Advanced Placement (AP)

  • What is AP (Advanced Placement)?

    • Students can take any AP courses that are offered at HCPA.

    • AP courses and exams are designed to be equivalent to college-level courses,  

    • AP exams are typically given at the end of the school year (usually in May). 

    • Many colleges and universities grant credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP exam scores, meaning students can earn college credit or be placed into higher-level courses.  

    • AP courses and exams offered to HCPA students: Art & Design, Biology, European History, Chemistry, English Literature and Composition, Computer Science A, Computer Science  Principles,  Statistics, US History, Chinese Language and Culture, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Music Theory, Pre-Calculus

    AP courses and exams offered at HCPA (during the 2024-2025 school year):

    • AP Art & Design
    • AP Chinese Language and Culture
    • AP Computer Science A
    • AP Computer Science Principles
    • AP Calculus AB
    • AP Calculus BC
    • AP English Literature and Composition
    • AP Pre-Calculus
    • AP Statistics
    • AP Music Theory
    • AP Biology
    • AP Chemistry
    • AP European History
    • AP U.S. History
    • Pre-AP World History/Geography

CIS - College in the Schools

  • What is CIS?

    • Juniors and Seniors are eligible to take any CIS courses that are offered at HCPA.

    • CIS courses are dual-credit courses, designed to give high school students college level experiences.

    • Students can earn both high school and college credits on HCPA and University of Minnesota- Twin Cities transcripts.

    • Course curricula are set up by the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, but taught at HCPA by HCPA teachers.

    • CIS courses offered: English, Literature, Chinese, College Algebra, and Human Physiology.

     
    CIS courses offered at HCPA:

TRIO - Upward Bound Math-Science

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    What is TRIO Upward Bound?

    TRIO Programs are college access and college success programs funded through the U.S. Department of Education. An expansion of the civil rights movement and the war on poverty, TRIO programs are rooted in a historical and on-going desire of equal opportunity in education through social justice. Metropolitan State University is committed to enhance the college success for underrepresented student in higher education.

    For more information, visit https://www.metrostate.edu/students/support/trio/college-access. 

PSEO-Post-Secondary Enrollment Options

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    pseo  pseo
     

    What is PSEO?

    • Allows students to earn both high school and college credit while in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses.
    • PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online.
    • Participating college or university offer its own requirements for enrollment into PSEO.
    • PSEO courses can be either full-time or part-time.
    • No cost to student.

    For participation in PSEO

    • Students must meet with a counselor to review eligibility.
    • Prior to appointment, students should decide which college(s) they would like to apply to and bring the corresponding applications. Applications can be found on PSEO participating college's website. (Admissions criteria, application procedures, forms, and deadlines will vary between colleges.)
    • Complete a PSEO Enrollment Agreement Form and the official Minnesota Department of Education Post-Secondary Notice of Student Registration Form (NOSR) for each application. 

    '25-'26 HCPA PSEO Agreement

    We encourage students to involve parents in this decision.

    Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year. For more information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.