nd Exam–Based Courses in U.S. Public High Schools: 2002–03

U.S. Department of EducationInstitute of Education SciencesNCES 2005-009

E.D. TAB

2005
Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses 

in U.S. Public High 

Schools: 2002–03

U.S. Department of Education

Institute of Education Sciences

NCES 2005–009

E.D. TAB

April 2005

Tiffany Waits

J. Carl Setzer

Laurie Lewis

Westat

Bernard Greene

Project Officer

National Center for 

Education Statistics
U.S. Department of Education

Margaret Spellings

Secretary

Institute of Education Sciences

Grover J. Whitehurst

Director

National Center for Education Statistics

Grover J. Whitehurst

Acting Commissioner

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing, 

and reporting data related to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional

mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report full and complete statistics on the condition of education in 

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NCES activities are designed to address high priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable,

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U.S. Department of Education

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April 2005

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Suggested Citation

Waits, T., Setzer, J.C., and Lewis, L. (2005). Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses in U.S. Public High 

Schools: 2002–03 (NCES 2005–009). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center 

for Education Statistics.

Content Contact:

Bernard Greene

(202) 502-7348

Bernard.Greene@ed.gov
iii

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the many individuals who contributed to the development of the survey

and this report. The survey was requested by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the U.S.

Department of Education. Bernie Greene was the NCES Project Officer.

Westat’s Project Director was Laurie Lewis and the survey managers were Tiffany Waits and Carl

Setzer. Debbie Alexander directed the data collection efforts, assisted by Ratna Basavaraju and Anjali

Pandit. Rachel Jiang was the programmer, Carol Litman was the editor, and Sylvie Warren was

responsible for formatting the report. 

The NCES staff who reviewed the report and provided valuable suggestions include Shelley Burns, 

Lisa Hudson, Tracy Hunt-White, William Hussar, Kashka Kubzdela, and Valena Plisko. Reviewers

outside of NCES were Janet Boysen, Martin Hahn, and Lawrence Lanahan of the Education Statistics

Services Institute, American Institutes for Research, and Thomas Corwin of the Office of the

Undersecretary, U.S. Department of Education. This report was also reviewed by Lisa Bridges of the

Institute of Education Sciences.
iv

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v

Table of Contents

Page

Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................... iii

List of Tables............................................................................................................................. vi

List of Figures........................................................................................................................... x

Summary ................................................................................................................................... 1

Background ................................................................................................................... 1

Selected Findings .......................................................................................................... 3

Prevalence of Courses for Dual Credit and Exam-Based Course 

Offerings in Regular Public High Schools................................................. 3

Prevalence of Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses............................... 4

Combinations of Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses.......................... 5

Location and Educational Focus of Courses for Dual Credit........................... 6

Location of Courses.................................................................................. 6

Educational Focus of Courses................................................................... 8

Educational Focus by Course Location..................................................... 10

Characteristics of Courses for Dual Credit....................................................... 12

Course Structure........................................................................................ 12

Course Instructors..................................................................................... 13

Student Composition................................................................................. 14

Awarding of Postsecondary Credit ........................................................... 14

School Requirements Related to Dual Credit Courses..................................... 16

References ................................................................................................................................. 19

Tables of Estimates and Standard Errors.............................................................................. 21

Appendix A: Technical Notes................................................................................................. A-1

Appendix B: Questionnaire .................................................................................................... B-1
vi

List of Tables

Table Page

1 Number and percent of public high schools that offered dual credit, Advanced 

Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year, by school characteristics: 2003.................................................................... 22

1-A Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered dual 

credit, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 

2002–03 12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003 .................................... 23

2 Total enrollments of public high school students in dual credit, Advanced Placement, 

and International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, 

by school characteristics: 2003........................................................................................ 24

2-A Standard errors for the total enrollments of public high school students in dual credit, 

Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003 ................................................... 25

3 Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered dual credit and/or exambased courses, by combinations of type(s) of courses offered during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003 ................................................... 26

3-A Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

dual credit and/or exam-based courses, by combinations of type(s) of courses offered 

during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003................... 27

4 Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location and school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 28

4-A Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit 

course location and school characteristics: 2003............................................................. 29

5 Total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses during the 

2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location and selected school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 30

5-A Standard errors for the total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location and 

selected school characteristics: 2003 ............................................................................... 31

6 Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit at the 

high school campus or at the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 

