Understanding Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and College Credit A PARENT GUIDE

Families Must Understand…  Benefits and Challenges  Financial Responsibility  Receiving Credit  Consequences

Advanced Placement Courses  Nationally and Internationally recognized standardized curriculum and testing service  Results indicate a high school’s course rigor and a student’s readiness for college  Students may receive college credit based on their score  AP Courses are offered for a fee which a student’s family must assume (about $100)  The grade is weighted which may result in a higher class ranking  Course load is considerably heavier than honors classes

Dual Enrollment Courses  Students enroll at a college as a non-degree seeking student  Students receive college credit for the course  Families are responsible for tuition, books, and fees  Students may receive high school credit through Administrative Petition and Approval  The College or University provides the student with a transcript that will transfer to the student’s college choice  Not all colleges and universities will accept transfer credit from other institutions  Poor performance will not only effect the high school GPA, but also college GPA  Poor performance will also impact Federal Financial Aid

College Credit  Students have opportunity to earn high school and college credit for the same course  Courses are offered in conjunction with the University of South Carolina  Like Dual Enrollment, families are responsible for tuition, fees, and books  Credit is guaranteed to transfer only inside the University System of South Carolina  Poor performance will not only effect the high school GPA, but also the college GPA  Poor performance will directly impact Federal Financial Aid