Advanced Course Opportunities

AP/Dual Credit
Associates Degrees

AP (Advanced Placement)

AP gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school and earn college credit and placement.

Courses Offered at LDHS
2026 AP Exam Dates

Courses Offered at LDHS

English
- AP English 3 - Language and Composition
- AP English 4 - Literature and Composition
Math
- AP Statistics
- AP Calculus AB
Science
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 1
- AP Physics 2
Social Studies
- AP Human Geography
- AP World History
- AP US History Since Reconstruction
- AP US Government
- AP Economics
- AP Psychology
Electives
- AP Computer Science
- AP Drawing Portfolio
- AP Music Theory

The 2026 AP Exams will be administered in schools over two weeks in May: May 4–8 and May 11–15. AP coordinators are responsible for notifying students when and where to report for the exams. Early testing or testing at times other than those published by College Board is not permitted under any circumstances. Late-testing dates are available if students cannot test during the first two weeks of May. See the late-testing schedule.

Week 1

	Morning (8:00am Local Time)	Afternoon (12:00pm Local Time)
Monday, May 4, 2026	Biology Latin	European History Microeconomics
Tuesday, May 5, 2026	Chemistry Human Geography	US Government & Politics
Wednesday, May 6, 2026	English Literature & Composition	Comparative Government & Politics Physics 1: Algebra Based
Thursday, May 7, 2026	Physics 2: Algebra Based World History: Modern	African American Studies Statistics
Friday, May 8, 2026	Italian Language & Culture US History	Chinese Language & Culture Macroeconomics

Art & Design: Friday, May 8, 2026 8:00pm ET is the deadline for AP Art and Design students to submit their three portfolio components as final in the AP Digital Portfolio

Week 2

	Morning (8:00am Local Time)	Afternoon (12:00pm Local Time)
Monday, May 11, 2026	Calculus AB Calculus AC	Music Theory Seminar
Tuesday, May 12, 2026	French Language & Culture Precalculus	Japanese Language & Culture Psychology
Wednesday, May 13, 2026	English Language & Composition German Language & Culture	Physics C: Mechanics Spanish Literature & Culture
Thursday, May 14, 2026	Art History Spanish Language & Culture	Computer Science Principles Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Friday, May 15, 2026	Environmental Science	Computer Science A

Please note:

Schools in all locations must begin the morning exam administration between 8 and 9 a/m/ local time and the afternoon exam administration between 12 and 1 p.m. local time.
AP Coordinators should order late-testing exams for students who would like to take exams that are scheduled for the same time.
April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) is the deadline for:
- AP Seminar and AP Research students to submit performance tasks as final.
- AP Computer Science Principles students to submit their Create performance task as final.

Dual Credit

The Collegiate Academy allows 9th and 10th grade students with demonstrated outstanding academic performance and capability to enroll in specific Dual Credit courses designated by their high schools. In addition, the Dual Credit program at NCTC provides an opportunity for eligible juniors, and seniors in high school to enroll in college-level courses. Students can earn both college credit AND high school credit simultaneously by taking NCTC classes at any NCTC campus and/or at their high school and/or online.

Requirements to Participate

Meet with your counselor and verify GPA for approval
Complete an ApplyTexas profile and NCTC Application
Complete the TSI Preassessment Activity
Take the TSIA2 (either with LDHS or at NCTC)
- - MUST HAVE COUNSELOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO TESTING
Upon passing the TSIA2 Test (passing standard), meet with your counselor to register and complete the Parent/Student Orientation

Courses Offered

All DC Students MUST start with Learning Frameworks in order to be eligible to take any of the following

Courses that can replace Graduation Requirements
Other DC Courses for Elective/College Credit

Courses that can replace Graduation Requirements

English:
- English 3
  - English Composition 1 (Sem 1)
  - English Composition 2 (Sem 2)
- English 4
  - British Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - British Literature 2 (Sem 2)
  - World Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - World Literature 2 (Sem 2)
  - American Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - American Literature 2 (Sem 2)
Math: (Must be paired with Sem 1 Independent Study for Graduation Credit)
- College Algebra (Pre-Requisite for all other College Math classes)
- Trigonometry
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus 1
- Math for Business Analysis
- Business Calculus
- Math for Liberal Arts
- Elementary Statistics
Science: (Must have already met requirements for Biology and Chemistry)
- Biology
- General Botany
- General Zoology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Environmental Biology
- General Chemistry
- Horticulture
- College Physics
- Physical Science
- University Physics
Social Studies:
- US History
  - United States History 1 (Sem 1)
  - United States History 2 (Sem 2)
- Government
  - Federal Government
- Economics
  - Principles of Macroeconomics
Required Electives:
- Fine Arts (Must take 2 of the following to fulfill full Fine Art Credit)
  - Art Appreciation
  - Intro to Theater
  - Stagecraft
  - Music Appreciation
  - American Music
- Speech
  - Public Speaking

