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General Dual Enrollment Information
General Dual Enrollment Information
You must get approval from ILHS to apply for Dual Enrollment or the courses you take will NOT be placed on your ILHS transcript
NOR will they count towards ILHS graduation
Dealines for DE college applications are:
February 15th for Summer sessions
April 15th for Fall sessions
October 15th for Spring sessions
Which means your LCSD Dual Credit Application has to be approved by your ILHS counselor in enough time before the dealine to give you time to apply to the DE college before the hard deadline of the respective term.
Please understand that taking college classes impacts your future college GPA and transcripts. If you do poorly, you can be on academic suspension or no longer be eligible for dual enrollment. That does not look good to future colleges, military branches, or employers.
If your GPA drops below a certain number, you are also no longer eligible for scholarships.
Even if you have a high ILHS GPA, it does not mean you are mature enough to do well in college courses, so please think about this before you apply.
If you do not want to take the time or do not know how to read ALL THE WORDS, do your OWN research, write your OWN papers, read ALL the instructions, attend ALL the class times/orientations, then please do not apply.
YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH DE IN THE SPRING OF SENIOR YEAR- take them before, so if you fail,
you have a semester to regain the credit in order to graduate on time!
Step 2- Read through this website and the tab for your respective college
Step 3- Read through your respective college's website for Dual Enrollment
Step 4- Review with your parent/guardian Dual Enrollment Form 1, but do not submit DE Form 1 yet
THIS IS NEW- Step 5- Speak to your ILHS counselor and complete the Dual Enrollment Application and the Student Disclaimer for ILHS BEFORE you apply to any college- your counselor has these forms and will provide you with them. This application will require you to do some homework about your post-secondary plans. Your counselor will tell you if you are able to apply to the college
Step 6- Once your ILHS counselor approves your application to begin the dual credit process, complete and submit Dual Enrollment Form 1 with your parent/guardian. Once you submit you will obtain your "online ticket" (message you receive after you submit the form that you can take a screenshot of), which you need to be allowed to attend registration at your college of choice (bring it with you to registration)
Step 7- Apply to the college
Step 8- Once accepted by the college, complete all of the steps in the acceptance email to set up your college email and other platforms that you need BEFORE you attend orientation and registration- this includes signing up for an orientation/registration appointment- we will also have a meeting with ILHS students and parents before you go to the college Orientation/Registration- you will be notified of the choice in dates for this webinar after we hear if you have been accepted by the college.
Step 9- Attend their Orientation/Registration (if you are a new student) / Attend their Registration (if you are a returning student) to register for courses- you will receive an email in your college email telling you when it is time to sign up for these events
Step 10-Complete and Submit Dual Enrollment Form 2, which includes uploading your Concise Schedule- follow the directions in DE Form 2- and telling us which ILHS courses to drop
Dual Enrollment Student Disclaimer Form
Follow the directions above to submit this form and see your ILHS counselor to get the application
Alert your ILHS counselor of any changes- this means if you drop or add any courses, your ILHS counselor needs to hear from you immediately!
Remember- All summer classes are fast paced. You are completing a semester's worth of work in three short weeks- with midterm and final exams included.
3/20/26 Official- LCSD Dual Credit Disclaimer Form (1).pdfYou cannot take DE at 2 colleges at the same time and use your LTAP funding. If you are in an LCCC DE course through York Tech, you cannot get free courses at USCL- you may choose to pay per credit on your own though. The only time this does not apply is for students enrolled in the DE Teacher Cadet course through Winthrop.
New-> if you want a non-dual credit course to show up on your ILHS transcript, you MUST check with your school counselor to be sure the course is listed in the SC course codes AND you MUST get permission from the principal BEFORE you register for the course- see form below
Non MOA Course Approval.pdfI understand that I may need to have my own equipment to take DE classes.
I will need to access my college's email system daily (can be done on your phone, but not LCSD chromebooks or on LCSD networks).
If I plan to take a synchronous (class meets on a Zoom or Teams calls at a specific time) course, I need to have my own computer, as LCSD computers are not set to allow outside meetings and classes cannot be attended through a phone, nor can I attend classes while on the ILHS campus.
I also cannot use my own equipment on the LCSD networks/on the ILHS campus- for example, if I am in an Independent Study, I can only work on DE coursework that can be supported through the LCSD issued chromebook- all other work will need to wait until I am home on my home network.
