About Dual credit

• Dual credit courses are college level courses that students can take to earn college credit. Courses must be taken at Tomball Memorial High School during the regular school day. Dual credit courses are not offered during the summer.

• Students may take courses through LSC outside of the dual credit program, but must pay full tuition and fees, and high school credit will not be awarded.

• TMHS partners with Lone Star College, Tomball. Course instructors are certified to teach high school and college level courses.

• Students will start their college GPA with dual credit courses.  The semester average(s) will get posted to the student's LSC transcript.

• Depending on the college/university policy where the student attends after high school, some will transfer credits and GPA, and some will transfer only credits. Check the policy with the college/university you plan to attend. Dual credit is a great way to help students transition from high school to college.

• Credits can transfer in Texas AND out of state (determined by college/university).

Be mindful of what major you plan to pursue as you choose your courses, especially math and science courses. Though a dual credit course might not meet the exact degree requirements for a major, the course will transfer in as an elective.

• Search for “transfer course equivalency” on the college or university website. Enter Lone Star College System as the institution, then you’ll enter the LSC course number to see if there is an equivalent course. You can also search for “dual credit” on the college or university website for information.

• Another resource is the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCN) that compares institutions. You will see a table with LSC courses and the college/university courses to determine if they are equivalent.

• Dual credit is a great way to complete courses that are part of the Core Curriculum for college before high school graduation.

  • Each college/university will require core curriculum courses to be completed in the degree program. Curriculum in liberal arts, humanities, and sciences and political, social, and cultural history that all undergraduate students of an institution of higher education are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree.

  • Most are taken in the first two years of college.

Advanced Placement (AP)

● Open enrollment

● Rigorous curriculum

● Credit awarded based on performance on AP exam in May

• Universities across U.S. write curriculum, passing AP exam ensures you learned what was expected

● Great way to get started on college credit before graduation, and be prepared for rigorous curriculum in college

● Some courses can be writing intensive

● $99 per AP exam

● 15 quality points per semester

Dual Credit

● Must apply and qualify to take courses

● Rigorous curriculum

● Credit awarded as you earn each semester

● Transferable credit to the majority of colleges/universities (determined by college/university)

● Great way to get started on college credit before graduation, and be prepared for rigorous curriculum in college

● Tuition waived, only pay fees (about $120-160 per semester per course)

● Must maintain a C average or better

● 15 quality points per semester

High School

Semester course = 1⁄2 credit

College Credits

Semester course (most courses) = 3 hours 

(English, History, College Algebra, Statistics)

Math/Science courses = 4 hours

(Chemistry, Biology, A&P, Calculus)

PE courses = 1 hour (not offered as dual credit)

You should expect to study about 2 hours for each hour of college credit earned per week

3 hour course = 6 hours per week

Remember these grades are going to be on your COLLEGE transcript. Good study habits are important to learn and continue after you graduate high school and enter college.

The dual credit program is a commitment, and you’ll have great rewards for your hard work.

A dual credit course is taken by a high school student as an Exceptional Admit Student.  When the course is successfully completed, the student will receive credit for the class on the high school transcript as well as on a Lone Star College transcript.

• To qualify as an Exceptional Admit student, college placement score requirements must be met.  Scores must place the student at “college level.”  There are additional requirements for some courses. Approved courses are listed online in the TISD Course Selection Guide (this link is for the 2024-2025 catalog, please check the website for updates). 

• *Required placement scores may be found at: Dual Credit Placement Score Chart

• Students must be qualified/eligible for both FALL AND SPRING courses by the designated deadline date, which will be set the spring semester prior to the start of each school year.

• Failure to pay by the designated deadline each semester that the student is registering in a course will result in removal from all dual credit courses. Payment deadlines will apply for fall semester courses and spring semester courses.

• A semester grade of “C” or better is required in order to continue in the Exceptional Admit program.  A semester average below C prohibits continuation in any dual credit course for the remainder of high school.  Students may have the opportunity to submit an appeal to Lone Star College, Tomball, but must follow instructions and deadlines given by Lone Star College, Tomball. The decision for a student to be allowed to re-enter dual credit courses will be ultimately determined by Lone Star College, Tomball.

• Class of 2018 and beyond – To earn a Performance Acknowledgement for dual credit courses, students must earn a B or higher for 12 college credit hours. 

• TISD requires dual credit courses to be taken at the high school as a part of the scheduled school day. Dual credit courses are not offered, and cannot be taken during the summer.

• Once registered in a course(s) with Lone Star College, be aware that a “drop” or “level” change at the high school can negatively impact your college transcript/college career.  Consult your TMHS academic counselor before considering any changes as the college requires counselor approval. Drop dates for Lone Star College will be given at the beginning of each semester.

• Lone Star College requires a FERPA form to be on file signed by the student before releasing information to parents.

• Students are responsible for the purchase of their textbooks, etc.

• The state of Texas pays the tuition for dual credit students and students are responsible to pay the fees for their courses. Example below:

English III DC Fall Semester - 3 hours (1 semester course) = @ $120 (regular cost is $309)

Current Dual Credit Fee Schedule  (Our students would be considered "in-district" on this chart.)

A student’s 504/IEP status can be considered in their request for accommodations; however, it does not automatically transfer to the college. In order for a student to access accommodations, they must complete the application and submit the necessary documentation to the Lone Star College Disability Services department. This includes any testing the student may have taken to acquire their diagnosis or status.

The steps for requesting disability services from LSC are found at THIS link.  When it asks for you to complete the VDAC form, it takes you to a login screen.  The student needs to log in with her MyLoneStar credentials.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this topic, please reach out to the LSC-Tomball Disability Services office.

Office of Disability Services

Carolyn L. Williams

Counselor/ADA/Professor

LSC – Tomball

Disability Services

281-357-3777 (O)

carolyn.l.williams@lonestar.edu