Dual Credit Information

By taking dual credit classes students have the opportunity to earn free college credit and high school credit at the same time, taking at least one dual-credit course additionally fulfills part of student graduation requirements.

Dual Credit students have access to student resources & supports offered by the college (like tutoring, libraries, clubs, etc.)

In addition to the ability to take classes at the College, FMS offers a variety of site-based dual credit classes that can be taken at the high school during the student's normal high school bell schedule.

Tuition Costs are waived for FMS Students (per state legislation that governs Dual Credit)

FMS covers textbook costs & fees for eligible Dual Credit classes.  Equipment, tools, or supplies for programs like Welding and Automotive are the responsibility of the student. Your FACE Dual Credit Counselor will detail the processes to acquire your textbook through the San Juan College Bookstore. Many SJC DC courses have instant access where textbooks are automatically loaded to the student's Canvas account when enrolling in a dual credit class

Students can take the majority of college classes at San Juan College for dual credit that are numbered above 1100. FMS updates a list of dual credit eligible courses with information on Prerequisites. To see what courses are offered at San Juan College please visit San Juan College Course Offerings.

All FMS students who would like to take Dual Credit coursework must first complete a Dual Credit Contract. These should be turned in to the student's high school FACE Dual Credit Counselor. The contract details important information that both students and parents should review before taking a DC class. The contract only needs to be completed once, before a student takes a dual credit course. FMS high schools and the SJC, hold dual credit informational sessions both during and after school to help students through the process of registering and getting access to their courses.

Starting in the academic year 25-26, any eligible dual credit course will be weighted towards a student's overall GPA. For more information on this update, please review the FMS Weighted Dual Credit Guidelines. Grades earned in Dual Credit Courses have been weighted by adding 1.0 to the point value for the grade earned in a course, and participation in those courses allows students to meet requirements for high school graduation while simultaneously earning college credits.

FMS high school students can utilize select San Juan College dual credit courses to meet “core credit” for specific courses in Math, English, Social Studies, and Science to meet NM Graduation requirements. The Dual Credit Course Equivalencies Document details select DC classes that FMS high school students can take to count as core credit. These courses were selected by principals, counselors, and teachers in a review process to match districts around the state that match New Mexico and FMS course standards.

Students who plan to utilize these equivalent courses should first meet with their High School Counselor and/or their FACE Dual Credit Counselor before registering for these courses to utilize these classes as core credit. FMS requires that all students attend a Dual Credit Orientation and parents and students sign a Dual Credit Contract before starting classes. Students must additionally meet the prerequisites for the college courses below to be able to enroll. Grades lower than “C” or withdrawing after the drop date “W” could potentially impact future financial aid status.

Failing a dual credit class may result in not graduating from high school or being placed on academic probation at the college. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Student Resource Center and resolve suspension issues before they can be registered for any more classes.

Failing a dual credit class WILL result in the student being INELIGIBLE to participate in any club, sport, or activity that has an eligibility requirement for participation. 

Students who earn a grade of "C or lower" in a dual credit class could jeopardize their eligibility for the New Mexico Lottery & Opportunity Scholarship. Students who withdraw from courses with a “W” will affect their completion rate at the college level and could jeopardize their financial aid eligibility after high school graduation. Federal Financial Aid requires a 67% completion rate.

We do not recommend students take an 8-week course but in particular instances it is allowable. 8-week classes are "full courses" but completed in half the time. The pace is much quicker and typically there is more work required outside of the scheduled class time. 8-week classes are not recommended for first-time dual credit students.

Drop dates are different for 8-week classes than the drop date published by the college, which is for semester-long classes. It is the student's responsibility to know all important dates, including the last day to drop their 8-week class. Please meet with your high school FACE Dual Credit Counselor to see if an 8-week course might be an option for your student.

For athletic eligibility, all FMS students must be enrolled in a minimum of 4 classes at the high school. Dual credit classes count towards that minimum. If a dual credit student drops a dual credit class and results in less than four classes, the student must add an additional class at FMS to remain eligible for athletics.

Failing a dual credit class WILL result in the student being INELIGIBLE to participate in any club, sport, or activity that has an eligibility requirement for participation. 

If you have any questions or need assistance with dual credit, please reach out to your High School Counselor or FACE Dual Credit Counselor.