Professors may ask you to download items using programs like Dropbox, monitoring software when taking tests (which also require cameras and microphones), and other items which will not be supported by LCSD equipment or wifi.
Some issues to be aware of
Some issues to be aware of
It is very important to touch base with your future colleges to see how taking dual credits or dual enrollment credits will affect
your path to your degree and your financial aid.
Taking on dual enrollment (DE) is like getting a "fast-forward" button for college, which is awesome—until you realize you might have skipped a few important scenes. While it’s a great way to save money, there are two "hidden levels" you need to watch out for: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and Major-Specific Requirements.
Here is the breakdown of how "too much of a good thing" can get tricky.
1. The "150% Rule" (Financial Aid & Scholarships)
1. The "150% Rule" (Financial Aid & Scholarships)
Most colleges and federal financial aid programs have a rule called Satisfactory Academic Progress. They will only pay for your degree for a certain amount of time—usually 150% of the credits required for your major.
The Math: If a degree takes 120 credits to finish, the "funding bucket" runs dry at 180 credits ($120 \times 1.5 = 180$).
The Risk: If you enter college with 60 credits from dual enrollment but then decide to switch majors twice, those DE credits still count toward your total "attempted" hours. You might hit that 180-credit limit before you actually finish your new degree, meaning you’d have to pay for the final year out of your own pocket.
2. The Scholarship "Clock"
2. The Scholarship "Clock"
Many big scholarships (like state-funded or merit-based ones) are only available for eight semesters (four years).
If you transfer in so many credits that you are technically a "Junior" the day you walk onto campus, some schools might expect you to finish in two years. If you want to stay for all four years to do internships or study abroad, your scholarship might run out before you're ready to leave because you’ve already completed the required coursework for your degree.
3. The "Pre-Req" Bottleneck
3. The "Pre-Req" Bottleneck
This is the biggest hurdle for degree completion. You might finish all your "General Education" classes (English, History, Psych) via dual enrollment, but your Major classes (the specific stuff for Engineering, Nursing, or Art) often have to be taken in a specific order.
The Problem: You arrive at college with no "easy" classes left to take.
The Result: You end up with a schedule full of only four or five extremely difficult, high-level science or math classes at once. This leads to burnout or lower grades, which can put your GPA—and your scholarships—at risk.
In many majors—like Engineering, Nursing, Architecture, or Education—classes are only offered once a year (e.g., Level 1 in the Fall, Level 2 in the Spring).
The "Prerequisite Gap" Example
Let’s look at a Nursing or Pre-Med student who finishes all their "basics" (English, History, Psych) in high school.
Fall Semester (Year 1): You take Biology 101. This is the "Foundation."
The Bottleneck: Biology 102 is only offered in the Spring. You must pass 101 before you can sit in 102.
The Crisis: Because you did all your "fun" or "easy" classes in high school, you have nothing else to take in the Fall except Biology 101.
The "Empty Semester" Trap
The "Empty Semester" Trap
If Biology 101 is a 4-credit class, and you’ve already finished every other general requirement, you might find yourself with only 4 credits on your schedule.
The Scholarship Rule: To keep scholarships like SC LIFE, you must be a Full-Time Student (usually at least 12 credits).
The Problem: You can't take the next Biology yet, and you have no other classes left to take. You are "stuck" waiting for the next semester to start.
The Result: To keep your scholarship money, you might be forced to take "filler" classes—classes you don’t need and that don’t count toward your degree—just to stay at 12 credits. This wastes your time and eats up your scholarship "eligibility clock" on classes that don't matter.
Real-World Scenario: The "Fall-Only" Class
Imagine a specific course, "Advanced Structural Design," which is only taught by one specific professor every Fall.
Year 2 Spring: You fail the class that comes right before it, or you simply aren't ready to take it yet.
Year 3 Fall: You miss the window to take it.
The Wait: You now have to wait an entire year until the next Fall to take that one single class.
If that class is a "Prerequisite" for your Senior project, your graduation date just got pushed back by a full year. Because you brought in so many dual enrollment credits, you might hit your 4-year scholarship limit while you are still waiting for that one final "Lego piece" to be offered.
