Students

Dual Credit 

Earn Two Years of College Credit, FOR FREE! Terrell ISD is proud to partner with Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) to give our students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit or an associate degree for FREE before they even graduate from high school!

The cost of tuition, fees, books and transportation to and from TVCC is covered for those students who apply and qualify. That's an average savings of $50,000 according to College for All Texans.

Who Can Apply? 

Students can begin taking dual credit classes as early as their freshman year if they have selected the Associate's Track.  (Enrolling in classes your freshman year is recommended to give students enough time to graduate with as many college credit hours as possible). 

Sophomores, juniors and seniors may also enroll in dual credit courses for free if they wish to do so.  

How do I Apply? 

  • Make an Appointment and Tell Your Counselor 

  • Fill out and submit the TVCC Application

  • Register and take the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative);  

  • Work with your counselor and enroll in a college-level class 

What is the TSI Exam? 

All students are required to take the TSI exam before they can enroll in a college-level class.  The TSI exam is used to determine college-level class eligibility and covers two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. Should a student not pass one or both of the sections they will have the opportunity to take the exam again. The cost of the TSI exam is FREE to students. 

For more information on the TSI exam, click here.

How much is the college tuition to take a dual credit course? 

The cost of dual credit courses is absolutely FREE to Terrell ISD students as tuition, fees and books are covered by the district.  Students who take advantage of enrolling in dual credit can earn up to 60 hours or an associate degree and save up to $50,000! 

What dual credit classes are available to take and which year should I take them? 

Terrell ISD has worked closely with Trinity Valley Community College to create college-level courses that students can take each year and that gradually immerses students into college-level expectations. For example, a freshman high school student would not enroll in a college-level biology course, but rather start with something like art, PE or a basic computer class. 

Below you will find a document that outlines the college-level classes that high school students would enroll in as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. 

To view the Dual Credit Sequence of Courses, click here.

Dual Credit Documents