College Credit Options/PSEO
Byron High School offers a variety of college credit options for students to explore.
Please click here for a chart overview of the options listed below.
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Articulated College Credit (ACC)
- Concurrent Enrollment/Southwest MN State University (SMSU)
- Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
- Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Advanced Placement (AP)
This program of college-level coursework includes rigorous requirements and more work than the typical college preparatory course and carries a weight of 1.1 on the weighted grading scale. In addition, students are encouraged to take the national AP exam for the course and may be able to earn college credit depending on their performance on the exam. Colleges then determine whether or not to grant college credit or placement in a more advanced course during their freshman year of college. Courses are taught by trained AP teachers. AP courses taught at Byron High School are:
- AP Statistics
- AP Computer Science
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Music Theory
*Advanced Biology (a concurrent enrollment course) also covers 90% of the curriculum for the AP Biology exam.
Visit the College Board website for more information.
Articulated College Credit (ACC)
College credit associated with courses that have an articulation agreement with Byron High School makes it possible for students (grades 9-12) to earn college credit. ACC courses are offered in the areas of:
Agriculture, Business Education, Family/Consumer Science, and Industrial Technology.
For more information on ACC courses, visit CTE website: ctecreditmn.com.
Concurrent Enrollment/Southwest MN State University (SMSU)
“Concurrent Enrollment” allows juniors and seniors to take free college-level courses at their high school. This is a form of PSEO.
These classes are taught by Byron High School teachers who have at least a master's degree and are approved by the college to teach the college curriculum at a rigorous level. Students earn both high school and college credit while completing one course; saving both time and money in college.
Taking these courses allows students to engage in freshman level college courses and experience the standards expected of them in college, while providing extra assistance that a high school teacher can give. Acceptance and transfer of credits varies by college, but many accept full credits. Other colleges award advanced placement, allowing students to take upper-level courses without taking the introductory, prerequisite courses. Some colleges allow both credit and placement. The receiving college will make the final determination to award college credit.
Byron High School partners with Southwest Minnesota State University and their “College Now” program.
Please reference the registration guide for eligibility requirements and a list of the college courses offered.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) offers a high school program, Pathway To Engineering™. This program is a combination of traditional math and science courses with innovative Pathway To Engineering courses. It prepares students for college majors in engineering or STEM related fields and offers them the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school by: Earning satisfactory progress in the class, passing the college exam, and payment of a minimal fee (approximately $100) to the college (St. Cloud State or Mankato State) for the 3 college credits. See instructor for more information.
BHS offers the following PLTW courses:
- PLTW Intro to Engineering and Design A & B
- PLTW Digital Electronics A & B
- PLTW Engineering Design and Development A & B
The following website provides more information about PLTW: https://www.pltw.org/
Acceptance and transfer of credits varies by college and students are responsible for requesting that transcripts be sent to their college(s) of choice.
Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn college credit tuition free while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college courses. With traditional PSEO, these courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online.
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. Students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis. Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act.
PSEO for students and families can visit About PSEO for a short guide about benefits of the program, making the decision to participate and how to apply.
Follow these steps if you are interested in PSEO:
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Check to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria of the college you are interested in enrolling for PSEO. Each college is different with requirements.
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Students are responsible for researching the transferability of the college they wish to attend after graduation.
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Make sure you are prepared for the rigor of being a PSEO college student. PSEO students must be: responsible, self-starting, mature, and independent.
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All students and their parents interested in PSEO must attend the annual PSEO Informational Meeting held during 3rd quarter parent/teacher conferences with the BHS Counselors. This presentation will review the pros/cons, risks/rewards, policies and procedures of PSEO.
Students must notify their school by May 30 (fall start) and October 30 (spring start) if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year. For current information about the PSEO program please see the Minnesota Department of Education PSEO.