Eleanor Munson, PhD

Educational Consultant

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Dual Credit Dallas

Dual Credit Classes

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pros and consThinking about dual credit?  Here are some arguments for and against the program.

Pro’s
  • Dual credit classes offer the opportunity for a “controlled” entrance into college.  After doing college-level work and spending time on a community college campus, students may find the transition to college easier.
  • The addition of dual credit courses dramatically expands the variety of classes open to high school students.
  • Dual credit programs offer an accelerated curriculum for gifted students.
  • Dual credit programs make college accessible to those who might not be able to afford it.  Students may also avoid having to take out loans to attend college.
  • Students who take dual credit classes are more likely to graduate high school and graduate college faster than those who don’t.  As a result, students graduate and enter the workforce earlier.
Con’s
  • Taking dual credit classes offered at a community college may be impossible if students don’t have access to transportation.
  • There may be differences in high school and college calendars, making scheduling impossible.
  • If students lack maturity, motivation, or self-discipline, they may not successfully pass the dual credit course.
  • There is no standardized end-of-the-year competency exam that students must take to pass the class.  AP classes have a test students must pass at the end of the class and must obtain a high score to receive credit from the college they are attending.
  • Some feel that dual credit courses offered on high school campuses may be watered-down.  Officials want better quality control.
  • Dual credit classes are supposed to count toward core requirements in college.  However, sometimes credit is counted as elective credit instead, and students are advised to (re) take the class.

When in doubt, talk to your school college counselor and get her advice.  She will guide you in your planning.

© Eleanor Munson, PhD. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, PhD is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, PhD with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Dual Credit Program – How Does It Work?

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DualCreditBy the time Emma earns her high school diploma later this month, she will technically be a college sophomore.  “How,” you ask?  The answer is the dual credit program.  The dual credit program allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit for certain high school classes that also count toward their high school graduation requirements.

The dual credit program began in the 1980’s as a means of providing enrichment to gifted high school students who had completed their graduation requirements and needed an additional challenge.  The state of Texas began tracking dual credit classes in 1999 and found that over 11,000 students were enrolled.  In 2010, that number had jumped to over 91,000.  Here’s why…

In 2008, the state of Texas mandated that every school district must provide a path for students to earn a minimum of 12 hours of college credit while still in high school.  Advanced Placement (AP) classes fulfill this requirement, as do International Baccalaureate programs, but neither offer students an opportunity to attend actual college classes on college campuses.  To this end,  community colleges team up with school districts and offer students the opportunity to leave campus and attend their dual credit course on the community college campus.  Additionally, high school teachers can be certified to teach dual credit classes on their high school campuses.

The allure of dual credit is that it is free.  That’s right, it doesn’t cost a thing.  School districts typically pick up the cost of textbooks, so by the time graduation rolls around, students may have earned a substantial number of college hours at no extra cost to them.  Public universities in Texas are required to accept dual credit, thus dramatically lessening the cost of a college education.  That is why the program, initially designed for accelerated students, has become very inviting to lower and middle-income families.

Some Dallas-area private schools* offer dual credit classes as well as AP classes.  So how do you decide which type of classes to pursue?  Dual credit classes are great for students who know they will attend a public university in Texas.  However, if you’re going to a private university in Texas like Rice or SMU, take AP classes instead.  And if you’re planning to leave Texas, AP classes are the better choice.

More about the pro’s and con’s of dual credit in my next post.  To learn more about the dual credit program, go to www.dualcredittexas.org.

*The Alexander School
Bishop Lynch High School
Carrollton Christian Academy
Dallas Christian School
Highland Park High School
Parish Episcopal School
Yavneh Academy

© Eleanor Munson, PhD. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, PhD is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, PhD with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Trends I’m Seeing…

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ipad2Now that the admissions process is just about over for this school year, I’m spending many of my days making school visits.  It’s important for me to see schools in action; talk to teachers, staff, and admissions directors, sit in on classes, visit the lunch rooms, gyms, and learning labs, and watch students interact with each other so I can understand the culture of each school.  What differentiates educational consultants from other types of counselors, therapists, and diagnosticians is that we spend a great deal of time visiting schools, so we have as much information as possible when we try to match students with schools.  I want to share with you some interesting trends I’ve noticed through my private school visits.

iPads

Increasingly, schools are moving to iPads.  Dallas Christian is in its second year of their iPad program. All high school students are issued new iPad 2’s at registration while middle and lower school students use the older model iPads, which are kept on mobile carts and can be moved from classroom to classroom.  Dallas Lutheran, Prince of Peace Christian, and Jesuit begin their iPad program this fall.  St Alcuin Montessori issues computers to middle school students and uses iPads with younger students.

Learning Specialists

The number of children and teens being diagnosed with some learning disability (including ADD & ADHD) is on the rise.  In the past, schools relied on counselors and school psychologists to address these needs.  However, with the increasing numbers of students requesting accommodations, schools have started hiring learning specialists to accommodate their students with learning issues.   Some schools, like Hockaday and ESD, have had specialists on board for quite some time.  St Marks and Prince of Peace Christian School each brought someone on board this year.

Dual-Credit Classes

These days, it’s not unusual for high school seniors to graduate with 12 or more college credits under their belts.  Schools like Carrollton Christian Academy, Bishop Lynch, and Dallas Christian School all offer students the opportunity to take courses on their campuses that fulfill both high school and college requirements….and it’s free!  The only catch is that the college credit applies only to public Texas universities.  I will examine the dual-credit process in my next post.

I would love to hear your observations.  Email me and let me know what interesting trends you’ve observed in private schools.

© Eleanor Munson, PhD, 2011-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Eleanor Munson, PhD is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eleanor Munson, PhD with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.