Dual Credit Options

North Star Charter School is proud to offer dual credit opportunities. Below is a list of courses students can sign up to take for both high school credit and college credit. It is important to note that not all colleges will accept the dual credit offerings, it is up to the student to research which colleges will accept these credits.

What is dual credit?
The dual credit program allows students to earn college credit through the College of Western Idaho (CWI) while taking high school courses. Teachers of dual credit courses are certified to teach college classes at the high school and have gone through curriculum alignment with CWI. After completion of the course, students receive a letter grade on both their high school and college transcripts.  

Who is eligible for dual credit? 
Students must be 16 years old in order to register for dual credit. In the instance of students being 15 or younger, the school must grant permission for the student to enroll in dual credit. 

How do I register for dual credit? 
The classroom teacher will guide students through the registration process.  Students will: 1) Create a Dual Enroll account; 2) Register for each class individually by selecting the correct course section and teacher; 3) Create an Advanced Opportunities account to request funds. 

When does registration occur? 
Students will register for courses at two points during the year.  For fall-only courses, registration occurs before September 30.  For spring-only or yearlong courses, registration occurs before March 3rd. The classroom teacher will guide students through the registration process.

How do I pay for dual credit? 
Students in grades 6-12 have access to Advanced Opportunities funding from the Department of Education.  Each student is eligible to receive $4,125 to pay for dual credit courses, IB exams, overload courses, and workforce training. (Students must pass the course to receive this reimbursement.) For more information, see our “Advanced Opportunities” page, or go directly to the Advanced Opportunities website for FAQs.

When does payment occur? 
Students must request funding through Advanced Opportunities in the fall by September 30, 2022, and in the spring by March 3, 2023 for yearlong courses.

What courses are offered for dual credit at North Star Charter School?

What if I want to drop a dual credit course?
Students have two options if they decide they no longer want to take the course for dual credit.

1. Drop the course and receive a refund (or funds return to your Advanced Opportunities account). No record is generated, meaning that the course does not appear on your transcript. 
2. Withdraw from the course. “W” grade is issued on the transcript and is part of the student’s permanent record. No refund is issued. If Advanced Opportunities funds were used, the student is responsible for reimbursing the state for the full cost of the course. Then the student must pass a like course the following semester before being eligible to apply again for Advanced Opportunities funds.  

In either case, ask your teacher or counselor for a withdrawal form.  Fill out the form and email it to CWI with your school email account. NOTE: Students cannot withdraw from a course after the 12th week of the course has already elapsed. The final grade earned at that point will become part of the student’s permanent academic record. 

Where can I get more information? 
Contact your school counselor, Mrs. Chelko, for more information. You can also check out the Student and Parent Resources on CWI’s Dual Credit information page.