scholarship Qualification (NMSQ). Roughly the top 1.25% of all junior PSAT testers nationally will qualify as National Merit Scholars. The PSAT is available to interested juniors on all NCISD high school campuses for a $20.00 registration fee. Students should see their school counselor for registration information.

SAT

The Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, is a standardized test used for college admission. It measures what is learned in high school to determine college readiness. The SAT consists of a reading test, a writing and language test, a math test, and an optional essay. The score range is 400-1600. For available test dates, registration information, and test preparation resources, visit SAT Resources.

ACT

The American College Test or ACT is a standardized test used for admission into all US colleges. It measures what is learned in high school to determine college readiness. The ACT contains four multiple-choice tests—English, mathematics, reading, and science—and an optional writing test. These tests are designed to measure skills that are most important for success in postsecondary education and that are acquired in secondary education. The score range for each of the four multiple-choice tests is 1–36. The Composite score is the average of the four test scores rounded to the nearest whole number. The ACT is administered free of charge to all NCISD college bound students in the spring of their junior year. For information on registration for additional test dates as well as test preparation resources, visit ACT Resources.

STAAR EOC

The STAAR EOC (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness End-of-Course) test is a series of standardized assessments. These tests are designed to measure students' proficiency in various subjects taught in high school, including English, math, science, and social studies. The STAAR EOC tests are typically taken at the end of the corresponding high school courses, such as English I, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History.

TSI

Instituted by the Texas Legislature, the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a program that includes diagnostic testing and developmental instruction in order to improve college student success rates in Texas. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is the particular test used, and is designed to assess students’ college readiness in reading, writing, and math while also providing remediation feedback to improve these skills for students not considered ready for college-level coursework. The test is online and contains questions aligned to the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards. Based on how students perform on the TSIA2, they may be enrolled in coursework that aligns with their skills or be placed in an appropriate developmental course/intervention to improve their skills. The TSIA2 is available to all NCISD students wishing to test for dual credit qualification. For additional information on the TSI assessment, visit TSIA2 Student Resource and Student Information Brochure.

Qualified students may begin taking dual credit courses as early as sophomore year. NCISD currently pays the cost of tuition and fees for enrolled students. The student is responsible for the cost of any required textbook.

Visit the LSC Dual Credit website for additional information and follow up with the school counselor for registration questions.

Dual Credit Plans

Dual credit students must choose between two plans.

College Essentials

This plan includes 6 classes typically included in degrees offered at Texas public universities. Courses are typically taken during the junior and senior years of high school.

Courses include:

ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302
HIST 1301 & 1302
GOVT 2305 & 2306
Optional: 1 creative arts class such as ARTS, DRAM or MUSI

Core Complete

If you plan to receive a bachelor's degree from a public university, Texas law requires that you complete a core curriculum of 42 credit hours. This includes 14 college courses (42 college credit hours) in nine component areas guaranteed by law to transfer to Texas public universities (Sec. 61.822(c)). Courses are typically taken over all four years of high school including summer. While this is a rigorous path, the economic and time-saving benefits are significant. Students who are interested in exploring options for core completion while in high school must make an appointment with their school counselor to create a plan.

Courses include:

Communication (6 SCH)
Mathematics (3 SCH)
Life & Physical Sciences (8 SCH)
Component Area (4 SCH)
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (3 SCH)
Creative Arts (3 SCH)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 SCH)
History (6 SCH)
Government/Political Science (6 SCH)
*Semester Credit Hour (SCH)

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