2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 32
vii

List of Tables—Continued

Table Page

6-A Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit at the high school campus or at the campus of a postsecondary 

institution during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and 

school characteristics: 2003............................................................................................. 33

7 Enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses taught on a high 

school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003 ..... 34

7-A Standard errors for the enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses taught on a high school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and 

school characteristics: 2003............................................................................................. 35

8 Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 36

8-A Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit 

course location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003 ................................................. 37

9 Total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses during the 

2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 38

9-A Standard errors for the total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location, 

focus, and school characteristics: 2003............................................................................ 39

10 Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating that some of the dual credit courses were part of a 

sequence of courses, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 

2003 .................................................................................................................................. 40

10-A Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual 

credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating that some of the dual 

credit courses were part of a sequence of courses, by dual credit course location, 

focus, and school characteristics: 2003............................................................................ 41

11 Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating that some of the dual credit courses were cafeteria 

style, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003................. 42
viii

List of Tables—Continued

Table Page

11-A Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual 

credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating that some of the dual 

credit courses were cafeteria style, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003 ........................................................................................................ 43

12 Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

taught on the campus of a high school during the 2002–03 12-month school year 

indicating who the instructors were for the dual credit course, by dual credit course 

focus and school characteristics: 2003............................................................................. 44

12-A Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a high school during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating who the instructors were for the dual credit course, 

by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003 .......................................... 45

13 Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year indicating the most common student composition, by dual credit course 

focus and school characteristics: 2003............................................................................. 46

13-A Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 

2002–03 12-month school year indicating the most common student composition, 

by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003 .......................................... 47

14 Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating how students are awarded postsecondary credit, 

by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003 .......................... 48

14-A Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual 

credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating how students are awarded 

postsecondary credit, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 

2003 .................................................................................................................................. 49

15 Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating whether their school has 

established requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual 

credit, by school requirements: 2003............................................................................... 50

15-A Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating whether 

their school has established requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in 

courses for dual credit, by school requirements: 2003 .................................................... 51
ix

List of Tables—Continued

Table Page

16 Percent of public high schools that offered dual credit courses during the 2002–03 

12-month school year with various requirements that students must meet in order to 

enroll in courses for dual credit, by school characteristics: 2003.................................... 52

16-A Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered dual credit courses 

during the 2002–03 12-month school year with various requirements that students 

must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit, by school characteristics: 

2003 .................................................................................................................................. 53

17 Estimates and standard errors for figures 1–6: 2003 ........................................................ 54

A-1 Number and percent of public high schools in the study, and the estimated number 

and percent in the nation, for the total sample and for schools that offered courses for 

dual credit in 2002–03, by school characteristics: 2003.................................................. A-6

A-2 Number of cases with imputed data in the study sample, and number of cases with 

imputed data the sample represents, by questionnaire items: 2003................................. A-7
x

List of Figures

Figure Page

1 Percentage distribution of public high schools by whether they offered dual credit 

and/or exam-based courses and the number of types of these courses offered during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year: 2003........................................................................ 6

2 Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course location: 

2003 .................................................................................................................................. 8

3 Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit taught on a high 

school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution, by educational focus 

of those courses: 2003 ..................................................................................................... 9

4 Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course location 

and educational focus: 2003 ............................................................................................ 11

5 Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating whether postsecondary credit was awarded 

immediately or held in escrow, by dual credit course location and focus: 2003 ............. 16

6 Percent of public high schools reporting established requirements that students must 

meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit: 2003................................................... 17
1

Summary

Background

Dual credit, whereby high school students can earn both high school and postsecondary

credits for the same course, is an area in which interest has grown rapidly over the past decade (Bailey

and Karp 2003; Clark 2001; Education Commission of the States 2004). However, there has been no

existing national source of information on dual credit courses at the high school level. This survey was

requested by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, to provide

baseline information regarding the prevalence and characteristics of dual credit courses. This survey also 

collected information on two types of exam-based courses, Advanced Placement (AP) and International

Baccalaureate (IB). These types of courses provide high school students with another way of bridging K–

12 and postsecondary education.

