Academic Credit Options

Students may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses for an opportunity to receive college credit. Students must achieve a score of a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP test given in the spring to be considered for college credit. However, each college makes a determination whether or not they will accept the credits. These courses are designated throughout the Program of Studies. Generally, Minnesota state colleges accept the credit.

College Board, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing, inspiring, and connecting students to college, sponsors the AP program. The College Board writes and administers advanced tests and studies in almost 40 subjects from Art to Statistics. These tests, representative of freshman level college knowledge on that subject, form the basis of what is studied in AP courses. Currently, Lakeville offers 23 AP courses with the intent of challenging students and better prepare them for college. Each May, students may choose to take a national test that measures their knowledge in the areas they studied during the year. If a student scores high enough, they will receive college credit at over 4,000 institutions nationwide. Close to 2.2 million students in the US took an AP course last year at one of the 19,000 high schools that offer this option.

Test Registration

Registration for the AP exams occurs in April. Students who wish to take any AP test in May will receive registration information in the AP class and will register online. Students are able to take an AP exam even if they did not take the course. Each year the state pays part of the College Board exam fee, and the student pays the remainder. If a student is taking multiple tests, a separate payment is required for each test. Due to the test-ordering deadline, late registrations will not be accepted. The registration payment is non-refundable after the deadline. College Board predetermines testing dates.

Weighted Grades

Advanced Placement course GPA points equals standard grades points plus one. For example: Letter grade “A” = 5.0

Articulated credit is a way of earning credit at the high school level and college level at the same time. Certain courses taken at the high school in the Business, Family and Consumer Science and Industrial Technology departments are eligible for articulated credit. Eligible courses are identified in the individual course descriptions. Students will receive credit certificates for the number of credits they successfully complete. Some certificates are for partial credit for a college course. When students enroll in the course at college, they will only need to pay for the number of credits not covered by the certificate. The college makes the determination on all credit allocations.

CLEP is a College Board program that allows students to earn college credit by demonstrating their mastery of college-level material in introductory subjects. Students may transfer the credit (“P” letter grade) to the high school transcript. Costs for the exams vary and are incurred by the family. For additional information, go to clep.collegeboard.org.

Concurrent enrollment allows qualified high school students to earn college credit in their high school during the regular school day. Several programs are currently offered: College Now through Southwest Minnesota State University for AP Chemistry at Lakeville South High School, Project Lead the Way though St. Cloud State University for Honors Principles of Biomedical Science and Honors Human Body Systems at Lakeville North High School, and AVID courses through Normandale. Transferability of these credits to other post-secondary institutions is not guaranteed.

Classes are taught by qualified high school teachers and supervised by college faculty members. There is no cost to the student for these courses, providing an outstanding opportunity for students to earn college credit and high school credit at the same time and jump-starting their college careers without incurring additional debt.   There are criteria established by each concurrent enrollment program such as earning a minimum grade in the course, or a certain score on an end of course exam, or paying a fee for application, that need to be met in order for the credit to be transcripted at the college level.

Students may take one credit per semester on a credit/no credit basis. This option is to encourage students to explore interests in subjects in which they may not be willing to risk getting a low grade. Any student who is interested in taking a course on a credit/no credit basis should discuss arrangements with his/her parents(s), Dean and teacher. Forms are available in the Dean’s or Student Services Office. The deadline for submitting the request to the Dean’s Office is prior to the end of 1st quarter for first semester requests and/or prior to the end of 3rd quarter for second semester requests.  

• Students who are preparing for a career where this course is a prerequisite should take the course and be graded under the conventional system.
• Students must realize that once they sign up for this grading option, they cannot change grading systems (back to an “A” – “F” grading system) during the course.
• All students requesting the Credit/No Credit grading system in a course will continue to take all tests, turn in all regular class work, and receive grades along with other students. Only the final mark is a “P” or “F”.
• Students should complete the form, obtain parent approval, teacher approval, and bring this form to the Deans’ Office. For yearlong courses, the Credit/No Credit option must be requested each semester the student desires to take the Credit/No Credit option.
• If a student earns 60% or higher, the course will not be in computations determining the student’s grade point average or class rank. If a student fails the class, (below 60%), the F grade will be calculated in the grade point average.
• If a student receives a D- or higher, they receive credit for the course. The credit will count toward meeting graduation requirements.  
• Attention student-athletes: NCAA assigns a 1.0 or the equivalent of a “D” for any course taken under the Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) grading option.

