DUAL CREDIT
Dual credit courses allow students to take college courses that fulfill high school graduation requirements and, at the same time, give them college credit. Through a partnership with Houston Community College, Westside offers a number of classes for your consideration. Courses are taught by either HCC faculty or Westside faculty who meet the same standards and are approved by HCC. Get a jump on college after you've completed your sophomore year by enrolling in a Dual Credit Course at Westside! For more information on the Westside program, please contact your teacher or Dean Lambropoulos at llambrop@houstonisd.org.
WHY TAKE DUAL CREDIT
First of all, consider the financial savings! College tuition can be very expensive whereas the tuition for our WHS/HCC courses is free for our students. You’ll be able to ease into college coursework with small classes and a more personal atmosphere and transfer the credits to most 4-year colleges. In addition, taking college level curriculum better prepares students for scoring high on the ACT and SAT entrance exams and you will have demonstrated the ability to do college-level work. Gain the confidence needed to succeed in college!
COURSES AVAILABLE AT WESTSIDE
Courses are offered based on requested enrollment. Please check back for a course listing. Most are commiserate with college freshmen core course requirements.
STEP I: APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO HCC ONLINE
Applying for Admission to HCC is the first step that a student must take before he or she can enroll in a Dual Credit class. You can complete this step from an internet-connected computer. You should complete this step (Step I) just as soon as possible. This process gets you into the HCC database but does not get you into a Dual Credit class. A student MUST be in the HCC database before anything else can happen.
Click here for instructions on how to apply for admission to HCC online.
STEP II: QUALIFYING FOR COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES
Students must be classified as juniors or seniors, meet their high school requirements for taking Dual Credit classes, and meet both the State of Texas Success Initiative (TSI) testing and placement requirements and HCC’s testing and course placement requirements.
Click here for directions for meeting the State of Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirement.
STEP III: DIRECTIONS FOR ENROLLING IN CLASSES
Pick up a copy of TAKS, SAT, and ACT scores from your dean and turn it into the Dual Credit Teacher by the deadline. Deadlines will be announced each semester.
If you don’t meet the above requirements, you would have to take the Higher Education test at HCC – cost is $25 and is nonrefundable if you don’t pass. This price may be waived, see Dean Lambropoulos if you have any additional questions. Every student that lives in HISD School Zone will have their tuition waiver upon admission.