Respondents for this survey were those selected by the school principal as the most

knowledgeable about the school’s dual credit, AP, and IB courses. This was typically the school’s

director of guidance counseling. Respondents were provided with a definition and description of dual

credit and exam-based courses. For this study, dual credit was defined as a course or program where high 

school students can earn both high school and postsecondary credits for the same course. Dual credit

courses could be located on a high school campus or the campus of a postsecondary institution, or taught 

through distance education. These courses might include courses with an academic focus, such as

English, history, or foreign language, or those with a career and technical/vocational focus, such as

computer maintenance technology and automotive technology. Additionally, the dual credit options must 

be either legislated by the state or have an articulated or other formal written agreement between the high 

school and the postsecondary institution. 

AP courses were defined as courses that follow the content and curricular goals as described 

in the AP Course Description booklets, developed and published by the College Board. A qualifying

score on an AP exam may give the student college credit or advanced standing in a college in the subject 

area in which the course/exam was taken. IB courses were defined as courses that compose a 2-year 

liberal arts curriculum that leads to a diploma and meets the requirements established by the International 

Baccalaureate program. Students taking these courses are in grades 11 and 12 and must meet all

requirements and pass examinations in each subject area in order to receive the IB diploma. In some

schools, students who are not seeking the IB diploma are allowed to take individual IB courses. AP and 
2

IB credit is only given at the discretion of the colleges and therefore occurs after students have applied

and been accepted to a college, whereas dual credit courses are actual college courses and the credit is

usually recorded on a college transcript from the postsecondary institution.

The survey asked respondents to report on the prevalence and enrollment of dual credit and

exam-based courses in their high schools. Additional information was obtained on dual credit courses,

including the location and educational focus of these courses, dual credit course characteristics, and

school requirements surrounding dual credit courses. The time frame for this survey is the 2002–03 12-

month school year. As specified on the front of the questionnaire, this includes courses during the

summer of 2002 or the summer of 2003, depending upon how the schools kept their records.

This survey was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) using the 

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). FRSS is designed to administer short, focused, issue-oriented 

surveys that place minimal burden on respondents and have a quick turnaround from data collection to

reporting. Questionnaires for the survey “Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses” were mailed in fall

2003 to a representative sample of 1,499 regular public secondary schools in the 50 states and the District 

of Columbia. The sample was selected from the 2001–02 NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) Public

School Universe file, which was the most current file available at the time of selection. The sampling

frame includes 17,059 regular secondary schools. The estimated number of schools in the survey

universe decreased to an estimated 16,483 because some of the schools were determined to be ineligible

for the FRSS survey during data collection. Data have been weighted to yield national estimates. The

unweighted and weighted response rates were both 92 percent. Detailed information about the survey

methodology is provided in appendix A, and the questionnaire can be found in appendix B.

The primary purpose of this report is to present national estimates. In addition, selected

survey findings are presented by the following school characteristics, which are defined in more detail in

appendix A:

• school enrollment size1 (enrollment of less than 500, 500 to 1,199, 1,200 or more);

• locale (city, urban fringe, town, rural);

• region (Northeast, Southeast, Central, West); and

• percent minority enrollment (less than 6 percent, 6 to 20 percent, 21 to 49 percent,

50 percent or more).

 

1

 Throughout this report, school enrollment size will be referred to as small, medium, or large schools.
3

In general, comparisons by these school characteristics are presented only where significant

differences were detected and follow meaningful patterns. It is important to note that many of the school 

characteristics used for independent analysis may also be related to each other. For example, school

enrollment size and locale are related, with city schools typically being larger than rural schools. Other

relationships between these analysis variables may exist. However, this E.D. TAB report focuses on the

bivariate relationships between the school characteristics and the data gathered in the survey, rather than

more complex analyses, to provide descriptive information about dual credit and exam-based courses.2

All specific statements of comparison made in this report have been tested for statistical

significance through trend analysis tests and t-tests and are significant at the 95 percent confidence level. 

However, only selected findings are presented for each topic in the report. Throughout this report,

differences that may appear large (particularly those by school characteristics) may not be statistically

significant. This may be due to the relatively large standard errors surrounding the estimates. A detailed 

description of the statistical tests supporting the survey findings can be found in appendix A.

Selected Findings

The findings in this report are organized as follows:

• prevalence of courses for dual credit and exam-based course offerings in regular public

high schools;

• location and educational focus of courses for dual credit;

• characteristics of courses for dual credit; and

• school requirements related to dual credit courses.

Prevalence of Courses for Dual Credit and Exam-Based Course Offerings in

Regular Public High Schools

The survey asked whether schools offered dual credit, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or

International Baccalaureate (IB) courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year. Schools offering

such courses were asked to indicate the course enrollment totals during the survey time frame.

