Career and College Readiness Resources

 

In today's global economy, students must be well-prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. Willmar Public School District provides support to assist students as they transition from middle school to high school and into an increasingly wide array of postsecondary options. Each of the options is described below.

**We also have an informational meeting scheduled each February in the High School Theater to talk about each of these opportunities.  Please see the Winter Cardinal Courier for the specific date and join us that evening!**

For questions on any of these resources, please contact your student’s School Counselor at 320-231-8320. Also check out financial aid information, helpful forms and more in the menu. 

 

Concurrent Enrollment/ College in the Schools (CIS)

Wilmar Public School District partners with Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, and Ridgewater College to offer the following college credit courses to our high school students here. Students who successfully complete these courses generate both high school and college credit from the partnering postsecondary institution.

There is no cost to the student to participate in these courses, but there are entrance requirements. These courses provide high school students advanced skills today and greater flexibility when they enter the university setting full-time. That may include pursuing second majors and internships or studying abroad.

Willmar Public School District offers the following Concurrent Enrollment Courses:

• CIS Environmental Studies - SCSU
• CIS General Physics I - SCSU
• CIS Precalculus - SMSU
• CIS College Algebra - SMSU
• CIS Intro to Biology - RWC
   

Advanced Placement (AP)

AP is a College Board program that offers high school students the opportunity to take rigorous, college-level courses and earn college credit while in high school. The content in AP courses is structured like college courses. Students who complete an AP course and take the end-of-course examination may qualify for college credit from postsecondary institutions, provided their score meets the institution’s credit policy. These courses help prepare students for further education and many colleges look favorably on transcripts that include AP coursework. 

Willmar Public School District offers the following Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:

• AP Studio Art (Includes 2D-Drawing, 2D-Design and 3D)
• AP Language and Composition 11
• AP Literature and Composition 12
• AP Calculus
• AP Chemistry (offered every other year)
• AP Psychology
• AP American History
• AP Human Geography
• AP Music Theory

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a College Board program that allows students to accelerate their education by earning college credit by taking a computer-based test of their knowledge. Learning can be done through general academic instruction, independent study, extracurricular work or volunteerism. The time and money saved can be significant. Check with the postsecondary institution of your choice for their most recent CLEP credit policy. Visit the College Board website for more information.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

PSEO is a program that allows students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, non-sectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders may take one career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a student is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide up-to-date information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by mid May for Fall enrollment and mid November for Spring semester enrollment if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year.  

For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

 

This information provided with the assistance of MREA, a statewide organization advocating for Greater Minnesota students.