The district must be notified prior to the student taking any course in order for it to be considered for future high school credit attainment. The course must be equivalent or beyond Lakeville Area Public Schools course sequence. The course description and syllabus may be requested for review. Students must meet with their Dean prior to registering for the course.

The Pathways program is designed for students that need to recover credits in order to graduate. This allows students to maintain status and graduate with their class. Courses are offered during the day and after regular school hours. Students must meet eligibility criteria in order to enroll. Courses offered are English, social studies, science, math & some elective areas.

Hybrid courses include face-to-face instruction in the classroom part of the time and independent online learning activities the remainder of the time. These courses meet the same Minnesota State Standards and Lakeville Essential Learnings as traditional courses. Schoology is the educational platform used to host the courses. Hybrid courses allow students to experience an online course and develop digital learning skills. Courses that will be offered in the hybrid format are designated throughout the Program of Studies and on the Course Selection Form. Students taking hybrid courses are permitted to leave the building during their hybrid course on non-seminar days. Students staying in the building on a non-seminar day must remain in the assigned hybrid area. Students who do not have access to technology at home will be provided access to technology tools and be provided a time and space to complete work.

Online courses are taught completely online with no face-to-face contact with the teacher. Learners access primary content and instruction from an online environment using a variety of tools including email, chat, discussion boards, web pages, and multimedia technologies. Specific technologies employed will vary by course and instructor.

Students taking online courses are permitted to leave the building during the class period in which the course is scheduled, following the required sign out procedure. Students staying in the building must remain in the assigned online area. Students who do not have access to technology at home will be provided access to technology tools and be provided a time and space to complete work.

Independent Study refers to a course conducted with an instructor as a mentor, enabling the student to explore a topic of interest. Independent Study provides students an opportunity to expand their expertise in a particular area, explore a topic in detail, or develop advanced skills.

Independent Study is available to seniors to earn a semester credit in a course not offered by the high school. An application is required. Upon successful completion of the Independent Study course the student will be issued a “pass” for the semester credit.

LinK12 Lakeville is a comprehensive, statewide online school through which students can earn a Lakeville diploma. This academic option is for families and students looking for anytime, anywhere learning that includes individualized instruction, flexibility in pace and schedule, responsiveness to learning styles and self-selection of learning environment. Students who benefit from this option should be self-directed, independent learners. Even though students do their learning outside of a school building, they will receive a high quality educational experience that meets the state and local standards. A student enrolled in more than 50% of their courses through LinK12 Lakeville, becomes a LinK12 Lakeville student, however, upon graduation will be issued a diploma from Lakeville North High School or Lakeville South High School.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students to earn high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses. PSEO courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution. However, 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.

Most PSEO courses are only open to high school students during their 11th and 12th-grade year, with each participating college and university setting their own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses and programs. Additionally, there may be opportunities at industrialization centers accredited by any accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education. Students may take PSEO courses on a full or part-time basis.

Many two and four-year colleges and universities in Minnesota offer online courses and some of them offer online degrees and certificates. Through the wide array of online courses offered in Minnesota higher education, it is possible for PSEO students in our state to complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum requirements and/or other courses that could result in an award in addition to their high school diploma. School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.

By March 1 of each year, a district must provide up-to-date information on the district’s website, and in materials that are distributed to parents and students, about the program–including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit–to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.

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

For current information about the PSEO program, visit:

• Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Learn More

Learn more about PSEO by visiting our PSEO webpage.

Students can waive basic state standards by taking courses with higher rigor. The chart below indicates which state standards specific courses can replace. The rigorous course waiver process provides students with opportunities to take additional courses while in high school.

Courses Replaced by AP Course

Students will have the opportunity to take a Technical Skills Assessment (TSA) upon the completion of some Career and Technical Education courses. Currently, upon completion of Foods 3, students may take a ServSafe certification exam and upon completion of Building Construction/Applied Architecture may take an OSHA 10 certification exam. If students earn a passing score on the ServSafe exam, they will earn a food handler certificate from foodservice experts, the National Restaurant Association. The OSHA 10 exam assesses an entry-level construction worker’s general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site.