 

2

 E.D. TAB reports are designed to focus on the presentation of selected descriptive data in tabular format.
4

Prevalence of Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses

• During the 2002–03 12-month school year, most public high schools offered dual credit

and/or exam-based courses. Overall, 71 percent of public high schools offered courses

for dual credit, 67 percent offered AP courses, and 2 percent offered IB courses (table 

1).3

• The size of public high schools was positively related to the percentage of schools

offering dual credit and/or AP courses (table 1). In 2002–03, 63 percent of small

schools, 75 percent of medium-sized schools, and 82 percent of large schools offered 

courses for dual credit. Similarly, 40 percent of small schools, 82 percent of mediumsized schools, and 97 percent of large schools offered AP courses.

• Schools located in cities were less likely than schools located in either towns or urban

fringe areas to report offering dual credit courses (65 vs. 79 and 74 percent, respectively) 

(table 1). In addition, schools located in rural areas were less likely to offer these types

of courses than were schools located in towns (70 vs. 79 percent). Furthermore, schools 

located in rural areas were the least likely to report offering AP courses at their schools

when compared to all other locales (50 vs. 72 to 87 percent), while schools located in

urban fringe areas were the most likely to report offering these courses (87 vs. 50 to

77 percent). 

• Public high schools in the Central region were the most likely to offer courses for dual

credit (80 vs. 58 to 71 percent) and schools in the Northeast were the least likely to do so 

(58 vs. 69 to 80 percent) (table 1). The reverse was true with regard to AP courses.

Schools in the Central region were the least likely to offer AP courses (54 vs. 69 to

84 percent), and schools in the Northeast were the most likely to do so (84 vs. 54 to

69 percent).

• While schools with the highest minority enrollment were the least likely to offer dual

credit courses when compared to schools with lower minority enrollment (58 vs. 72 to

78 percent) (table 1), schools with the lowest minority enrollment were the least likely to 

offer AP courses when compared to schools with higher minority enrollment (58 vs. 69

to 75 percent).

• Public high schools reported the total enrollment in dual credit courses, AP courses, and 

IB courses. In the 12-month 2002–03 school year, there were an estimated 1.2 million

enrollments in courses for dual credit, 1.8 million enrollments in AP courses, and

165,000 enrollments in IB courses (table 2).4 If a student was enrolled in multiple

courses, schools were instructed to count the student for each course in which he or she

was enrolled. Thus, enrollments may include duplicated counts of students.

 

3

 Percentages sum to more than 100 because schools could offer more than one type of course.

4

 To put these numbers into context, NCES reports 13,736,000 students enrolled in public high schools in fall 2001 (Snyder, Tan, and Hoffman 

2004, table 2). It is important to note that the dual credit enrollments collected in the FRSS survey may include duplicated counts of students, 

while the NCES estimate of 13,736,000 students enrolled is an unduplicated count. 
5

Combinations of Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses

In order to provide an overall picture of the ways in which public high schools offer dual

credit and exam-based courses, combinations of the two types of dual credit and exam-based courses were 

examined. These have been grouped as follows: the school offered dual credit courses only; AP courses 

only; AP and IB courses; AP and dual credit courses; IB and dual credit courses; AP, IB, and dual credit

courses; and no exam-based courses or courses for dual credit.

• Thirteen percent of public high schools did not offer any dual credit or exam-based 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year (figure 1). Thirty-six percent offered

either dual credit or one of the types of exam-based courses, 50 percent offered a

combination of two types of dual credit and exam-based courses, and 2 percent offered

all three types of courses (dual credit, AP, and IB). 

• Forty-nine percent of public high schools offered both dual credit and AP courses,

20 percent offered only courses for dual credit, 16 percent offered only AP courses,

1 percent offered both courses for dual credit and IB courses, and 2 percent offered a

combination of all three types of courses (dual credit, AP, and IB) (table 3). There were

no schools that offered IB courses exclusively.

• A greater proportion of small schools than medium schools did not offer any dual credit 

or exam-based courses (25 vs. 4 percent) (table 3). School enrollment size was

positively related to the likelihood of offering a combination of both dual credit and AP

courses (28 percent for small schools, 61 percent for medium schools, and 74 percent for 

large schools). 