Other DC Courses for Elective/College Credit

(These DO NOT replace required graduation classes, but can be taken for Elective credit)

English:
- Technical and Business Writing
- American Literature
Social Studies:
- World Civilizations
- Texas History
- Texas Government
Other:
- Intro to Humanities
- Intro to Philosophy
- Intro to Ethics
- Intermediate Spanish (3rd level)
- Dance Appreciation
- Intro to Cinema
- General Anthropology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Principles of Microeconomics
- General Psychology
- Lifespan Growth & Development
- Intro to Sociology
- Social Problems
- Interpersonal Communications
- Business/Professional Speaking

Fees/Costs to Participate

$55 per credit hour= $165 for a 3-credit hour course
Additional costs may apply for books.

Students who qualify for free and reduced price school meals receive FREE books and tuition.

Scholarship Opportunities:

Complete a General Application. Your application will be automatically matched to ALL scholarships for which you are eligible based on the criteria of the scholarship.
There may be additional scholarships you are eligible for that may require you to answer a few more questions. To get to those scholarships you must complete your General Application and THEN click on the recommended button. If any additional scholarships exist, it will take you to an additional list of scholarships for which you may apply by answering more questions or completing the donor required essay.
If you have already completed the General Application, you may update information in your application to be considered for spring awards.
To apply for scholarships, complete a General Application. To access the General Application new users Sign Up and existing users Sign In. After the General Application is submitted, you are automatically matched to scholarship opportunities for which you immediately qualify. No further action is required for these auto-matched scholarships. However, if you see a Recommended" under Opportunities, click on it and it will take you to an additional list of scholarships for which you may apply by answering more questions or completing the donor required essay. For additional instructions see the Scholarship Application Guide.

Collegiate Academy and Dual Credit

Important Information

Dual credit students are enrolled into actual college courses and are therefore treated as college students for those courses
Missing any deadline for dual credit will result in not being able to register for courses in the upcoming semester.
Dual credit dates, events, deadlines, etc. will be communicated with the student
Each semester, students must communicate with their counselor regarding courses they are wanting to register in for the upcoming semester by the specified deadline.
Dual credit students need to reach out to their counselor and request information on how to join the Dual Credit Remind 101 group.

Deadlines

Mission of Dual Credit at NCTC

The Dual Credit Program provides a collegiate experience and pathway for exceptional high school students who are college bound and who meet eligibility requirements to successfully bridge from high school to college.

Vision of Dual Credit: Students in the Dual Credit Program experience the rigor of college level courses, obtain high school and college credit simultaneously, and acquire the confidence to succeed academically and socially in the college level learning environment.

NCTC DUAL CREDIT

NCTC Contacts

Associates of Arts Degree

60 Total Hours

Required Core Curriculum

(42 Hours)

Communication

2 Courses from the following = 6 hours total

ENGL 1301: English Composition 1 (Fall Junior year)

AND

ENGL 1302: English Composition 2
or (Spring Junior year)
ENGL 2311: Technical and Business Writing

Mathematics

1 course from the following = 3 hours total

MATH 1314: College Algebra
MATH 1316: Trigonometry (MATH 1314 Pre-Req)
*MATH 1324: Math for Business Analysis
*MATH 1325: Business Calculus (MATH 1314 or MATH 1324 Pre-Req)
*MATH 1332: Math for Liberal Arts (Junior or Senior year)
*MATH 1342: Elementary Statistics
MATH 2412: Pre-Calculus (MATH 1314 Pre-Req)
MATH 2413: Calculus I

*Recommended course for NON-Science majors

Life and Physical Sciences

(2 four-hour courses from the following = 8 hours total [including lab hours])

Biology:
- BIOL 1406: Biology for Science Majors I
- BIOL 1407: Biology for Science Majors II (BIOL 1406 Pre-Req)
- *BIOL 1408: Biology for Non-Science Majors
- BIOL 1411: General Botany
- BIOL 1413: General Zoology
- BIOL 2401: Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 2402: Anatomy and Physiology II
- *BIOL 2406: Environmental Biology
Chemistry: (Summer prior to Sophomore, Junior or Senior)
- CHEM 1411: General Chemistry I (MATH 1314 Pre-Req)
- CHEM 1412: General Chemistry II (CHEM 1411 Pre-Req)
Horticulture:
- *HORT 1401: Horticulture
Physics:
- PHYS 1401: College Physics I (MATH 1314 + MATH 1316 or MATH 2412 Pre-Req)
- PHYS 1402: College Physics II (PHYS 1401 Pre-Req)
- PHYS 2425: University Physics I (MATH 2413 Pre-Req or Co-Req)
- PHYS 2426: University Physics II (PHYS 2425 Pre-Req and MATH 2414 Co-Req)
Physical Science:
- *PHYS 1415: Physical Science I

