FAQ's
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Is the Collegiate Academy recruiting students from the entire LISD school system or just from the Colony feeder schools?
For the new school year, any 8th grader is eligible to complete the application process.
What additional benefits will Collegiate Academy graduates have as compared to non-Collegiate Academy graduates in ranking for scholarships?
Since there is not standard criteria for scholarships, there is not a way to articulate the benefits for a scholarship for students in CA. CA graduates will have experience with college level courses and will have all of the benefits that dual credit students have.
Do I have to get an Associate’s Degree to be in Collegiate Academy?
No, there is a minimum commitment to 36 hours with the possibility of an Associate’s degree. This will depend on students’ programs like Fine Arts, Athletics, CTE, etc.
Are students able to participate in career center classes, Fine Arts, Athletics and other activities?
Yes! The Collegiate Academy is a “school-within-a-school” model. Students will attend TCHS and will be able to participate in the same activities and programs as non-Collegiate Academy students. The Collegiate Academy staff will work with the students on a 4-year plan once students start at the Collegiate Academy.
If LISD offers virtual pathways, will the college classes be virtual as well?
As LISD navigates the TEA guidelines we will work with our partners to determine what this will look like! We will continue to communicate with our Collegiate families as we have information.
GPA/Graduation Questions
What weight will the dual courses have as compared to AP courses, and regular courses?
For the Class of 2021 and beyond, the new weighting system will go into effect. Dual credit courses and AP courses will be weighted at a 1.2 (Level 3).
Can I fit in all of my high school classes and get an associate’s degree?
Yes! The Collegiate Academy staff will work with each student to develop a plan! View sample plans
What associate’s degrees can a student earn in Collegiate Academy?
We have a track for associate of arts and an associate of science.
Will Collegiate Academy students be included in TCHS over all rank or have their own “academy class” rankings?
Collegiate Academy students will be included in rank with all of the students in their TCHS graduating class.
How is GPA calculated?
Financial Questions
Do I have to pay the full amount up-front?
No, you will pay for the courses as you take them. You will follow the Collin College registration and payment timelines and registration and payment is in the semester prior to taking the course.
Can you use 529 account money for dual credit?
Yes!
Is there a payment plan available?
All payment is made directly to Collin College. You can see their financial and payment information here:https://www.collin.edu/bursar/tuition.html
Are there any scholarships available?
The Collegiate Academy team will be working with students to pursue scholarship opportunities.
Dual Credit Questions
What are the benefits of dual credit?
- Receive high school and college credit for courses in which a “C” or better is earned
- Count as a Performance Acknowledgement
- Graduate from high school with transferable college credits
- Fast-track to undergraduate or vocational degrees
- Save on tuition and fees by accelerating time to degree completion
- Have access to the full range of dual credit partner services and events
- Experience college culture
- Gain confidence to succeed in college
What is the TSI test?
Texas requires students to demonstrate college-readiness prior to enrolling in college-level courses (dual credit). This test is the only approved exam in the state.
Students can be exempt from taking the TSI Assessment as below:
- STAAR EOC Alg I score of 4000 with a “C” or better grade in Algebra II
Do I have to take the TSI to get into the Collegiate Academy?
TSI is required for entry into the CA. It is necessary for students to either be exempt from or take the TSI Assessment before taking college-level courses. Collin College requires students to take all three areas of the TSI, but students only need to have met the Reading and Writing requirements until such time that they enroll in a college-level Math class.
For a student who plans to attend an out of state college, will they benefit greatly from the Associates Degree since many of those credits may not transfer to a non-Texas school?
The Collegiate Academy counselor will meet with students to develop a 4-year plan that takes into consideration a student’s post-secondary plans and goals. As students move forward in the program and are selecting colleges, we encourage students to check with the university on what courses would transfer. Much of that also depends on a student’s selected major in college.
All college credits taken transfer as credit hours; however, unless they are Texas Collegiate Common Core courses they could potentially transfer only as generic elective credit. The core curriculum for Collin College can be found at https://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/Core_Academic_old.html. Students planning to transfer to an out-of-state institution should consult with the institution they are considering attending to discuss transferability of credit.
How does discipline affect Collegiate Academy?
TCHS Collegiate Academy Students contractually agree to the following: Participation in the Collegiate Academy is considered a privilege and higher standards are expected from all participants as it pertains to grades, behavior in and out of school, attendance, work ethic, and commitment. Any behavior, academic or otherwise, that is deemed unbecoming of a Collegiate Academy student will be subject to a disciplinary process discipline rendered by the Collegiate Academy administrator.
All general scholastic dishonesty including plagiarism, cheating and collusion and Title IX/VAWA/Clery complaints will continue to be addressed through the appropriate reporting structure by the Collin College Collegiate Academy faculty through the Collin College Dean of Students Office. Questions on violations of scholastic dishonesty can be directed to the appropriate Academic Associate Dean, and reports of discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual assault/misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking need to be directed to The Collin College Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator.
How do we go about choosing an emphasis area of study? What are our options to consider?
During freshman year, the Collegiate team will work with each 9th grader on four-year planning and based on that, students will be able to select their pathway for both high school and college graduation.
IF my student passes the AP tests at the end of the year, how will that affect the course load over the next 4 years?
AP classes and dual credit can often count for the same college credit (ie. Eng3 AP and Dual Credit 1301/1302 count for the same college credit). The Collegiate team will work with students to determine which courses are most applicable when there is an overlap in AP/dual credit for college credit.
Is tutoring offered if needed?
In addition to tutoring or office hours provided by your professors, these tutoring resources are available to you for your Collin classes: NetTutor Online Tutoring – Online tutoring is available through https://www.nettutor.com/. College Algebra students-- Math Labs available on several campuses. https://www.collin.edu/studentresources/mathlab/ (Links to an external site.). Students can utilize whichever of these is most convenient; it does not matter if they generally have classes online or at a different campus.
Where does my student take the dual credit courses?
All classes are offered on the TCHS campus. Students have the opportunity to take some classes during the summer to free up room in their schedule but all required classes will be offered on the TCHS campus.
Are there scholarships available for students, national or local to help cover the cost?
At this time there are no scholarships for dual credit. However, parents may use their 529 account to cover costs.