• Public high schools located in rural areas were more likely than high schools in other

locales to report that they offered dual credit courses only (32 vs. 7 to 21 percent) (table 

3). However, public high schools located in rural areas were the least likely to report

that they offered a combination of both dual credit and AP courses, compared with

schools in all other locales (37 vs. 53 to 63 percent). In addition, schools in rural areas

were more likely than schools located in either urban fringe areas or towns to not offer

any dual credit or exam-based courses (18 vs. 5 and 8 percent, respectively). 

Furthermore, schools located in cities were more likely than schools located in urban

fringe areas to not offer these types of courses (15 vs. 5 percent).

• Schools with the highest minority enrollment were the most likely to indicate that they

did not offer any dual credit or exam-based courses (table 3). Twenty percent of these

schools indicated that they did not offer any dual credit or exam-based courses,

compared with 6 to 12 percent of schools with lower minority enrollment.
6

Figure 1. Percentage distribution of public high schools by whether they offered dual credit 

and/or exam-based courses and the number of types of these courses offered during the 

2002–03 12-month school year: 2003

1 type only

( 36%)

2 types

(50%)

3 types

(2%)

Did not offer 

any dual credit 

or exam-based 

courses

(13%)

NOTE: Types of courses include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and any courses taken for dual credit. Percentages are based 

on all public high schools (16,500) (see table 1). Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of 

rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003. 

Location and Educational Focus of Courses for Dual Credit

Schools reported whether their students were offered courses for dual credit at three

locations: courses taught on the high school campus, courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary

institution, and courses taught through distance education technologies. In addition, schools also reported 

dual credit course enrollment totals, and whether the courses for dual credit taught on a high school or

postsecondary campus had an academic focus (such as English, history, or foreign language) or a career 

and technical/vocational focus (such as computer maintenance technology and automotive technology).

Location of Courses

• Overview. Of the 11,700 public high schools that offered courses for dual credit,

61 percent indicated that they offered courses for dual credit taught on a high school

campus, 65 percent offered courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a
7

postsecondary institution, and 25 percent offered courses for dual credit taught through

distance education technologies (table 4).5

• High school campus. Schools located in towns reported offering dual credit courses

taught on a high school campus more often (73 percent) than did schools located in cities 

(54 percent), urban fringe areas (59 percent), or rural areas (61 percent) (table 4).

Schools with the highest minority enrollment were the least likely to offer dual credit

courses on the high school campus (51 vs. 63 to 64 percent).

• Postsecondary campus. There was a positive relationship between enrollment size and 

the proportion of schools reporting that their courses for dual credit were taught on the

campus of a postsecondary institution (57 percent of small schools, 68 percent of

medium schools, and 74 percent of large schools) (table 4). In addition, schools located 

in cities and schools in urban fringe areas were both more likely to report that their dual

credit courses were taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution than were

schools located in rural areas (78 and 70 percent vs. 58 percent). A greater proportion of 

schools with the highest minority enrollment offered courses for dual credit taught on a

campus of a postsecondary institution (76 percent) than did schools with the lowest

minority enrollment (59 percent). 

• Distance education. For dual credit courses taught through distance education, there

was a negative relationship between enrollment size and the likelihood of offering these

courses through distance education (35 percent of small schools, 21 percent of medium

schools, and 17 percent of large schools) (table 4). Schools in rural areas and schools in 

towns were both more likely than either schools in cities or schools in urban fringe areas 

to offer courses for dual credit through distance education (33 and 29 percent vs. 11 and 

18 percent, respectively).

• Enrollment. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, there were approximately 1.2

million enrollments in dual credit courses (table 5). Of these, 74 percent (855,000

enrollments) were in courses taught on a high school campus, 23 percent (262,000

enrollments) were in courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution, and

4 percent (44,900 enrollments) were in dual credit courses taught through distance

education (figure 2 and table 5).

 

5

 The percentage of schools with courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus, on the campus of a postsecondary institution, and

through distance education sum to more than 100 percent because many schools offered courses for dual credit at more than one location. An 

estimated 21 percent of schools offered courses for dual credit at both the high school and postsecondary institution campus, and an estimated 

6 percent offered dual credit courses at the high school campus, postsecondary institution campus, and via distance education.
8

Figure 2. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course location: 

2003

Enrollments in 

courses taught 

on a high school 

campus

( 74%)

Enrollments in 

courses taught 

through distance 

education

(4%)

Enrollments in 

courses taught 

on the campus 

of a 

postsecondary 

institution

(23%)

NOTE: Percentages are based on the total 1,162,000 enrollments in dual credit courses. Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail 

may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003. 

