School districts provide various options for earning summer credits. Students may take courses directly offered by their high school during the summer or choose an external provider, such as a community college or a university.

 

If a student needs to earn a credit to graduate due to incomplete coursework caused by absences or other reasons, the school typically offers the course for free. This is known as "Remedial" credit. On the other hand, if a student wants to earn credit for a new course they have not previously taken, it is referred to as "Original" credit, which usually requires a fee.

​

How do I benefit?

Similar to Credit by Exam (CBE), earning summer credit allows you to advance in the course you are pursuing. However, this is not about getting ahead of other students but rather positioning yourself well for college admissions. Some college programs are more competitive than others, and admissions officers look for students who have challenged themselves in high school by taking advanced courses while also participating in extracurricular activities.

​

How do I register?

The registration process typically follows these steps:

​

• Consult Your School Counselor: Begin by discussing your options with your school counselor.
   

• Obtain a Course List: Get a list of summer courses offered by your school/district or approved external organizations. Keep in mind that credits from unapproved organizations may not be accepted by your school.
   

• Choose Your Course Type: Decide whether to take an in-school or external course.
   

• Complete Required Forms: Fill out any necessary forms to secure counselor approval.
   

• Register for In-School Courses: If taking a summer course through your school, approval from your counselor and fee payment (if required) are typically sufficient for registration.
   

• Register for External Courses: If enrolling in an external program, complete the school approval process first. Then, register and pay directly through the external organization’s website.
   

• Online Course Flexibility: External courses are often online, allowing you to complete coursework at your own pace. A designated teacher will be available to assist with any questions and coursework requirements.

​

Below are details of external organizations, along with their websites, that are approved by most Independent School Districts (ISDs) in Texas. These websites provide comprehensive information about the available courses and the specific topics covered within each course.

​

UT Austin High School Credits:

Website: https://highschool.utexas.edu/hs_courses
Courses available: https://highschool.utexas.edu/courses

​

TxVSN - Texas Virtual School Network:

Website: https://txvsn.org/Home
Courses available: https://catalog.mytxvsn.org/

​

TTU K-12 – Texas Tech University K-12:
Website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/k12
Courses available: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/k12/courses/

​

Important Points to Note:

​

1. Each subject consists of two semesters, typically labeled as ‘Course Name 1A’ and ‘Course Name 1B’. Completing both 1A and 1B earns 1 full credit.
    

2. Courses labeled "Honors" indicate an advanced level of the subject, while courses without this designation are considered on-level.
    

3. External Organizations offer online courses, allowing students to progress through the material at their own pace. However, if the credit serves as a prerequisite for the next school year, ensure completion before the new academic year begins.
    

4. Example:
    

   • Algebra 1A + Algebra 1B → 1 credit

   • Honors Algebra 1A + Honors Algebra 1B → 1 credit
      

5. Successfully completing Algebra 1 allows a student to advance to the next level of math in the following school year.
    

6. After completing a course and confirming the earned credit, students can request a transcript to be sent to their school.
    

7. Schools do not accept transcripts directly from students. The university or external institution must send the transcript to the ISD for credit recognition.
    

8. Example: Transcript Request for UT Austin High School Courses:
    

   • Request transcripts via UT Austin High School Transcript Request.

   • Follow the provided instructions, and the transcript will be sent to your ISD.

   • The earned credit should then appear on your high school transcript.

 

personal note...

Ultimately, the decision to pursue summer credits is a personal choice based on a student’s academic goals and vision. While earning extra credits can be beneficial, it does not determine the success of one’s school or college career.

​

At my high school, students can earn 7 credits per year, totaling 28 credits over four years. Many of these are required electives, while others, such as Fine Arts electives, were courses I chose based on my personal interests. This limited the number of additional subjects I could take during the regular school year. So, I chose to earn 2 credits through UT Austin’s summer courses, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

​

Also, I believe that taking advanced courses during a less stressful time, like summer, is a great opportunity to explore subjects that might be of interest in college.

​