*Recommended course for NON-Science majors

Language, Philosophy, and Culture

1 course from the following = 3 hour total

English:
- ENGL 2322: British Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2323: British Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2327: American Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req) (Fall Senior year)
- ENGL 2328: American Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2332: World Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2333: World Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)

Creative Arts

1 course from the following = 3 hours total

ARTS 1301: Art Appreciation
DRAM 1310: Intro to Theater
DRAM 1330: Stagecraft
DRAM 2366: Intro to Cinema (Sophomore year)
DANC 2303: Dance Appreciation
MUSI 1306: Music Appreciation
MUSI 1310: American Music

History

BOTH courses from the following = 6 hours total

HIST 1301: US History to 1865 (Fall Junior year)

AND

HIST 1302: US History from 1865 to Present (Spring Junior year)

Government/Political Science

BOTH courses from the following = 6 hours total

GOVT 2305: Federal Government (Senior year)

AND

GOVT 2306: Texas Government (Sophomore year)

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Component Area

BOTH courses from the following = 6 hours total

EDUC 1300: Learning Frameworks (Fall Freshman year)

AND

SPCH 1315: Public Speaking (Spring Freshman year)

Electives

18 Hours

Courses that can replace Graduation Requirements

English:
- English 3
  - English Composition 1 (Sem 1)
  - English Composition 2 (Sem 2)
- English 4
  - British Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - British Literature 2 (Sem 2)
  - World Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - World Literature 2 (Sem 2)
  - American Literature 1 (Sem 1)
  - American Literature 2 (Sem 2)
Math: (Must be paired with Sem 1 Independent Study for Graduation Credit)
- College Algebra (Pre-Requisite for all other College Math classes)
- Trigonometry
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus 1
- Math for Business Analysis
- Business Calculus
- Math for Liberal Arts
- Elementary Statistics
Science: (Must have already met requirements for Biology and Chemistry)
- Biology
- General Botany
- General Zoology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Environmental Biology
- General Chemistry
- Horticulture
- College Physics
- Physical Science
- University Physics
Social Studies:
- US History
  - United States History 1 (Sem 1)
  - United States History 2 (Sem 2)
- Government
  - Federal Government
- Economics
  - Principles of Macroeconomics
Required Electives:
- Fine Arts (Must take 2 of the following to fulfill full Fine Art Credit)
  - Art Appreciation
  - Intro to Theater
  - Stagecraft
  - Music Appreciation
  - American Music
- Speech
  - Public Speaking

Other DC Courses for Elective/College Credit

(These DO NOT replace required graduation classes, but can be taken for Elective credit)

English:
- Technical and Business Writing
- American Literature
Social Studies:
- World Civilizations
- Texas History
- Texas Government
Other:
- Intro to Humanities
- Intro to Philosophy
- Intro to Ethics
- Intermediate Spanish (3rd level)
- Dance Appreciation
- Intro to Cinema
- General Anthropology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Principles of Microeconomics
- General Psychology
- Lifespan Growth & Development
- Intro to Sociology
- Social Problems
- Interpersonal Communications
- Business/Professional Speaking

Electives Timeline

Associates of Science Degree

Required Core Curriculum

(42 Hours)

Communication

2 Courses from the following = 6 hours total

ENGL 1301: English Composition 1 (Fall Junior year)

AND

ENGL 1302: English Composition 2
or (Spring Junior year)
ENGL 2311: Technical and Business Writing

Mathematics

1 course from the following = 3 hours total

MATH 1314: College Algebra
MATH 1316: Trigonometry (MATH 1314 Pre-Req) (Junior year)
MATH 2412: Pre-Calculus (MATH 1314 Pre-Req)
MATH 2413: Calculus I

Life and Physical Sciences

(2 four-hour courses from the following = 8 hours total [including lab hours])

Biology:
- BIOL 1406: Biology for Science Majors I
- BIOL 1407: Biology for Science Majors II (BIOL 1406 Pre-Req)
- BIOL 1411: General Botany
- BIOL 1413: General Zoology
- BIOL 2401: Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 2402: Anatomy and Physiology II
Chemistry: (Summer prior to Junior or Senior)
- CHEM 1411: General Chemistry I (MATH 1314 Pre-Req)
- CHEM 1412: General Chemistry II (CHEM 1411 Pre-Req)
Physics:
- PHYS 1401: College Physics I (MATH 1314 + MATH 1316 or MATH 2412 Pre-Req)
- PHYS 1402: College Physics II (PHYS 1401 Pre-Req)
- PHYS 2425: University Physics I (MATH 2413 Pre-Req or Co-Req)
- PHYS 2426: University Physics II (PHYS 2425 Pre-Req and MATH 2414 Co-Req)

Language, Philosophy, and Culture

1 course from the following = 3 hour total

English:
- ENGL 2322: British Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2323: British Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2327: American Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req) (Fall Senior year)
- ENGL 2328: American Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2332: World Literature I (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)
- ENGL 2333: World Literature II (ENGL 1301 Pre-Req)