Educational Focus of Courses 

Schools that reported offering courses for dual credit located on either a high school campus 

or on the campus of a postsecondary institution were asked to report separately for each location about

courses with an academic focus and courses with a career and technical/vocational focus. Schools that

offered dual credit courses taught through distance education were not asked to report on the educational

focus of their dual credit courses. To examine the extent to which schools offered dual credit courses

with an academic or a career and technical/vocational focus across locations, dual credit courses with an

academic focus that were taught on a high school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution 

were combined into one category, while dual credit courses with a career and technical/vocational focus,

regardless of course location, were combined into a second category.

• Overview. Of the 11,400 schools that offered courses for dual credit that were taught on 

a high school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution, 92 percent 

indicated that they offered dual credit courses with an academic focus, and 51 percent 

reported that they offered dual credit courses with a career and technical/vocational

focus (table 6). 
9

• Academic focus. Schools located in towns were more likely to offer dual credit courses 

with an academic focus than were schools located in urban fringe areas (96 vs.

90 percent) (table 6).

• Career and technical/vocational focus. School enrollment size was positively related

to the likelihood of offering dual credit courses with a career and technical/vocational 

focus. In 2002–03, 43 percent of small schools, 52 percent of medium schools, and

61 percent of large schools offered these types of courses (table 6). Schools in rural

areas were less likely to offer dual credit courses with a career and technical/vocational 

focus than were schools located in either urban fringe areas or towns (43 vs. 56 and 63

percent, respectively). Schools located in the West (62 percent) were the most likely to

report that they offered dual credit courses with a career and technical/vocational focus,

while schools in the Northeast (30 percent) were the least likely to do so. Finally,

schools with less than 6 percent minority enrollment were less likely than schools with 6 

to 49 percent minority enrollment to report that they offered these types of courses.

• Enrollment. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, there were 1.1 million

enrollments in dual credit courses taught on a high school campus or the campus of a

postsecondary institution (table 7). Of these, 64 percent (719,000 enrollments) were in

courses with an academic focus, while 36 percent (398,000 enrollments) were in courses 

with a career and technical/vocational focus (figure 3 and table 7).

Figure 3. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit taught on a high school 

campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution, by educational focus of those 

courses: 2003

Enrollments in 

courses with an 

academic focus

(64%)

Enrollments 

in courses with a 

career and 

technical/

vocational focus

(36%)

NOTE: Percentages are based on the 1,117,100 enrollments in dual credit courses taught on a high school campus and/or the campus of a 

postsecondary institution. Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
10

Educational Focus by Course Location

Schools reported the educational focus of the dual credit courses they offered separately for

those courses that were located on a high school campus and for those located on the campus of a

postsecondary institution.

Courses for Dual Credit Taught on a High School Campus

Schools that reported offering dual credit courses taught on their campus indicated whether

any of these courses had an academic focus and whether any had a career and technical/vocational focus. 

Schools could offer both types of courses. 

• Overview. Of the schools that offered courses for dual credit taught on a high school

campus, 83 percent offered courses that had an academic focus and 49 percent offered

courses with a career and technical/vocational focus (table 8).

• Academic focus. Of the schools that offered dual credit courses taught at the high

school, small schools were more likely than large schools to offer such courses with an

academic focus (87 vs. 78 percent) (table 8).

• Career and technical/vocational focus. School enrollment size was positively related

to the likelihood of offering dual credit courses on a high school campus with a career

and technical/vocational focus. In 2002–03, 40 percent of small schools, 50 percent of

medium schools, and 59 percent of large schools offered these types of courses (table 8). 

Rural schools were less likely than schools in all other locales to offer these dual credit

courses on a high school campus (37 vs. 56 to 58 percent). In addition, schools in the

West were more likely than those in any other region to offer these dual credit courses

on a high school campus (60 vs. 37 to 47 percent).

