Earning college credit in high school is one piece of taking an advanced course, said Krishna Chetty, FISD’s advanced academics coordinator. Taking an advanced course adds to the success of a student when they leave high school because of the skills learned through the course, he said.
“We want them, when they leave Frisco, to be prepared,” Chetty said.
The district’s advanced academics courses include Advanced Placement, dual credit and International Baccalaureate. Dual credit opportunities are also available through the district's career and technical education programs.
The overview
Frisco ISD has one of the largest Advanced Placement programs in the state, Chetty said. The district administered over 27,000 exams to more than 11,000 students with a passing rate around 80% in 2023.
AP courses allow students to earn college credit upon completion of a course, if they pass the end-of-course exam. Cost per exam is $99, according to College Board. Courses are open enrollment, with any student able to take the course. FISD will offer 33 AP courses in the 2024-25 school year.
The number of students enrolled in dual credit courses increased 32.2% from the fall 2022 semester to the fall 2023 semester, according to district data.
Students pay the college a course tuition, which ranges from $152-$225, and instructional materials are estimated at $100 per course.
“A big sell for a lot of our parents is it can save you a significant amount of money,” Chetty said.
Frisco ISD is working to grow its dual credit program, Chetty said. In April, the district's board of trustees approved expanding the weighted grade point average scale to include dual credit courses, starting for the class of 2030.
The district also debuted its $22.1 million career and technical education wing addition for the 2024-25 school year that features nearly 30 extra classrooms and 45,363 additional square feet.
Why it matters
Advanced courses are not just beneficial for students attending college after graduation.
The skills developed through advanced courses translate into all post-high school paths, such as the military or trade school, Chetty said. Time management, self-advocacy and study habits are all skills that FISD tries to build in students through the courses, he said.
“Just having dealt with the rigor and problem-solving that we hope we take them through here, adds to their success when they get out of high school,” Chetty said.