How to Avoid This
How to Avoid This
If you are entering with two years of credit, you should ask the Department Head of your major for a "Prerequisite Map." * If the map shows a 4-year long "chain" of classes that must be taken one after the other, you’ll know right away that your dual enrollment credits won't let you graduate in two years.
In that case, it's better to spread your DE credits out and use them to keep your stress low, rather than trying to sprint toward a finish line that is "locked" behind a yearly schedule.
4. Transfer Troubles
4. Transfer Troubles
Not every credit travels well. If you take 30 credits of "General Electives" but your chosen university doesn't accept them as "Core Requirements," those credits just sit on your transcript as "extra."
They don't help you graduate any faster, but they do count toward that 150% credit limit mentioned above. It’s like packing a suitcase with winter coats for a trip to Hawaii; you’re still carrying the weight, but you can’t use what’s inside.
ILHS Students you must speak to your ilHS counselor about your plan before you go to register for any DE/DC courses
ILHS Students you must speak to your ilHS counselor about your plan before you go to register for any DE/DC courses
ILHS students may begin taking Dual Enrollment classes after the completion of their Sophomore year if they earned enough credits to be considered a rising Junior (that summer) & have a 3.0+ weighted GPA.
Seniors- although Maymester courses are covered by LTAP, they will not count as ILHS credit since we do not get grades until after transcripts have been completed for your high school career
All DE summer classes are recorded on the previous year (so if you take classes the summer between Sophomore and Junior year, those classes will go under the Sophomore year on your transcript- so we do not recommend taking English or math during the summer since you need those courses listed for each year on your transcript).
ILHS has DE agreements with University of South Carolina- Lancaster, York Technical College, and Winthrop University.
Look to see if you are interested in completing any of the Associate's Degrees while still in high school- this may require you to take summer courses in order to get in all of the required coursework.
Check with the 4 year college you plan to attend after high school to see if and/or how coming in with an Associate's Degree affects you (i.e. scholarships, housing, level of coursework).
Although during your IGP meeting your counselor will ask you if you plan to take DE classes, it is YOUR responsibility to APPLY to the college and REGISTER for classes.
To apply, you will need a copy of your transcript (you get that at your IGP meetings from your ILHS counselor), your vaccines, proof of residency, and proof of citizenship- if you are not a citizen, you need: Copies of both the student and one of your parent's VISAs (front and back)- Please note that if the VISA qualifies for university studies, you will be responsible for covering the costs of Dual Enrollment classes out of pocket. (The cost is $75.00 per credit hour at USCL.)
The classes that count for BOTH high school credit and college credit are listed on the documents on the respective college's tab (each college may have slightly different names or course codes for each class, so it is your responsibility to be sure the class you register for counts for both high school and college credit).
Juniors must take 8 classes their junior year (either at ILHS or a combination of ILHS and DE- all of which must count for high school credit).
Seniors planning to attend a 4 year college after graduation should take 8 classes their senior year (either at ILHS, DE, or a combination of both).
English and math are required every year if you plan to attend college after graduation.
Please use this link to view the transfer of credits to other SC schools: https://www.sctrac.org/Student/Search-for-Course-Equivalencies -this is the one for Clemson: https://transferringcredits.app.clemson.edu/transferequivalency.php -- for other colleges contact the admissions counselor at the college you plan to apply to after high school.
See tabs in the margin for information about each college. It is your responsibility to visit their respective websites and campuses for up to date information.
So, you think you may want to take dual enrollment classes.
