Frisco Independent School District is expanding academic pathways for local students, unveiling three major initiatives that affect high‑schoolers now and through the class of 2030. The district announced a partnership with Collin College to launch the Frisco Collegiate Academy, a four‑year dual‑credit program housed at Memorial High School, introduced four new in‑person career courses for the 2026‑27 school year, and approved a weighted GPA scale change that moves dual‑credit courses into the top tier.
According to Community Impact, the Frisco Collegiate Academy will let incoming ninth‑graders earn a high‑school diploma and an associate of science degree simultaneously. The program begins in the 2027‑28 school year, with students attending classes on the Memorial campus while remaining eligible for extracurricular activities. Application opens Nov. 11 and closes Dec. 11; two information sessions are scheduled—Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. via webinar and Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Memorial’s auditorium. Parents will be notified of selections in early 2027, and families must confirm a seat by Feb. 12, 2027.
In addition, the district will offer four new career‑focused courses starting in the 2026‑27 school year. Community Impact reports that Turf Grass Management is open to grades 9‑12 and teaches horticultural techniques; Practicum in Law is a capstone for 12th‑graders in the Law and Public Service Career Cluster; Multivariable Calculus targets 11th‑ and 12th‑graders who have completed AP Calculus BC; and Sports Medicine II serves grades 10‑12, providing lab work and clinical experience with student athletes.
The board also approved a revision to the district’s weighted GPA scale that will affect the class of 2030, currently sixth‑graders. The policy, first presented March 4 and approved on April 9 by a 4‑2 vote, moves dual‑credit courses from Tier 2 (5.5) to Tier 3 (6.0), placing them alongside AP and International Baccalaureate courses. Trustees Stephanie Elad and Marvin Lowe voted against the change, though Elad praised the two‑reading process and noted community concerns about curriculum differentiation. Craig Leverette, vice president of Collin College, supported the shift, describing dual credit as a “different version of Advanced Placement” that guarantees students entry into a degree plan.
Under the new tier system, Tier 1 remains a 5.0 for on‑level courses; Tier 2 stays at 5.5 for advanced, CTE, independent study, mentorship and academic decathlon; Tier 3 becomes a 6.0 for AP, IB and dual‑credit courses. The district currently offers 33 AP courses (2024‑25), 77 academic and technical courses through Collin College, and eight online courses via UNT at Frisco. Dual‑credit tuition ranges from $152 to $225 per course, with instructional materials estimated at $100 each.
What’s next? Prospective academy students should attend the Nov. 11 or Nov. 17 information sessions and submit applications by Dec. 11. The new career courses will open for enrollment in the 2026‑27 school year, and the GPA scale change will be applied to the class of 2030 beginning with the 2027‑28 academic calendar.
Sources: communityimpact.com, communityimpact.com, communityimpact.com
