College Credit

Taking college credit in high school can offer meaningful cost savings and strong academic benefits.

Dual enrollment tuition is typically $55–$99 per credit hour, and exam-based options may include fees such as $99 for an AP exam or $124 for an IB exam (rates are subject to change based on college and program pricing).
In comparison, college tuition per credit hour can be significantly higher, such as MU ($309), Missouri State ($279), KU ($950), Iowa State ($950), MCC ($121), and Baker ($1116).
For qualifying families, LSR7 provides tuition and exam fee support.

Beyond cost, these courses and exams offer increased academic rigor through college-level curriculum that can align with career and degree interests, while helping students ease into college expectations with a smaller credit load.

Earning credits early can also lighten a student’s future schedule and create more flexibility for activities and opportunities such as athletics, study abroad, or finishing a degree on time or even ahead of schedule. Students who earn college credit in high school are also statistically more likely to enroll in college and complete a degree.

Advanced Placement (Credit by Exam Course)

Benefits

College Credit is awarded by the college based on the qualifying exam score. Each college creates their own score criteria and decides which course the exam will count towards.

Demonstrates academic rigor
Colleges and universities value AP courses in the admissions process
Improve your GPA - 1.00 weight towards GPA
Up to 29% higher college acceptance rate
IEP, 504, ELL accommodations can be requested
District Scholarship available for qualifying students
Exam Scores range 1 - 5 (3 average)

AP Classes

Enrollment Information

Dual Credit

Benefits

LSR7 Partnering Colleges/Universities

Enrollment Information

Juniors and Seniors (primarily)
GPA Requirements
- unweighted 3.0 - no required test scores or
- unweighted 2.5 - 2.99 - qualifying ACT/Accuplacer Score
- College Algebra - also needs qualifying Algebra II grade
All enrollment and tuition deadlines will be shared by the course teacher
University Final (may vary by college)
Must pay the tuition fee by the deadline
Must adhere to drop and withdraw deadlines
Grade of C or better to earn college credit (some colleges may want a B or higher)
Student must order the transcript to be sent to their post high school university/college (cost varies)
Dual enrollment with university is opt in for some classes

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Benefits

College Credit is awarded by the college base on the qualifying exam score. Each college creates their own score criteria and decides which course the exam will count towards.

Demonstrates academic rigor
Improve your GPA- 1.00 weight towards GPA
Diploma, Career-Related, and Course Programs and available to all students
Colleges and universities understand the rigor, skills & content students gain through IB coursework
IB students are more likely to attend college & graduate on time 85% enrolled in a 4 year college compared to 66% in the US, 90% continued their 2nd year compared to 80% across the US.

Courses

Enrollment Information

Benefits

Credit by Exam College credit is awarded by the college based on the qualifying exam score criteria.

STAMPS Test administered to award credit
All seniors in level 3 or higher modern language course take it as their 1st semester final
Students can take the exam in most world languages not offered through LSR7
All 4 parts of speech are tested (speaking, listening, reading & writing)
Certifies attainment of biliteracy to employers, universities, and the community
Provides for possible university incentives
Provides official documentation on high school transcript

Enrollment Information

Test is free to all students in the district
The building Seal Coordinator will send out an email with information to students and parents about signing up.
Classroom teachers will also have information.
Students must take the exam
Scores are released in January
Obtaining the Seal is placed on the student’s transcript
College credit awarded is determined by each college/university; currently 8 MO Schools

Summit Technology Academy

Benefits
STA Programs

Benefits

STA is a part of the LSR7 district that offers career-related capstone courses for juniors and seniors. All courses are aligned with industry credentials and/or college credit. The type is specific to each program.

Courses are offered at MIC (this building) or at the Paradise Park Campus.
1⁄2 Day Program for ~2 hours (AM or PM) Students must plan to have room in their schedule.
Courses are 3 credits/year and weighted .667
Longer time with quality lab space and equipment allow for hands-on, real-world, experiential learning.
Personalized Competency Based Learning structure
Industry Recognized Credentials in most courses
Bus transportation provided
Schedules provide plenty of time to participate in extracurricular activities
Serves students from 40+ area schools

STA Programs

Missouri Innovation Campus

Benefits
Degrees

Benefits

Specialized accelerated degree program that sets students up to graduate with a 4 year degree from MCC/UCM and a 3 year continuous internship 2 years out of high school.

Graduate from high school with A.A.S degree and a B.S. degree 2 years later
91% continue working at the internship placement company
Average cost/semester for student is $500
Starting salary ranges from $65-$75k/year
- $100k-$105/year for software engineering

Degrees

Articulated & Advanced Standing Credit

Benefits

Requirements

High School Articulated Credit Course List

PLTW Engineering Courses

Introduction to Engineering & Design
Principles of Engineering
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Digital Electronics/Computer Integrated
Manufacturing/Aerospace Engineering at STA
Engineering Design & Development at STA

PLTW - Computer Science

Intro to Computer Science Essentials
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Computer Science A
Cybersecurity at STA

PLTW - BioMed Courses

Principles of the Biomedical Science
Human Body Systems
Medical Interventions/Biomedical Innovation at STA

New Articulated Credit Courses through MCC

Introduction to Web Design
Advanced Web Design
Computer Business Applications I/II
Cybersecurity Fundamentals I/II
Computer Hardware and Operating Systems I/II
Computer Hardware and Operating Systems I/II

Course offerings and grade level vary at each high school. Some colleges require a sequence of courses to earn the articulated credit.

Look for PLTW Scholarships: Mizzou, Missouri S & T or Elective credit for PLTW classes

Early College Program

Benefits
Degrees

Benefits

Courses taken in-person or online at MCC-Longview, taught by MCC instructors. Credit earned with a grade of “C” or better.

Students can complete an Associate of Arts Degree in high school
Complete program prerequisites (Health Science)
Ease into college with support
General ed. requirements, CORE 42 credits
Classes count for high school and MSHSAA (& NCAA) eligibility.
Meet high school & college degree graduation requirements
Flexible course schedule can accommodate work schedules, internships, and other high school off-campus programs.
$60.50 per credit hour
0.667 high school GPA weightedness

Degrees

Enrollment Requirements

Students must be in grades 11 or 12
3.0 GPA (placement into non-math-based classes at MCC)
3.3 GPA and successful completion of Algebra II (placement into MATH 120-College Algebra, MATH 115-Statistics)
Minimum 2.5 GPA and Qualifying ACT / Accuplacer Score
Credit earned with a grade of C or better

Find program details, course information & application at: ecp.lsr7.org

Is all credit good credit?

Considerations:

Academic Workload/Life Balance
Mix and match credit opportunities that lead towards your careers goals.
Is it required for my degree?
Core 42: general education courses. Transfers to all Missouri public institutions and to most public institutions across the country.
Highly selective colleges, historically, do not take transfer credit. (Harvard, Stanford...)
How might a lot of credit affect the semester loads once I am full-time college student?
Do your research.

Tips for Tracking Credit

Individual Career and Academic Plan
- High school course name & teacher
- College course number & name (ENGL 101 & 102- Composition & Reading I & II/College Credit English) and the institution it was taken through.
- Student username and password for each institution.
After graduating high school, the college transcripts from each institution will need to be sent to the school where the student is completing the degree.
Most colleges charge a fee to send a transcript.
Check how transfer credit is transcribed and applied at each institution. Typically a transfer credit tool is available on the institutions website.