Dual Credit
What is Dual Credit?
A dual credit course is a college course taken by a high school student for which the student earns both college and high school credit. Some courses are taught at Texas Empowerment Academy by TEA teachers during school hours, other courses are taught on campus before and after school by ACC teachers. Texas Empowerment Academy has cooperative arrangements with Austin Community College. Dual credit courses cover a blend of high school and college-level subject matter. Discussions and required readings will cover topics discussed in college-level courses. Participating in the dual credit program enables you to make substantial progress toward your college degree before finishing high school. Dual credit courses are also useful in fulfilling the performance acknowledgments for your graduation plan. Other advantages include:
- Convenience courses are taught at the high school campus, at the college, or online depending on the arrangements made with your high school.
- Close to home, learn what college professors expect while still in familiar surroundings.
- Student success and successful completion of college-level courses will aid in a successful transition to a campus later.
- Dual credit courses are intended for students who possess proven ability, interest, and motivation to handle the extra workload and study requirements. The decision to take a dual credit course should not be taken lightly. It is strongly recommended that any student considering dual credit courses seek advice from his/her counselor and parent. When considering dual credit courses, students carefully consider the extra time commitment the courses entail. Dual credit courses are demanding and require extensive homework and self-directed study. Therefore, a strong degree of motivational, organizational, and time management skills are critical.
Dual Credit Enrollment Eligibility
- For Dual Credit classes taught at Texas Empowerment Academy, you must meet the course prerequisites per course, have a minimum of a C overall average, and pass all the End of Course State assessments taken to date.
- Meet established admissions requirements at the Junior College.
- Comply with the state-mandated TSI program.
- Take applicable placement tests prior to enrolling.
- Complete forms acquiring the appropriate school and parental signatures.
- Pay the reduced costs associated with taking a dual credit college course.
Austin Community College
Testing
Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)
To help prepare students for post-secondary success, Texas Empowerment administers the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) on school campus. Typically taken as part of admissions at Austin Community College, the administration of the TSIA helps students determine post-secondary readiness levels in reading & math in order to be eligible to take dual credit courses.
The TSIA is a computer adaptive assessment, and the specific questions that appear on any given test administration varies based on each individual student’s performance on each item. Questions increase or decrease in difficulty level depending on how a student responds.
The assessments are untimed. As students complete the assessment and score report are generated immediately.
TSIA Scores needed in order to take dual credit courses at Austin Community College:
- Mathematics – 350
- Reading – 351
- Writing –
- Multiple choice score of 350 and essay score of 5; or
- Multiple choice score of 363 and essay score of 4; or
- Multiple choice score below 350, ABE Diagnostic score of 4, and essay score of 5.
Exemptions
| Test | Math Exemption | Reading/Writing Exemption |
| SAT (March 2016 and later) | 530 Math | 480 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) |
| SAT (prior to March 2016) | 1070 Combined with 500 Math | 1070 Combined with 500 Critical Reading |
| ACT | 23 Composite with 19 English | 23 Composite with 19 English |
| TAKS | 220 ELA (English Language Arts) with 3+ Writing Sub-score | 2200 Math |
| STAAR | 4000 on the English III (EOC) | 4000 on the Algebra II (EOC) |
PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) test is a nationally-administered standardized exam whose results give students an indication of his/her score on the SAT exam. The PSAT is given every year during October at high schools throughout the nation. THE PSAT is given to students at his/her home campus during the school day.
Results from the PSAT, along with a copy of the test itself are distributed to students so that they may learn from the experience to improve individual SAT scores. There is typically a fee associated with receiving these results.
At Texas Empowerment Academy, the PSAT is given to all juniors, giving a student an opportunity to practice the SAT before the spring of his/her junior year. We do not administer the PSAT 10.
The PSAT/NMSQT is administered during the middle week of October
2019 Test Date: October 16, 2019
2020 Test Date: October 14, 2020
Future Test Dates (As they come available)
For juniors, the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) part of the PSAT: Students who score in the top 1% within each state on the PSAT during his/her junior year become National Merit Semi-finalists, who then apply to become National Merit Finalists. National Merit Finalists are rewarded with numerous scholarships to the university he/she chooses to attend. This nation-wide competition is available to all juniors and is a great way to ensure affordability of collegiate education.
For more information about the PSAT, please visit the PSAT website.
SAT/ACT
The two main assessments accepted by most universities are the SAT and the ACT, both designed to yield the maximum score during the spring of a student’s junior year.
