Career and Technical Education
The Pathways to Success initiative has developed career pathway
documents that align with the 16 fields contained in the National
Clusters Framework. Each one-page fact sheet contains course
recommendations for core and elective credits, including
career-technical courses for students pursuing the career and
technical education endorsement on their high school diploma.
Students may earn nationally recognized industry credentials when
they complete a CTE pathway and pass the corresponding
exam.
Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit
Dual Enrollment Students are dually enrolled in
high school and in a community/junior college or institute of
higher education. These students may earn up to one semester’s
worth of college credit (15 hours for a community/junior college
or 12 hours for a university).
These are different from Dual Credit Students
who are still enrolled both at the secondary and postsecondary
level, but who also earn dual credit (credit both at the high
school and college levels) for courses. Any course that is
required for subject-area testing as a requirement of graduation
is not eligible for dual credit.
Eligibility requirements vary based on whether students choose to
enroll in academic or career and technical education courses.
Students may qualify for either the Dual Enrollment or Dual
Credit programs based on the following:
- Meet entrance requirements set by postsecondary institution
- Earn a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 for academic and 2.0
for career-technical courses
- Receive a written approval/recommendation from counselor,
principal, or CTE instructor
- Complete 14 core high school units OR have a minimum ACT
composite score of 30 (or SAT equivalent) for students interested
in enrolling in academic courses
- Be in Grade 10 or higher if interested in enrolling in CTE
courses
Admission and placement testing requirements, as well as tuition
and fees, vary locally and by institution. Tuition and costs for
university-level courses must be paid from grants, foundations,
or other private sources.
The Mississippi State Board of Education authorizes school
districts to develop Middle College Programs in which high school
juniors and seniors attend a portion of their school day at a
postsecondary institution as either a dually enrolled or dual
credit student.
Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate
AP offerings vary by school and are required to be taught by
College Board-certified teachers. Students who score a 3 or
higher on an AP exam may be able to earn college credit for the
corresponding high school course. Credit transfer policies vary
by institution. The Mississippi Department of Education provides
funding directly to local school districts to help cover testing
fees for low-income students.
Early College High Schools
Mississippi’s early college high schools are small independent
high schools located on postsecondary campuses. The schools offer
high school students the opportunity to earn up to 62 hours of
college credit and receive an associate degree or career
credential while pursuing high school diplomas. Students
attending early colleges do not pay college tuition or textbook
costs.
Early High School Graduation
The Mississippi Early Exit Diploma is available
to students who are college ready, will not need remediation
courses, have earned the 17.5 specific credit minimum, and have
met all core content requirements, including benchmarks on EOC
and ACT or IHL exams. Students who meet the requirements of the
Mississippi Early Exit Diploma may continue to take Advanced
Placement or dual credit courses, enroll full-time in a
career-technical education program or graduate high school
early and enroll in a local community college.