Following a roughly two-and-a-half-year process, this fall at Prior Lake High School, students have a new way to earn college credits with the addition of College in the Schools (CIS) American History.
Students, families, and faculty expressed interest in adding a CIS course to the social studies options. Joe Mestnik, a social studies teacher at Prior Lake High School, advocated for the class and is one of the two current instructors, the other being Mr. Helm.
“Teaching AP for as long as I have, I wanted there to be an option for students who maybe didn’t want to take that one-day test,” Mestnik said. “It’s a different type of college experience and then also, the idea that you are going to get those credits is desirable.”
PLHS has offered concurrent enrollment (dual credit) classes in several departments such as English, Science, and World Languages for at least the past 10 years, and the offerings have expanded since then. College-credit course offerings differ in ways such as location, in-person or online, curriculum, credit, and difficulty.
“Getting to keep some of our top students is a huge benefit for our school,” Mestnik said when comparing the class to post-secondary enrollment options (PSEO). “I think it’s nice because you got a face that goes with it. You can come in and make a better connection with your teacher.”
CIS American History is done through a partnership with the University of Minnesota. If a student were to go out east or out west for college, credit from a bigger school like the U of M is more likely to be transferred.
“The University of Minnesota tag, people are gonna recognize it,” Mestnik said.
It is estimated that around 30% of students earn college credit through concurrent enrollment classes during their four years at Prior Lake High School.
“It’s a good way to earn college credit before actually having to pay for them,” said 11th grader and CIS History student Noah Kalipe. “I felt like this could actually give me a real college curriculum more than a high school curriculum that just prepares you for the AP test.”
At PLHS, students can choose from 15 advanced placement (AP) courses, 11 concurrent enrollment courses, post secondary enrollment (PSEO), and 4 MNCAPS pathways. The amount of course options creates a diverse array of opportunities.
“I think that there is a good variety, and it gives students different options to take to suit their interests and goals,” Kalipe said.
While students have different options, CIS courses give you credit if you pass, convenience with being at the high school, and access to very qualified instructors.
“You should take it. Just pay attention, listen, and use what you learn to pass and ultimately earn the credit,” Kalipe said.
