Dual Credit with Kish on Campus
Dual credit courses provide students with rigorous, college-level instruction while they are still in high school. Sycamore High School partners with Kishwaukee College to offer this opportunity to our students.
Any high school junior or senior who completes and passes any necessary testing and receives the approval of the high school counseling office is eligible to enroll in dual credit courses. Students who choose to take advantage of this opportunity earn both high school and college credit for the dual credit courses they complete, which can reduce the cost and time of earning a post-secondary degree.
Dual Credit Procedure
If you sign up for a dual credit class for next year (2023-2024), you must complete all of the following steps to be enrolled in your class. See your Counselor if you have questions.
1. Apply to Kishwaukee College
- Go to this link to apply for Kish. (You will have to create a login as part of the process). You will receive a verification letter in the mail in 7-10 days with your Kish ID# (write this down). Here is a tutorial video to help with the process.
- This must be completed before you can take the Accuplacer placement test or register.
- All potential dual credit students will be assigned to Stretch to complete this step with SHS counseling staff.
2. Determine Placement
Placement may be determined by ACT, PSAT, or SAT scores, cumulative high school GPA (current juniors only) and/or taking the ACCUPLACER placement test. Check with your high school counselor.
| Course Number | Course Name | ACT Minimum Score | PSAT/SAT Minimum Score | Cumulative HS GPA (after 5 or 6 semesters) | ACCUPLACER Placement Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 103 | General Biology | English 19 or Composite 19; and Math 22 | Reading and Writing 480; and Math 530 | 3.5 with 5 sem; 3.0 with 6 sem (waives out of ENG prerequisite only — need math) | WritePlacer 5-8 and QAS 245-300 |
| BIO 105 | General Biology lab | Same as BIO 103 | |||
| ENG 103 | Composition I | English 19 or Composite 19 | Reading and Writing 480 | 3.5 with 5 sem; 3.0 with 6 sem | WritePlacer 5-8 |
| ENG 104 | Composition II | Need ENG 103 as a prerequisite | |||
| MAT 150 | College Algebra | Math 22 | Math 530 | NA | QAS 270-300 or AAF 230-300 |
| MAT 155 | Trigonometry | MAT 150 as a prerequisite | AAF 267-300 | ||
| HIS 220 | US History |
Minimum competency in math or English (as listed above) |
|||
| HIS 222 | US History | Need HIS 220 as a prerequisite | |||
| COM 100 | College Speech | English 19 or Composite 19 | Reading and Writing 480 | 3.5 with 5 sem; 3.0 with 6 sem | WritePlacer 5-8 |
3. Complete placement test, if needed, by April 7, 2023.
- One testing date (March 13, 2023) will be offered during school at SHS. If students miss that date, it is their responsibility to set up testing on their own through Kishwaukee College. Contact Kish at (815) 825-2086 and ask for the testing center. Indicate that you are a SHS Dual Credit student needing to test.
- Testing at SHS will be completed on your school Chromebook (bring it charged).
- To take the ACCUPLACER test, you must bring your Kishwaukee College letter that you received in the mail verifying that you have applied to Kish (see step 1).
- A photo ID is required for testing.
- Handheld calculators are not allowed. ACCUPLACER provides a calculator within the test on certain questions.
- It helps to come into the placement test prepared. Kishwaukee College has tips for preparing for the ACCUPLACER test and other testing information.
4. Complete Kishwaukee College Class Registration
- Students will NOT be registered for the dual credit course(s) if placement requirements are not met. Schedules for the high school course will be changed to non-dual credit classes.
- Once you qualify for a dual credit course, you will need to complete a Kishwaukee College registration form available from the counseling office.
5. Pay for your course(s).
Cost: $50/class each semester. Note that biology is $100 as it is a class and a lab. Kishwaukee College will bill families once a student is enrolled in a class. Payments are made directly to Kishwaukee College. Note that Summer COM 100 is taught by Kish Faculty and costs the same fee as other summer school classes.