Academics

AP & Dual Credit Classes

How to Earn College Credit in High School

DSHA offers a number of opportunities to get a jump on college credit (and tuition!) through two types of college-level classes: Dual-Credit/Concurrent Enrollment and Advanced Placement. With 30 classes across eight departments, there are multiple opportunities for students across a wide range of disciplines and interests.*
*Credits may be dependent upon individual colleges and universities.

How It Works

List of 4 items.

  • Advanced Placement Courses

    AP courses offer the opportunity for students to master curriculum similar to the college level. These rigorous classes require extended reading and preparation for class, and students are challenged to analyze and synthesize learned information. AP courses prepare students to take the corresponding AP Exam in May, where college credit may be earned based on a set of standards deemed by each institution. A large percentage of colleges and universities grant credit upon a score of 4 or 5. Visit the College Board to learn more about the AP policies of various institutions.
  • Dual Credit College Classes

    These courses provide students the opportunity to take college-credit bearing classes, where students gain exposure to challenging, college-level curriculum while in the supportive high school environment. Transcripted credit is earned upon successful completion of the class. Dual credit classes facilitate close collaboration between approved high school and college faculty, fostering alignment of secondary and postsecondary curriculum. DSHA currently partners with Marquette University, Mount Mary University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

    For more information, contact Jennifer McLaughlin at McLaughlinJ@dsha.info.
    Click here to learn more.
  • What is the difference between Dual Credit and AP?

    • Dual credit courses are actual credit-bearing college courses, while AP classes prepare a student for the AP exam, where a student’s score may earn her credit.
    • Dual credit students earn a college grade based on multiple and varied assessments, whereas AP credit is based upon the exam only.
    • Dual credit students earn transcripted college credit at the time they successfully pass the course.
  • Dual Credit, AP, and Wellness at DSHA

    Before course selection, think about the big picture: your outside commitments, your ability to deal with multiple demands, your ability to deal with stress, and the importance of your overall wellness, including the utmost importance of mental health, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.

    Dr. Brian Fidlin, a clinical psychologist with Milwaukee Psychiatric Physicians Chartered, recommends parents and students ask themselves the following questions before a student enrolls in a course (in high school, college and beyond):
    • How would I rate my daughter’s ability to manage stress? [High/Medium/Low]
    • What stress management tools do we have in place already? How much do we know about stress and how to manage it?
    • How much does my daughter have on her plate? How much will she have on her plate when school (and particular classes) are in session?
    • What are signs my daughter displays when she is stressed vs. non-stressed, overwhelmed vs. not overwhelmed? How quickly can we adjust to the stress she experiences and manage it?
    • What level of stress do I want my daughter functioning at? What if that means turning opportunities down—is she/are we prepared to eliminate activities to better manage stress?

2023-24 DSHA AP DATA

  • 749 AP enrollments 
  • 89% of enrollments chose to take the AP exam for a total of 668 AP exams taken
  • Dashers continue to far outpace the global average for AP scores. In 2024, 85% of DSHA students scored high enough to earn college credit vs. 67% globally across the same courses

AP Courses At-A-Glance

English
  • AP English Literature and Composition
  • AP English Language and Composition 
 
Fine Arts: Music
  • AP Music Theory

Fine Arts: Visual Arts
  • AP Art: 2D Design

Math
  • AP Calculus (AB)
  • AP Calculus (BC)
  • AP Precalculus 

Science
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Physics C Mechanics

Specialized Studies
  • AP Computer Science A
  • AP Statistics

Social Studies
  • AP European History
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP U.S. Government & Politics
  • AP U.S. History

World Languages
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture

Dual-Credit Opportunities At-A-Glance

English
  • ENGL 2020 | Marquette University: Texts, Social Systems, and Values
  • ENGL 3513 | Marquette University: Modern Irish Literature 
  • ENG 263 | UW-Whitewater: Contemporary Literature

Mathematics
  • MATH 1100 | Marquette University: College Algebra 

Science
  • BL 105 | UW-Oshkosh: Biological Concepts

Social Studies
  • HS 4931 Marquette University: Topics in History: Post World War II America
  • POSC 4701 | Marquette University: United States Foreign Policy 

Specialized Studies
  • EDU 405 | Mount Mary University: Exception Learners (Marian Scholars Peer Mentor)

Theology
  • THEO 4510 | Marquette University: Survey of World Religions
  • THEO 4400 | Marquette University: Christian Faith & Justice 

World Languages
  • FR 252 | UW-Whitewater: Intermediate French
  • LAT 3004 | University of Minnesota: Intermediate Latin Poetry: Vergil 

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