Advanced Placement and Dual Credit

Advanced Placement and Dual Credit at LNHS

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Liberty North High School offers 28 Dual Credit courses and 20 AP courses covering a variety of topics and subject areas.  Students interested in taking these college level classes are eligible to get college credits for the work they complete in these courses.  AP courses are open to any student who meets the prerequisites for the classes.  Dual Credit courses require students to meet several criteria, these criteria are listed on this web page.  If students are interested in moving on to college, AP and Dual Credit courses are a great way to prepare students for the rigor and high expectations of college work.

Liberty North High School wants to provide each student the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.  We offer two mechanisms by which this can occur:  Advanced Placement exams and Dual Credit courses.

• Students who enroll in Advanced Placement courses may earn college credit at the end of the course by registering for the optional Advanced Placement exam administered at LNHS according to The College Board protocols.
• Students who take Dual Credit courses may enroll in the optional college credit portion of the course.  Enrollment generally takes place within the first couple of weeks of the class.  Course instructors distribute the registration forms according to the policies of the partner college/university.

HOW DO AP AND DC CLASSES DIFFER?

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FAQ's For AP and Dual Credit Classes 

Why should I take AP and Dual Credit courses?

With college tuition rising, earning college credit through AP exams or Dual Credit courses can make a significant difference in the overall cost of attending college.  

AP: To get an idea of the scores you will need to earn on your AP exams to obtain college credit, check out the AP Credit Policy Search website and select the college or university you plan to attend.  For additional information, visit the College Board AP Students page to get an overview of the classes and exams process as well as the advantages AP courses can offer once you get to college.

Dual Credit: Earning college credit while simultaneously taking high school courses is a great way to get a jump start on college.  Reviewing the list of dual credit offerings in the LPS College and Career Planning Guide can be a great place to start in determining which courses are right for you.  For additional information, speak with your counselor or the instructor of the dual credit class to learn specifics about earning the college credit offered.

What are AP and dual credit classes like? 

AP: AP course work is college level work, meaning that students are expected to read, reason, and write at a college level.  All curricula for AP courses is verified by the College Board through the AP Course Audit process.  While challenging, AP courses are very rewarding for students who choose to take these courses.

Dual Credit:  Dual credit courses are also college level classes.  The main difference is that Dual Credit courses are the same class that you would have if you attended the college accrediting the course.  Again, students need to exhibit the maturity level and responsibility of someone taking a college level class.

How do I receive credit for AP and dual credit classes?

AP: AP credit is awarded based on the score a student earns on the AP exam.  AP tests are scored on a 1-5 scale.  A three or above is considered passing.

Dual Credit: With Dual Credit, students are actually enrolled concurrently in the course at the college that is certifying the class and at LNHS.  Credit is paid for during the enrollment process set by the certifying institution and the grade awarded for the course is placed on both the student's high school transcript and on a transcript from the certifying college.

How much do AP and dual credit classes cost? 

AP: AP tests cost approximately $110 for the opportunity to take the test.  AP exams are given each May according to the dates and times scheduled by the College Board.

Dual Credit: Costs vary depending on the number of credit hours for the class and the certifying institution.  Most tuition costs range from $75 to $125 per credit hour.  Ask your instructor for specifics regarding the number of credit hours and the fees prior to enrollment. 

How do I know if the credit from this course will transfer to the college I would like to attend?

AP: Check on college admission websites to find out what score you need to get on the AP test to transfer the credit or check out the AP Credit Policy Search website.

Dual Credit: Most colleges accept dual credit like they would a transfer from another college.  Check with your college to see if the Dual Credit choice you choose is a requirement at the institution you would like to attend.  

Which AP and Dual Credit courses are right for me?

The course catalog on the LPS College & Education Planning site provides a description of each of the AP and Dual Credit courses offered to students at LNHS.  The College Board lists all authorized AP courses for each school in the AP Course Ledger each academic year.  Talk with your counselor and teachers about your interests to get an idea of which AP and Dual Credit courses might be a good fit for you.   

Who do I contact if I have questions about AP or Dual Credit classes? 

AP:  You may contact the teacher of the AP course or Dr. Brandon McCoy, LNHS Advanced Placement Coordinator.

Dual Credit:  The instructor of a Dual Credit course is actually an adjunct professor of the college offering the credit.  For questions related to enrollment or transcripts, please contact directly the college offering the credit.  If you need additional information, you may contact Dr. Brandon McCoy, LNHS Dual Credit Coordinator.