Earning College Credit in High School

Advanced Placement Exams
Certain advanced courses in the high school program are designated Advanced Placement Links to an external site..  The Advanced Placement examinations given each May on a standardized national test day are scored by the Education Testing Service.  Each examination receives an overall grade on a five point scale.

Each college decides which AP scores it will accept. Some colleges accept scores of 3 or better and give the student credit as if that person had taken one or more basic courses in the subject tested. In some cases credit is not given, but the necessity of taking basic courses is waived. Students should check with individual colleges and the College Board's AP Website Links to an external site. to determine credit options that are best for them.

College bound students should consider taking one or more AP courses. Research shows students completing one or more AP courses, regardless of their grades, do better in college than those never taking AP courses. Testing information will be given to teachers of AP courses during the early part of second semester and will be distributed to interested students. Courses that help students prepare for AP tests are below.  For more information, visit the College Board's AP Website Links to an external site..

Business & Computer Science AP Computer Science Principles AP Computer Science A   English Language Arts AP English Language & Composition AP English Literature	Science AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics 1 AP Physics 2 AP Environmental Science	Visual Arts AP Drawing AP 2D Design
Mathematics AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics	Social Studies AP US Government and Politics AP U.S. History AP Psychology AP World History AP Microeconomics AP Macroeconomics AP Human Geography	World Language Honors French 5.0 AP French Language Honors Spanish 5.0 AP Spanish Language Honors Chinese 5.0 AP Chinese Language Honors Latin 4.0

 

Concurrent Enrollment

Johnson County Community College

The Blue Valley School District has an articulated agreement with Johnson County Community College (JCCC) to offer concurrent enrollment courses in a program referred to as College NOW.  The courses are articulated with the curriculum at JCCC but are taught in the high school classroom by Blue Valley teachers.  The College NOW program is open to high school juniors and seniors or students identified as gifted with a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  A student must complete a JCCC application, assessments as required and provide payment for tuition. A high school transcript is not required at the time of enrollment. A schedule of College NOW classes is available early each semester at the high schools and online at the College Now Website Links to an external site.. 

Baker University

The Blue Valley School District also has an articulated agreement with Baker University to offer concurrent enrollment courses.  The courses are articulated with the curriculum at Baker but are taught in the high school classroom by Blue Valley teachers.  The Baker program is open to high school juniors and seniors or students identified as gifted with a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  A student must have an overall cumulative high school GPA of 3.0, complete a Baker registration request and student enrollment form and provide payment for tuition. A high school transcript is not required at the time of enrollment.

 IMPORTANT NOTE:  The availability of each program (JCCC or Baker) varies between high schools and depends on the qualifications of the high school teacher.  A high school may in some cases offer classes from both JCCC and Baker.  The high school courses that have been designated as eligible for concurrent enrollment credit are listed below.  Availability of concurrent credit varies from year to year check with your specific high school for the most current availability:

English Language Arts AP English Literature Business and Computer Technology Honors JAVA Programming AP Computer Science A CAPS Courses Most CAPS courses are eligible for college credit

Mathematics AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Honors PreCalculus/Trig Honors Multivariable Calculus   Science AP Chemistry AP Biology AP Physics 1 AP Environmental Science

Social Studies AP US Government and Politics AP U.S. History AP Psychology AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics Economics International Relations World Language Honors French 4.0 Honors Latin 4.0 Honors Spanish 4.0 AP Spanish Language AP French Language

 

Quick Step at JCCC
This program is for sophomores, juniors, seniors or students identified as gifted with a current IEP.  Instruction is provided by JCCC faculty and held on the college campus.  The student must complete a JCCC application, assessments (if required), and provide payment for tuition. A complete list of classes each semester is found on the Johnson County Community College website Links to an external site.. Seniors may be eligible for college release hours in their schedule.

To count the JCCC class as dual credit – credit on both the high school and college transcript – the student must complete a dual credit form and obtain the signature of the principal or his/her designee before they enroll.  There are limitations on the number of credits students can apply to their Blue Valley transcript from outside institutions. Students enrolled at JCCC are responsible for contacting JCCC to request any modifications, accommodations or health plans to be used during a JCCC-sponsored program or activity. 

KSHSAA Eligibility for Students Earning Concurrent Credit

The KSHSAA Links to an external site. eligibility rule that applies to college release reads as follows:  The student shall be enrolled in and attending a minimum of five new subjects (those not previously passed) of unit weight or its equivalency during the present semester.  High school students dually enrolled in colleges who have their college hours recorded on their high school transcript may count five hours of college credit as two subjects of unit weight or three hours of credit as one subject of unit weight.  However, the student must attend at least one class of unit weight at the member base school per semester (one unit = 0.5 high school credit).  KSHSAA requires that a course be listed on the high school transcript for it to count toward eligibility.

 

Articulated Credit at JCCC

As part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses offered in Blue Valley, students have the ability to articulate credit from high school courses to Johnson County Community College at no cost to the student. Instructors from participating high schools and Johnson County Community College align their curricula so students can begin work towards a career path in high school and earn advanced standing credit in a college career program. Instruction is provided on the high school campuses or at CAPS and advanced standing credit at JCCC is awarded for a grade of "B" or better in specific courses. After enrolling and paying fees to JCCC for other college coursework in any field, a student may then apply to JCCC within two years of graduation to receive the advanced standing credit for eligible high school courses at no additional cost. Click here Links to an external site. for a list of eligible courses.

Note:  Advanced standing credits are accepted towards two-year degree completion at JCCC. Please consult a counselor at JCCC or the four-year college or university of interest for further information regarding credit transfer between colleges.