Blue Ridge ISD has partnered with Collin College to offer Blue Ridge High School students various options for obtaining college credit as a high school student.  For admission information, see www.collin.edu.

BRISD recommends that students who pursue dual credit courses:  Be on track to graduate within four years of beginning high school and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.

BRISD provides an opportunity for any interested student to work towards completion of the Collin General Education Core while participating in dual credit in high school. This sequence of classes will meet several high school course requirements as well as provide the opportunity to complete 42 hours of college credit. It is designed to prepare students to complete an Associate of Arts or Science degree from Collin College within two semesters after HS graduation. Many students who plan to transfer from Collin College to complete a Bachelor’s degree at a public university in Texas would also benefit by completing the core prior to their transfer. 

What is the Collin College General Education Core? 

The Texas Education Code requires all public colleges and universities to have a core curriculum and every degree has a General Education Core requirement. Core curriculum is defined as “the curriculum in the liberal arts, humanities, sciences, and political, social and cultural history that all undergraduate students from a Texas institution of higher education are required to complete before receiving an associate or bachelor’s degree.” The General Education Core at Collin College is the collection of 42 credit hours of general education courses selected by Collin faculty in eight areas that have been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to build a basic core of knowledge. If a student completes these classes, the designation “Core Curriculum Complete” is placed on the college transcript. The State of Texas guarantees acceptance by a Texas public four-year university of any complete General Education Core transferred from any other Texas public college.

Students who qualify may enroll in Blue Ridge ISD and Collin College concurrently.  Students may receive high school and college credit for designated courses, currently including:

To be eligible for dual credit enrollment, students must:

• Be in compliance with state attendance laws;

• Meet Collin College requirements;

Courses designated as “Dual Credit” are college courses for which students will earn both high school and college credit. In addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the college, students’ academic records must meet the following criteria before enrolling in a Dual Credit course:

• Current GPA of 3.0 or higher;

• Passing score on the EOC(s) in the subject of the Dual Credit course, where applicable;

• Passing grade in each semester of each course in the subject of the Dual Credit course.

Note: The principal may waive one of these three criteria in exceptional cases. A strong work ethic and a desire to learn are the key ingredients for success in any honors level course. Students who wish to enroll in these courses must be prepared for an increased workload and be committed to meeting increased expectations.

Students requesting dual credit must:

• Complete a Dual Credit enrollment permission form;

• Obtain signature approval from the BRHS Counselor prior to enrollment in Collin College and BRHS courses;

• Students must then complete a separate application and enrollment procedure at the college in order to complete registration for the course. Students should work closely with their counselor to select an appropriate section and time for dual credit classes.

• Meet with a Collin College advisor to register;

• Pay all required fees at Collin College;

• Take the TSI test or provide proof of TSI exemption;

• Take any additional assessments required by Collin College or BRHS;

• Provide enrollment documentation and receipt of payment to BRHS Counselor prior to class.

If a student fails a prerequisite dual credit course, then the student may be required to drop any subsequent course(s) for which the student is already registered.  Prior to dropping said course(s), a meeting is required with the campus principal and counselor to discuss options for credit. Failing dual credit courses can have a lasting impact on the ability for a student to be eligible for financial aid and their college GPA, so it is important that students be aware of these implications.

Families who do not reside in Collin County may be charged out of county rates at the discretion of Collin College.

Please reference the Blue Ridge ISD Dual Credit Tuition Guidelines section of the Blue Ridge ISD Student Handbook for information regarding dual credit tuition reimbursement.