Frisco | September 2024

BY HANNAH JOHNSON

Frisco ISD’s dual credit grows by 32.2%, AP exams see 80% passing rate

Frisco ISD dual-credit enrollment

FISD students can take dual-credit courses through Collin College and the University of North Texas's Frisco campus.

Fall semester

Spring semester

The number of students enrolled in dual credit courses increased 32.2% from the fall 2022 semester to the fall 2023 semester, according to district data. Dual-credit courses are college courses taken at the same time as the high school course. There are 77 academic and technical courses offered through Collin College and eight online courses offered at UNT at Frisco. Students pay the college a course tuition, which ranges from $152-$225, and instructional materials are estimated at $100 per course. “A big sell for a lot of our parents is it can save you a significant amount of money,” Chetty said. Frisco ISD has one of the largest Advanced Placement programs in the state, Chetty said. The district administered 27,428 exams to almost 11,500 students with a passing rate close to 80%

Advanced academics is one way Frisco ISD is preparing students for their paths after high school. Earning college credit in high school is one piece of taking an advanced course, said Krishna Chetty, FISD’s advanced academics coordinator. Taking an advanced course adds to the success of a student when they leave high school because of the skills learned through the course, he said. “We want them, when they leave Frisco, to be prepared,” Chetty said. The district’s advanced academics courses include Advanced Placement, dual credit and International Baccalaureate. Dual credit opportunities are also available through the district’s career and technical education programs.

2022-23

2,586

2,323

2023-24

3,419

3,117

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

in 2023. AP courses allow students to earn college credit upon completion of a course, if they pass the end-of-course exam. Cost per exam is $99, according to College Board. FISD will offer 33 AP courses in the 2024-25 school year.

Why it matters

solving that we hope we take them through here, adds to their success when they get out of high school,” Chetty said. Frisco ISD is working to grow its dual credit program, Chetty said. In April, the district’s board of trustees approved expanding the weighted grade point average scale to include dual credit courses, starting for the class of 2030.

Advanced courses are not just beneficial for students attending college after graduation. The skills developed through advanced courses translate into all post-high school paths, such as the military or trade school, Chetty said. Time management, self-advocacy and study habits are all skills that FISD tries to build in students through the courses, he said. “Just having dealt with the rigor and problem-