ACC Dual Enrollment
WANT TO TAKE A DUAL CREDIT COURSE AT ACC?
Follow the ACC Registration Process:
Once a student has completed 8th grade and has enrolled in a high school, he/she can take advantage of Austin Community College’s Dual Credit program. The Dual Credit program allows students to take FREE college-level courses while in high school, and have the course count for high school credit as well. Typically, students only have to pay for books! Feel free to check it out at ACC’s Dual Credit Website.
WHAT CAN I TAKE AT ACC?
Numerous courses are available to take via ACC. To determine the best course to take, students should cross-reference the ACC Conversion Chart.
In accordance with TAC §4.85(h), all ACC courses that a student completes and earns a grade (passing or failing) will be transcribed on the student’s high school transcript. If the course is listed on the Dual Credit conversion chart, the respective course will be utilized. If the course is not listed on the Dual Credit conversion chart or the student has already earned credit for the respective conversion, another similar high school course may be utilized. To remain in compliance with TAC §4.85(h), CSA will make every attempt to convert all ACC courses to high school credit by finding a corresponding high school course.
If a student wishes to take a math course, he/she may need to take an additional math placement exam, according to the Higher Level Math Courses at ACC.
(please note that even though the Conversion Chart may have been updated since the publication of this video, the information is still accurate)
WHAT'S THE COST?
Tuition and fees are waived for in-district students. Out-of-district students qualify for significant discounts and pay just $150 per course. These discounts are good for up to 12 courses, after which regular tuition and fees are assessed for both groups. Textbooks and course materials are not included. Eligible courses include core curriculum, workforce, and foreign language courses.
Dual Credit students are assessed regular tuition and fees for additional classes that exceed 12 classes covered by the tuition waiver. Dual Credit tuition and fee waivers do not cover textbook and material fees, which must be purchased by the student.
Effective Spring 2015, the ECS tuition and fees waiver will only apply to classes on the ACC core curriculum (ACC Core Curriculum), workforce course required for an ACC workforce certificate or degree, foreign language, and KINE 1304 & 1305; all other ACC courses will be assessed regular tuition and fees according to a student’s residency status. The ACC Conversion Chart does indicate which courses are covered under the ECS tuition and fees waiver. For more information, feel free to visit ACC’s Core Curriculum Website.
However, Dual Credit students may have other fees even if tuition is waived. ACC handles all financial transactions (and resultant application of the tuition and fees waiver) on their end. ACC receives funding for the Tuition & Fees Waiver from another entity, not Chaparral Star Academy. Any financial questions should be directly communicated with ACC.
Additionally, students should be aware that there are periods where payment is due the same day the student registers (referred to as "Same Day Pay"). "Same Day Pay" takes effect a few weeks before the start of each semester. Please refer to ACC's Tuition Deadline website for dates on when payment is due for a particular semester.
Most likely at one of the numerous ACC campuses (NorthRidge location is closest to CSA & Highland is another common option). Austin Community College has 11 campuses conveniently located across Central Texas. Every campus offers a variety of classes and support services like libraries, learning labs, and computer labs. ACC’s three destination campuses also provide extended services and hours of operation. They are Highland Campus (central), Round Rock Campus (north), and Riverside Campus (south).
CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF ACC's CAMPUSES
Every semester, ACC does offer some courses distance learning in an asynchronous format. The ACC course schedule (updated for each semester), will list available online courses.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN a 16-WEEK COURSE & an 8-WEEK COURSE?
Typically, a semester-long college course is 16 weeks for Fall & Spring. Conceptually, the same amount of information that is presented in an on-level yearlong high school course (36 weeks) is condensed down to a semester in college. College courses usually meet for 3 hours a week, either 1 hour three days a week or 1.5 hours twice a week. However, some courses have additional meeting times (e.g. science lab times) and some meet with other combinations (e.g. every weekday).
ACC offers some courses in 14-week & 12-week lengths and courses meet more often to go through the information at a faster rate. Additionally, ACC offers 8-week courses where students typically meet every weekday and get through all of the curriculum at an accelerated pace. 8-week courses can be very time-intensive.
For more information on dates available, please reference the Registration & Important Dates section of the ACC website.
WHAT ABOUT END-OF-COURSE EXAMS FOR GRADUATION?
Please note that if a student takes an Austin Community College course that counts for US History, he/she is still required to pass the US History End-Of-Course exam as a graduation requirement.
ANY MORE INFORMATION PARTICULAR TO THE REGISTRATION STEPS?
For more information about each step in the registration process, please see below ONCE YOU HAVE READ THE DOCUMENT “ACC REGISTRATION PROCESS” ABOVE :
STEP 1 (APPLY ONLINE FOR ENTRANCE):
Students who reside within the ACC service area but outside of ACC’s taxing district are assessed a $75 per-course fee for up to two courses per semester, for courses that meet on a high school campus this fee is waived. Students taking a distance learning classes are charged the $75 per-course fee.
To help determine residency, please refer to ACC Residency Information or visit ACC’s Residency Website and especially the ACC Residency FAQ.
To take courses at ACC, a student must show college readiness in the areas required for the course he/she wishes to take. Typically, this is done by a student taking the TSIA2 Assessment. However, a student can be TSIA2-exempt (e.g. prove college readiness by another means) by one of the following:
Please realize that all students will need to pay a testing fee to take the TSIA2 assessment.
If a student has to take the TSIA2 Assessment, then he/she will need to register and take the exam at the ACC Assessment Office at one of the following campuses (typically, students can simply drop in and take the exam, but students should call ahead and schedule a testing appointment):
Cypress Eastview Northridge Pinnacle Rio Grande
223-2020 223-5188 223-4807 223-8189 223-3139
Riverside South Austin Round Rock
223-6015 223-9162 223-0142
For hours of operation at each location & more information, please visit ACC’s TSI Assessment Website.