Here is what you need to know:
You need to be a rising junior (so you can start taking classes the summer between sophomore and junior year, assuming you have completed all sophomore year requirements)- summer classes will count toward the previous school year on your ILHS transcript
LCSD has three partnerships for Dual Enrollment- University of South Carolina Lancaster, Winthrop University, and York Technical College
You need to meet the Dual Enrollment GPA requirement for the college of your choice
Let your school counselor know that you are interested at your IGP meeting- your counselor does NOT register you
Attend any college information days that the college may offer- they will help walk you through all of this information
YOU are responsible for APPLYING to, and then once you are accepted, REGISTERING at the college- you have to apply for EACH year you plan to attend- it is not a one time acceptance- all dates are on the college’s dual enrollment webpage
There may be fees to apply
Some colleges offer free or discounted class tuition through LTAP- ask the college about this and ask if it impacts your future financial aid offerings- you will still have other fees to be aware of even if you get your class tuition for free- you may need to take a certain number of classes to get them for free as well
Look at the list of approved dual enrollment classes located under the ILHS website -> Counseling --> Dual Enrollment
Apply to the college following the directions on that college’s website- helpful links can be found on the ILHS Dual Enrollment website page
There are several documents you need to upload or bring to the college during the application process- transcripts, vaccinations, identification (cannot be a driving permit), proof of SC residency (you may need your parent's license number and car registration information), etc.- have those ready and get them in on time
CHECK YOUR EMAIL (the one you put on the college application- it is where they will send your acceptance letter)- once you are accepted, the college will want you to register for a college email- this is where all college correspondence will occur, and you are responsible for checking it at least daily- directions for setting up email should be in the acceptance email
If you do not hear from the college in a reasonable amount of time, call to inquire about the status of your application
Look to see when the registration day is where you go to the college campus and register for your classes in person
There will also be instructions for setting up other accounts for all college business (For example: USCL has you set up your “Self Service Carolina” - among other important items, you can see courses offered and your concise schedule (which you need to print and provide to your ILHS school counselor once your schedule is set) and your “Blackboard” (or other learning management system) account where you access your class materials
Check out the college bookstore/website where you can search your class code to see which books, if any, you will need- be sure to order these ASAP so that you will have them in time for class- Going to the college’s bookstore in person may be the best means. Check your class syllabus to see which books, if any, you need- look at the edition as well- it may make a difference-sometimes there is reading due before the class starts, so pay attention to the syllabus
Other helpful items to know:
Each college has its own way of doing business. It is your responsibility to pay attention and do what they need you to do
Your ILHS issued Chromebook will not allow you to hold Zoom meetings for Synchronous classes. You cannot bring in your own computer to work on DE courses at ILHS
Inquire early about college bookstore programs and possibly getting books for free- you can order books from anywhere you would like, but it is a good idea to start at the college bookstore- check the course syllabus to see which books
Know all important dates- application deadlines, registration deadlines, drop class deadlines (missing the drop class deadline can result in an F on your college transcripts and may impact your ILHS graduation date as well) ILHS cannot do anything to help you if you miss these dates- you only have the first 5 days of the ILHS semester to drop the class from your transcript without penalty- even if the college drop date is further out than the ILHS drop date. You have 5 days from the start date of an online course and 5 live sessions for an in-person course to drop a course and have a WP on your ILHS transcript, which will not negatively impact your GPA
Do not get talked into taking classes you do not want or need
Register as early as they allow to get the classes you want
It is preferred that you take the “asynchronous” option for classes as we do not create your ILHS schedule around your college classes, so you cannot be sure that you will not have an ILHS class at the same time as a synchronous class or an in person class at the college or that you can “make the drive” back and forth in time
If you have asynchronous classes and have in person classes at ILHS, you may register for an ILHS Independent Study
You will only get ILHS graduation credit for the classes that are approved for DUAL CREDIT; however you may take as many classes as the college allows (usually up to 5- remember credits do not equal classes, so be sure to understand your college’s credit system)
You may take other courses that are not dual enrollment approved, but they will NOT count toward ILHS graduation
If you have an idea about where you want to go to college after graduation, reach out to that college to see what classes they will accept from your dual enrollment experience to count towards your degree there
When the class is complete, the college will send the grades to ILHS and then they will be added to your transcript-this takes time
To be considered a registered student at ILHS, you need at least 3 full credits per semester- these can be at ILHS, through dual enrollment (dual credit approved classes only), or through VirtualSC (if ILHS does not have an open seat or does not offer that particular class) or any combination
Once you have access to your college Course Syllabus, PRINT IT OUT and KEEP A COPY- it is how you can prove to other schools in the future which classes you took, so that you do not have to repeat classes- a schedule will not cut it in this situation, they will need to see the syllabus
Once you have access to your Course Syllabus, READ IT and put any important dates on your calendar
Be sure to explore the entire course site to see any helpful information, links, messages from the professor, etc. You are responsible for that, and it CAN impact your grade!!!
*If you have an IEP, you need to reach out to the college; otherwise, they will not be aware. Accommodations will be different at a college.
Remember this is COLLEGE and it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be a prepared student!
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