Advanced Academics

Advanced Academics includes courses, programs, assessments, services and supports that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate college and career readiness and earn postsecondary credit.

College Readiness: TSI Math, TSI English, SAT/ACT Exams, AP Exams, Dual Credit & Dual Enrollment, College Prep Course
Career Readiness: Industry-Based Certifications, Special Education
Military Readiness: JROTC, ASVAB

The TEA Graduation Toolkit provides information for planning your high school years and beyond.

Core Area Advanced Level Prerequisites

Prerequisite (Grades 9 & 10): Approaches Grade Level on the previous year’s state assessment. An alternative assessment may be considered due to extenuating circumstances. See your counselor for additional information.

Prerequisite (Grades 11 & 12): College Readiness percentage score or Meets Grade Level score on the previous year’s state assessment. An alternative assessment may be considered due to extenuating circumstances. See your counselor for additional information.

Pre-AP & Honor Courses

Students who have a strong curiosity about the subject and a willingness to work hard should register for advanced courses. Pre-AP and Honor level courses are taught using advanced materials and strategies. Because of the intensity of these courses, students should expect the pace and academic rigor to be above grade level to prepare students for advanced level coursework, such as Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses (see below). In order to be successful in advanced courses, students should be task-oriented, proficient readers who are able to organize their time and who have parental/guardian support. Students who are already overextended with academics or extracurricular activities should carefully consider whether they have the time to devote to advanced classes. Outside study time is at least one to two times the amount of time spent in class per week.

Ninth Grade and Tenth Grade Honors Courses - Level Up and Level Down

Leveling Down - students requesting to level down from an Honors and AP course must submit a request to their counselor. This request will be taken to a schedule correction committee and the committee will decide if to honor the request.
Leveling Up - Leveling up from a regular course offering to an Honors or AP course will be honored on the request of the teacher and with counsel of the Honors and AP teacher.

Advanced Placement

Students may earn college credit through the College Board AP examinations which are offered in May of each year. There is a fee for each AP exam. By taking an AP course and scoring successfully on the related AP exam, you can save on college expenses; most college and universities nation-wide offer college credit, advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP exam scores. These credits can allow students to save college tuition, study abroad, or secure a second major.

Dual Credit

MVHS Dual Credit Orientation - Fall and Spring Convocation

Student Expectations - Students will partake in a fall and spring convocation to begin the college academic semester. Students will review the academic standards and expectations of being a college student in high school. Students will also review the academic calendar of the college.

Peer Mentoring and Tutoring - Students are encouraged to help begin study groups for their college courses. Students must make arrangements with their dual credit teachers for tutorials before and after school, and during collaborative periods.

College-Readiness Cut-Scores using TSIA2 and other approved scores for Dual Credit beginning January 2021

The Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2) is a state program designed to help colleges and universities determine students’ preparedness for college-level coursework in the general areas of reading, writing and mathematics. The TSI program is designed to promote the success of students in college by assessing students’ academic skills through a state approved examination called the TSIA2.

All students in Texas public colleges are required to take the TSIA2 unless the student qualifies for a TSIA2 exemption. In addition, high school students can be waived from taking the TSIA2 by submitting approved placement scores, typically taken in the 10th grade, for 11th grade Dual Credit eligibility. A high school student may be exempt or waived from taking the TSIA2 by meeting one of the following requirements:

Being exempt with specific scores via SAT, ACT, and STAAR EOC
Taking the TSI exam and receiving the minimum passing score on the applicable sections required for entry-level in the course desired.

