In today's global economy, students must be well prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. Public Schools provides support to assist students as they transition from middle school to high school and into an increasingly wide array of postsecondary options. Each of the options is described below.
For questions on any of these resources please contact:
Crystal Sobotta, Houston School Counselor, at crystal.sobotta@hsd294.us
Nicole Kaiser, MNVA High School Counselor A-K Grades 10-12, atnicole.kaiser@hsd294.us
Ricky Smith, MNVA High School Counselor L-Z Grades 10-12 , at ricky.smith@hsd294.us
Stirling Foley, MNVA High School Counselor Grade 9, at stirling.foley@hsd294.us
Advanced Placement (AP)
AP is a College Board program that offers high school students the opportunity to take rigorous, college-level courses and earn college credit while in high school. The content in AP courses is structured like college courses. Students who complete an AP course and take the end-of-course examination may qualify for college credit from postsecondary institutions, provided their score meets the institution's credit policy. These courses help prepare students for further education and many colleges look favorably on transcripts that include AP coursework.
Houston High School offers the following Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Calculus AB
AP US History
AP Psychology
Minnesota Virtual Academy offers the following Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Calculus AB
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP US History
AP US Government and Politics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Psychology
AP World History
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP French Language and Culture
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a College Board program that allows students to accelerate their education by earning college credit by taking a computer-based test of their knowledge. Learning can be done through general academic instruction, independent study, extracurricular work or volunteerism. The time and money saved can be significant. Check with the postsecondary institution of your choice for their most recent CLEP credit policy. Visit the College Board website for more information.
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
PSEO is a program that allows students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institutions: some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full or part-time basis; 10th graders may take on career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.
There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a student is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide up-to-date information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year.
For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education's Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.
This information provided with the assistance of MREA, a statewide organization advocating for Greater Minnesota students.