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College Credit Programming

Welcome to South's Advanced Academics pages!  South High leads in the quality and range of student opportunities for accelerated learning. 

Programs include Advanced Placement, College in the Schools and Post-Secondary Enrollment Options courses, all taught by highly qualified faculty dedicated to the success of every student.  

For additional information, please refer to the links for each accelerated learning opportunity, ask your Counselor or  Fred Cheng, Advanced Academics Coordinator:  Fred.Cheng@mpls.k12.mn.us,  612-668-4300.

For course expectations,  a syllabus, and further information on specific courses, please refer to each Instructor's webpages, listed by last name. 

For information on the credits that these multiple opportunities yield, please refer to the following information posted by the MPS Counseling Department:  http://guidance.mpls.k12.mn.us/rigorous_course_waivers_2.html

Advanced Placement

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To find out more about AP and explore whether it's for you, go to this link.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies — with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both — while still in high school. Students engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.  AP Instructors are highly trained and utilize research-based strategies to reach all students. The content in AP courses is structured similarly to college coursework. Students emerge prepared for further education.   College admissions offices often look favorably on a history of AP coursework on student transcripts.

South currently offers the following AP courses, many of which are not available at other schools.  Click on the course names to learn more, and watch the preview videos from students who have been successful in the course.

AP Exams are given each year in May. A score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam will usually  earn a student college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in colleges nationwide.  It is a core expectation at South that students will take the examinations for each course in which they enrolled. 

Each AP Exam, with the exception of AP Studio Art, consists of multiple-choice q

The composite score for each AP Exam is converted to a score of 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1.

  • A score of 5 is equivalent to an A in the corresponding college course.
  • A score of 4 is equivalent to grades of A-, B+ and B.
  • A score of 3 is equivalent to grades of B-, C+ and C.

 

College in the Schools / Concurrent Enrollment

Concurrent/Dual Enrollment

MPS currently partners with the University of Minnesota (College in the Schools - CIS) and Minneapolis Community and Technical College to offer MPS students the opportunity to take college courses during the school day.

In these programs, students:

  • Experience the faster pace and increased rigor of college-level coursework;
  • Access college/university-level library and research resources;
  • Earn college credits that are transferable to many institutions;
  • Demonstrate learning on multiple and varied assessments.

Concurrent enrollment courses currently offered at South include:

  • CIS Economics
  • CIS Government
  • CIS English Writing
  • CIS English Literature
  • CIS Chinese, French and German Language
  • STEM courses offered through Project Lead the Way
  • Additional courses are under development.

students complete college requirements that allow for greater flexibility when they enter the university setting full-time. Many concurrent enrollment alums find they are able to pursue second majors, participate in study abroad opportunities, and internships. Not only do concurrent enrollment students get a step ahead of other entering freshman in terms of credits, but they also gain college-level skills from concurrent enrollment courses. Our courses challenge high school students to think critically, write academically, and read analytically, preparing students for greater success in college.

Participating high schools also reap the benefits of concurrent enrollment. Partnerships developed between university faculty and high school teachers provide learning and training opportunities that may not otherwise exist. Additionally, concurrent enrollment students stay at the high school instead of leaving to attend classes at a university. Finally, through participation in concurrent enrollment, high schools establish themselves as education leaders by setting high standards, providing outstanding offerings, and preparing students for the 21st century.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options

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What Is PSEO?

There are two types of Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) Programs, each with distinct rules for admission and course eligibility:

1.  PSEO General Education for Juniors and Seniors completing general education courses

2.  PSEO Career & Technical Education (CTE) program for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses. With traditional PSEO, these courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Postsecondary institutions are not allowed to charge PSEO students for tuition, textbooks or support services. Students may be charged for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed.

Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Reference Guide. However, if a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may still continue to participate in PSEO.

How to Enroll in PSEO

Interested and eligible 11th- and 12th-grade students should contact the postsecondary institution to find out their eligibility requirements, which courses are offered and what the application process is at that institution. Access the list of Participating Postsecondary Institutions  for a list of schools and their contact information. Interested and eligible public 10th-grade students should contact the postsecondary institution to find out which Career and Technical (CTE) courses are offered and what the application process is at that institution.