College Credit and Advanced (AP) Courses

The College Credit and Advanced Placement (AP) Programs are cooperative efforts among secondary schools and colleges/universities as a means for students to earn college credit while in high school. Students need to check with each respective college for specific information on credit granted through the programs.  A scholarship through the ISD Foundation is offered annually in support of students who wish to pursue this coursework, but do not have the financial means to do so.  Please see your high school counselor for an application.

NOTE: COLLEGE CREDIT AND AP COURSES REQUIRE A FEE FOR THE COLLEGE CREDIT.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses.  Project Lead The Way is the nation's leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Through world-class K-12 curriculum, high-quality teacher professional development, and outstanding partnerships, PLTW is helping students develop the skills needed to succeed in the global economy.  Historically, science and math have been taught in isolation. The project-based aspects of the Project Lead The Way curriculum give students a chance to apply what they know, identify a problem, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning, rather than be passive recipients of information in a question-and-answer, right-or-wrong learning environment. ISD uses the PLTW platform to offer courses in three pathways:  Engineering & Architecture, Biomedical Science, and Information Technology. A minimum grade of 70% is required in a PLTW course to progress through the course sequence. 

Centers of Excellence: Herndon Career Center, Metropolitan Community College (MCC), & Summit Technology Academy 

An articulation agreement with the Centers of Excellence enables a student who earns a “B” grade or better in selected Career Center courses to receive college credit if he/she pursues an associate degree in that field. Further, several courses at these Centers of Excellence offer dual-credit. A complete listing of the opportunities available through the Centers of Excellence is provided in the high school counseling office or directly from Herndon Career Center, MCC, and/or Summit Technology Academy.

Weighted Courses

Weighted courses are available in selected subject areas. They carry an additional grade point value and some offer college credit as well, due to the nature of the class. Weighted courses are determined according to the following criteria:

• Advanced Placement (AP) courses
• Honors courses
• Project Lead the Way courses
• College Credit courses

Courses taken in Advanced Placement, Project Lead the Way, or college credit formats will receive added grade points in the grading system. Students enrolled in Honors or Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses will receive a weighted value of .50 on a 4.0 scale. Students enrolled in an AP or college credit courses will receive a weighted value of 1.0 on a 4.0 scale