Career and College Readiness Resources

In today's global economy, students must be well-prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. MACCRAY Public Schools provides support to assist students as they transition from middle school to high school and into an increasingly wide array of postsecondary options. Each of the options is described below.

Concurrent Enrollment

MACCRAY Public Schools partners with Southwest Minnesota State University and Ridgewater College to offers the following college credit courses to our high school students here. Students who successfully complete these courses generate both high school and college credit from the partnering postsecondary institution.

There is no cost to the student to participate in these courses, but there are entrance requirements. These courses provide high school students advanced skills today and greater flexibility when they enter the university setting full-time. That may include pursuing second majors and internships or studying abroad.

MACCRAY Public Schools offers the following Concurrent Enrollment Courses:

Southwest Minnesota State University:

BIOL 100 - Biology in the Modern World

BIOL 100L- Biology in the Modern World Lab

COMM 110- Essentials of Speaking and Listening

ENG 151- Academic Writing

MATH 110- College Algebra

MATH 125- Special Functions and Trigonometry

MATH 150- Calculus 1

SPAN 201- Intermediate Spanish 1

SPAN 202- Intermediate Spanish 2

Ridgewater College:

AGRI 1660- Introduction to Agronomy

AGRI 1810- Introduction to Animal Science

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a College Board program that allows students to accelerate their education by earning college credit by taking a computer-based test of their knowledge. Learning can be done through general academic instruction, independent study, extracurricular work or volunteerism. The time and money saved can be significant. Check with the postsecondary institution of your choice for their most recent CLEP credit policy. Visit the College Board website for more information.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

PSEO is a program that allows students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders may take one career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a student is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide up-to-date information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year.

For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

This information provided with the assistance of MREA, a statewide organization advocating for Greater Minnesota students.