TEXAS EMPOWERMENT ACADEMY CEEB CODE
440-357
SAT
The SAT is a 3 hour and 45 minute exam that consists of 10 subsections ranging over three sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. The design of the assessment is to measure literary, writing & analytical skills to determine academic success in college. Scores range from 200 – 800 on each of the main sections for a total possible score range of 400 – 1600. Combined with a student’s GPA and course selection, universities use SAT results to get a quantitative picture of a student.
SAT Test Dates and Deadlines: Click Here
SAT Test Registration: Click Here
SAT Practice: Click Here
ACT
The ACT is a 3 hour and 5 minute exam that consists of 4 subsections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning (with an optional writing section). The design of the assessment is to measure general educational development and capacity to complete college-level material; to determine “college readiness.” Scores range from 1 – 36 on each section for a total possible score range of 1 – 36. Combined with a student’s GPA and course selection, universities use ACT results to get a quantitative picture of a student.
ACT Test Dates and Deadlines: Click Here
ACT Test Registration: Click Here
**Some students are eligible for a fee waiver for the SAT and ACT tests. If you think you meet the criteria please contact your high school administrator to find out.
Recommended Testing Timeline
Recommended College Admission Testing Timeline
10th Grade
Fall – PSAT (one national test date in October)
ACT Practice test (spring date to be determined by TXEA)
11th Grade
Fall – PSAT (one national test date in October)
Spring – ACT & SAT (multiple national test dates)
12th Grade
Fall – ACT and/or SAT (repeat as needed)
College Admissions
College Admission Counselors
Thank you for your interest in visiting Texas Empowerment Academy. We offer 1 hour time slots Monday thru Thursday from 9:00am to 11:00am and Fridays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We can also accommodate other days and times if requested. We ask that you stay for 45 minutes to 1 hour to provide admissions information and to give the opportunity for students to visit with you. Each college representative is limited to one visit per semester.
To schedule an appointment: Repvisits.com is used for college representative visits.
If you are a military representative, please contact Chasalyn Rowlett directly ( crowlett@txea.org )
College Prep
College Visits
College Visits can help you decide whether or not a campus is a good fit for you. They are also a way for you to demonstrate your interest in attending a school.
- Contact a school’s admissions department a few weeks before your visit to schedule a tour
- If you schedule a visit through a different department, be sure to stop by admissions before you leave and tell them about it so that your visit can be noted in your file.
- JUNIORS are allowed 2 college visits
- SENIORS are allowed 2 college visits before May 1st
College Visit Process:
ONE: Complete a College Visit Form
TWO: Get Signatures from your teachers.
THREE: Turn in the College Visit Form to the Attendance Office.
FOUR: Get the College Visit Verification Form signed while on your visit (hint: this is the proof you will provide TXEA that you were actually on a visit)
FIVE: Turn in College Visit Verification Form into Attendance Office within 48 hours.
* If you are requesting additional college visits, you will need permission from your assistant principal for it to be coded as a college visit instead of an excused absence.
FASFA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an annual form that students complete to determine how much money a college/university might give you!
FAFSA IS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE STARTING OCTOBER 1st
Meeting school and state deadlines can make a difference in the amount of aid a student receives
Based on the information you provide on the FAFSA, you may be offered grants, scholarships, work-study and low-interest student loans by the federal government, state government and your college or university. The greater your financial need, the more ‘free money’ you may receive.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO COMPLETE FAFSA
To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will need:
- An FSA ID to sign electronically (for both you & parent) >> Create an FSA ID
- Your Social Security Number & Your Parent/Legal Guardian’s Social Security Number(s)
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your & your parent/legal guardian’s federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You (and/or your parents) may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- A list of schools you are interested in attending
The US Department of Education gives more detailed information about the things you need to complete FAFSA.
Scholarships
Scholarships are free money, means that students do not have to pay it back. However, there may be certain requirements the student has to meet (e.g. keep grades up, stay on campus, be a member of a club). There are numerous types of scholarships, such as merit-based (e.g. awarded to those who have good grades) or need-based (e.g. awarded to those who have a financial need due to household income). Scholarships can also be divided by who funds the money; either the university or an outside source.
UNIVERSITY-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
When a student applies to a university for admissions, he/she may also be applying to all available scholarships offered through the university. It is recommended that students contact the admissions office of each university to which he/she applies to ask for a list of available university-based scholarships and ask if a separate application is needed!
NON-UNIVERSITY-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Although the majority of scholarship money awarded to a student comes from university-based scholarships, there are millions of dollars available for students from other funds. Some of these are local (typically available to students who live within the Austin Area).
AISD maintains an great scholarship list via twitter. It usually lists both local and non-local opportunities together, so students may have to carefully look through them.
The Texas Comptroller updates a list of Texas scholarships on their website. If you plan to attend a Texas public university check this list out!