The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) web site of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines dual credit and concurrent credit in this way:

Dual credit – Dual credit is a process that allows high school students to enroll in college-level classes to earn both high school and college credit. Dual credit courses are college courses that also count toward high school requirements. These courses may be taken at the high school (or at the college) during the regular school hours and are taught by a high school teacher with appropriate credentials, or by regular college faculty. Successful completion of the course can earn high school credit as well as college credit. High school students may also enroll in a college course from the approved list during the summer or after school with the approval of the high school principal. The Dual Credit courses are in cooperation with Stephen F. Austin State University.

Concurrent Credit – Concurrent courses are college courses taken by a student outside of high school hours and not associated with the high school or the high school curriculum. Successful completion of the course results in college credit.

Approved Dual Credit Courses
Students who take a college course offered by the high school during the school day will receive simultaneous high school and college credit. During the summer or outside school hours, students who satisfactorily complete pre-approved college courses on the dual credit list will receive high school credit after they present their college courses transcript/grades for placement on the high school transcript.

Dual credit is open to students who have completed the sophomore year requirements and have met the requirements for admission to SFA with the requisite PSAT, ACT, SAT, and/or TSI scores.

Juniors and seniors may enroll in college concurrently with high school to extend learning or accumulate college hours. Credit earned through dual enrollment counts for college and high school credit and fulfills high school graduation requirements if the college course covers required state curriculum. Both concurrent and dual-credit courses may meet criteria for the Distinguished Achievement Program.

To take college courses, students must receive both the principal’s, counselor’s, and parent’s prior approval. Students pay all costs associated with the courses and must submit an official transcript to the district in order to receive high school credit. To receive credit, the grade in the course must be a 70 (C) or better; to receive Distinguished Achievement Program credit as an advanced measure, the grade must be a B or better. If all conditions are met, credit is given for the course but is not used to determine the student’s grade point average (GPA) or class rank.

To take a dual credit or concurrent interactive video-conferencing class from SFA, students must receive prior approval from the principal, the counselor, and their parents. Students pay all costs associated with the courses. Students must submit an official transcript to the district in order to receive high school credit.

Dual enrollment credit is accepted by state schools. Students who plan to attend a private or out-of-state school should check with schools on their policy of accepting dual or concurrent enrollment courses, and very often, these schools prefer to see an AP credit and exam score. Interested students should check the course catalog online or with counselors who will have updated lists.

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.

Although not required, Nacogdoches ISD students enrolled in AP courses should take the AP exam that accompanies the AP course in which the student is enrolled. Costs of these exams must be borne by the student; however, limited financial assistance is available.

If the student takes the associated AP exam, advanced placement and/or college credit may be awarded upon college entrance. Colleges and universities have policies regarding how much credit and/or advanced placement will be received for a given score on an AP exam, including any courses from which the student will be exempted or any higher-level courses the student will be allowed to enter.

Before taking AP exams, students should check college websites about specific advanced placement and credit policies.

• College Board:  About the AP Exam

For more information, contact Linda Autrey at lautrey@nacisd.org

Nacogdoches ISD has partnered with Stephen F. Austin University’s STEM Center to provide opportunities for advanced learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics using real-world, problem-based research and field experiences through the four year STEM Academy program at Nacogdoches High School. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn the State STEM endorsement. 

STEM Academy students are supported by a community of NISD teachers and SFA faculty. Students participate in half-day visits to SFA laboratories or field sites every three weeks and a yearly full-day field trip. These opportunities provide students with a first-hand experience of different STEM careers.  

As seniors, STEM Academy students conduct an independent project for the District Science and Engineering Fair where they compete to advance to the regional, state, or international level. Students receive mentorship from SFA faculty on their projects. 

STEM Academy students are eligible to apply for SFA STEM scholarships and can potentially earn college credit hours in math and science. 

To apply, students must be enrolled in Algebra 1 as 8th graders and must maintain an 85 or above in their math and science courses in middle school to meet eligibility requirements. Applications are available to all eligible 8th graders each spring, and selected students will participate in the application/interview process.