The following are the scores we need to register Dual Credit Students:

Test Name	Score
TSIA2 – ELAR – Reading/Writing is now combined (Test beginning January 2021)	945-990 and a score of at least 5 on the Essay OR ELAR test score below 945 and ELAR Diagnostic Test score of 5 or 6 and Essay score 5 or higher
TSIA2-Math (Test beginning January 2021)	950-990 OR Math test score below 950 and Math Diagnostic Test score of 6
TSIA – Reading	351+
TSIA – Writing	Placement score of at least 340 and essay score of 4 OR Placement score of less than 340 and an ABE diagnostic level of at least a 4 and essay score of 5
TSIA – Math	350+
STAAR Algebra II	4000
STAAR English III – Reading/Writing (Test given combined beginning Spring 2014)	4000
STAAR English II – Reading/Writing (Test given combined beginning Spring 2014)	4000 (good up to senior year)
STAAR Algebra I	4000 with a 70 or higher on Algebra II Course (good up to senior year)
PSAT	Composite Score of 107 Critical Reading – 50 and/or Math – 50 (good only for 1 year junior year)
PSAT (After October 2015)	EBRW – 480 MATH – 510 (There is no combined score)
ACT	Composite Score of 23 English – 19 and/or Math – 19
SAT as of March 2016	EBRW-480 Math-530 There is no combined score
1 year certificate enrollees (Auto Tech Year 1 & 2 OR PCT)	Exempt (must be enrolled only in certificate classes)

College-Readiness Cut-Scores using TSI

Mathematics: a score ranging from 350 to 390 in the multiple-choice section
Reading: a score ranging from 351 to 390 in the multiple-choice section
Writing: a score of 5 in the essay section.

SWTJC Dual Credit Course Requirements

CTE Dual Credit Classes

Course Load – SWTJC college courses

SWTJC allows students to take a full course load of up to 17 college credit hours. Students must petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs if they choose to take more than 17 hours of college courses work. The college will accept or reject the petition in accordance with their policies. Their decision is final as to whether a student at MVHS is able to take more than 17 college hours at the MVHS campus.

Guidance for high school students wanting to take more than 14 hours of college coursework, a full high school schedule, plus extra curricular activities and/or a job is discouraged. This type of overload for high school students is very difficult and could affect the GPA of students struggling to keep up with both high school and college courses.

Continued Enrollment in Dual Credit

Most Dual Credit students intend to transfer their coursework to a 4-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree. Transfer of individual Core Curriculum courses are guaranteed by state law to transfer to Texas public colleges and universities. The Core Curriculum is a set of courses designed to give students “the basics” of a college education. Most colleges and universities do not accept transferred Core Curriculum courses with grade of “D” or lower. Therefore, eligibility for continued participation in the Dual Credit program requires satisfactory academic performance with earned grades of A, B, or C in all college level courses. Dual Credit courses are recorded on a SWTJC transcript. Official SWTJC transcripts are required for submission to 4-year colleges and universities to transfer college-level coursework. For more information about transferring Dual Credit courses, talk to a Dual Credit advisor and or your Academic Dean.

Articulated Credit

Local articulated courses are for high school students pursuing a college education after high school. The goal of this program is to target and strengthen specific skills for highly competitive jobs. By enrolling in designated local articulated high school courses, students can benefit by receiving college credit hours towards a 2-year Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS).

Beginning their freshman year of high school, students may sign up for locally articulated high school courses. A student must follow a specific articulated plan (a coherent sequence of courses) 3 or more to become eligible for advance placement. College credit will be held in escrow at SWTJC for no more than 24 months after the date of the student’s high school graduation. This credit will be posted once the student has completed 6 semester hours at SWTJC, taken the TSI test, and provided the Outreach office with an official high school transcript. Local articulated courses listed on the high school transcript with grades of 80 or above will be eligible for college credit. Local articulated college course credits are guaranteed at SWTJC and may be eligible at other community colleges participating in an articulation program. Locally articulated courses are not intended for transfer to four year universities.

Students who have completed 6 semester hours of dual credit hours at Medina Valley High School may petition SWTJC to convert articulated course credit to college course credit. Local Articulation Petition Form

High School Class	College Class
Business Information Management (BIM) I Course # 8122	Introduction to Computers Course # ITSC 1301
Business Information Management (BIM) II Course # 8123	Word Processing/Spreadsheets Course # POFT 1349
Accounting I Course # 8101	Introduction to Accounting I Course # ACNT 1403
Instructional Practices in Education Course # 8225	Curriculum Resources for Early Childhood Programs Course # CDEC 1313
Practicum in Education & Training Course # 8226	Educating Young Children Course # CDEC 1311