Dual Credit at Trinity Prep
How do students earn dual credit at Trinity Prep? Via TWO pathways:
I. Tests: AP, CLEP, or SAT II.
II. Online Courses with our academic partners.
All dual credit (DC) classes are an asset to a student’s high school experiences and transcript. But not all colleges will award college credit for them. Even colleges that will award credit will not necessarily apply them to the degree plan.
The more selective the college, the less likely they are to recognize for dual credit work for college credit. But all state universities in TX do accept AP/CLEP test scores for college credit. The acceptance rate ranges from just a few AP tests at UT in Austin to all AP and CLEP tests accepted at UT-Arlington and other smaller state schools. In other words, it varies, but our students are very likely to earn credit based on a passing score on an AP or CLEP exam.
Whether the DC is obtained at a community college, online college course, or through AP/CLEP tests, it is entirely up to each college whether to award college credit towards a degree. College credit is ONLY guaranteed when the dual credit is earned at that college itself.
The more selective the college, the less likely they are to recognize for dual credit work for college credit. But all state universities in TX do accept AP/CLEP test scores for college credit. The acceptance rate ranges from just a few AP tests at UT in Austin to all AP and CLEP tests accepted at UT-Arlington and other smaller state schools. In other words, it varies, but our students are very likely to earn credit based on a passing score on an AP or CLEP exam.
Whether the DC is obtained at a community college, online college course, or through AP/CLEP tests, it is entirely up to each college whether to award college credit towards a degree. College credit is ONLY guaranteed when the dual credit is earned at that college itself.
So, that begs the question: What is the value of DC? Why bother to work towards credit in both high school and college, if there are no guarantees of the college credit portion?
I. AP, CLEP and SAT Subject Tests
Four good reasons for sitting for AP or CLEP exams:
- The possibility of college credit remains. If your student attends a state university, for example, s/he will receive college credit for most or all AP and CLEP exams, and even some SAT Subject test exams. Actual college credit is still a very good possibility, at thousands of colleges.
- The outside endorsement of your student’s transcript. While the more selective schools will not award credit for any dual credit class or test score, the school will note the outside verification AP/CLEP test scores provide to a transcript. It’s a good boost for your student’s transcript, and an excellent way to distinguish it from hundreds of other applicants.
- Preparing for an AP or CLEP exam prepares the student for college-level work.
- AP and CLEP test scores for college credit are AT LEAST on par with community college classes, and in the opinion of the admissions officer who authored this article, sometimes valued more highly: “But more colleges grant credit for AP or IB classes (with appropriate exam results) than for community college classes, especially when the CC class was used to satisfy a high school graduation requirement.”
Bottom line: There really is no downside to a college-bound high school student sitting for AP or CLEP tests at the end of an Trinity Prep course, and there are several benefits. Consider it! A passing score on one of these tests is an asset to a transcript.
One more piece of information for your consideration - below is an article from an experienced high school guidance counselor about the value she sees in AP and CLEP tests. If you are a parent of a middle or high school student, considering all options is worth your time: Collegeconfidential.com article: Dual Credit
II. Online Courses with our Academic Partners
In 2017, Trinity Prep began forming partnerships with Christian schools and online course providers for high school credits, including dual credit options. Cedarville University and LeTourneau University are two of the schools offering online courses that can also be added to your student's Trinity Prep transcript.
As a College-Style School, we value the in-person interaction of class time. We value having a teacher in the room to guide and respond to students in real time. But the reality of our world is that your student will take at least one online course in his/her future - in college, for work, in military training. We live in the Digital Age. So, introducing our students to an online course or two can be a valuable part of their high school education.
For more information on either of these dual credit options, email information@trinityprepkeller.org with "Dual Credit questions" in the subject line, and we will schedule an appointment with you to discuss these transcript options.
Thank you for joining me for another Trinity Prep Talk!
--- Leslie Kent
School Director
One more piece of information for your consideration - below is an article from an experienced high school guidance counselor about the value she sees in AP and CLEP tests. If you are a parent of a middle or high school student, considering all options is worth your time: Collegeconfidential.com article: Dual Credit
II. Online Courses with our Academic Partners
In 2017, Trinity Prep began forming partnerships with Christian schools and online course providers for high school credits, including dual credit options. Cedarville University and LeTourneau University are two of the schools offering online courses that can also be added to your student's Trinity Prep transcript.
As a College-Style School, we value the in-person interaction of class time. We value having a teacher in the room to guide and respond to students in real time. But the reality of our world is that your student will take at least one online course in his/her future - in college, for work, in military training. We live in the Digital Age. So, introducing our students to an online course or two can be a valuable part of their high school education.
For more information on either of these dual credit options, email information@trinityprepkeller.org with "Dual Credit questions" in the subject line, and we will schedule an appointment with you to discuss these transcript options.
Thank you for joining me for another Trinity Prep Talk!
--- Leslie Kent
School Director
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