• Enrollment. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, among dual credit courses

taught on high school campuses, there were approximately 513,000 enrollments in dual

credit courses with an academic course focus, and 342,000 enrollments in courses with a 

career and technical/vocational focus (table 9). These enrollments represent 46 percent 

and 31 percent, respectively, of the total enrollments in dual credit courses taught on

either a high school campus or at a postsecondary institution (figure 4).
11

Figure 4. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course location and 

educational focus: 2003

Enrollment in 

academic 

courses taught 

on the campus 

of a 

postsecondary 

institution

(18%)

Enrollment in 

career and 

technical/

vocational 

courses taught 

on a high school 

campus

 (31%)

Enrollment in 

academic 

courses taught 

on a high school 

campus

 (46%)

Enrollment in 

career and technical/

vocational courses 

taught on the campus

of a postsecondary

institution

(5%)

NOTE: Percentages are based on the 1,117,100 enrollments in dual credit courses taught on a high school campus and/or the campus of a 

postsecondary institution. Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.

Courses for Dual Credit Taught on the Campus of a Postsecondary

Institution

Schools that reported offering dual credit courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary

institution indicated whether any of these courses had an academic focus and whether any had a career

and technical/vocational focus. Schools could offer both types of courses. 

• Overview. Of the schools that offered dual credit courses taught on the campus of a

postsecondary institution, 92 percent offered courses with an academic focus and

46 percent offered courses with a career and technical/vocational focus (table 8).

• Academic focus. Schools in the Northeast (99 percent) were more likely than schools in 

the Southeast (90 percent), Central region (90 percent), or the West (92 percent) to

report offering dual credit courses with an academic focus on the campus of a

postsecondary institution (table 8).
12

• Career and technical/vocational focus. Schools located in towns were more likely

than those located in cities or rural areas to offer courses for dual credit with a career and 

technical/vocational focus on a postsecondary campus (57 vs. 42 percent respectively)

(table 8). Furthermore, schools in the Northeast were less likely than those in other

regions to offer these courses on a postsecondary campus (13 percent vs. 48 to

54 percent).

• Enrollment. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, there were 205,000 enrollments 

in academic dual credit courses that were taught on the campus of a postsecondary

institution, and 56,000 enrollments in career and technical/vocational courses that were

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution (table 9). These enrollments

represent 18 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of the total enrollments in dual credit

courses taught on the campus of a high school or postsecondary institution (figure 4).

Characteristics of Courses for Dual Credit

Dual credit courses vary greatly with regard to a number of characteristics, including

whether (1) they are offered individually (“cafeteria style”) or in a sequence of courses, (2) they are

taught by high school instructors and/or postsecondary instructors, (3) they serve only public high school 

students or a mixture of public high school students and postsecondary students, and (4) the

postsecondary credit is awarded immediately upon course completion or is held in escrow until after the

student graduates from public high school and attends a specific postsecondary institution. 

Course Structure

In addition to dual credit course location or focus, high schools reported whether students 

could select courses for dual credit cafeteria style, whereby students selected individual courses from a

wide range of courses for which prerequisites were met, and whether students could select the courses for 

dual credit as part of a sequence, such as a series of courses in a specific content area, such as math,

history, nursing, or automotive technology. Respondents could offer these courses both ways.

Sequence of Courses

• Among high schools offering dual credit courses on their campus, 53 percent of those

offering courses with an academic focus and 72 percent of those offering courses with a

career and technical/vocational focus indicated that some or all of these courses were

offered as part of a sequence (table 10). 

• Similarly, among schools offering dual credit courses on the campus of a postsecondary

institution, 53 percent of those offering courses with an academic focus and 72 percent 
13

of those offering courses with a career and technical/vocational focus reported that some 

or all of these courses were offered as part of a sequence (table 10).

• Among schools that offered dual credit courses with an academic focus on a high school 

campus, 59 percent of schools located in towns reported offering some or all of these 

courses as part of a sequence, compared with 42 percent of schools located in cities

(table 10). 

• Among schools that offered dual credit courses with an academic focus on a

postsecondary institution’s campus, a greater proportion of schools located in urban

fringe areas than in cities offered some or all of these courses as part of a sequence (60

vs. 46 percent, respectively) (table 10). 

Cafeteria Style Courses

• Among schools that offered dual credit courses taught on a high school campus,

35 percent of those offering courses with an academic focus reported that some or all of 

these courses were offered cafeteria style, while 41 percent of those offering courses

with a career and technical/vocational focus indicated that some or all of these courses

were offered cafeteria style (table 11). 

• Among public high schools reporting that they offered dual credit courses taught on the

campus of a postsecondary institution, 68 percent of those that offered dual credit

courses with an academic focus and 59 percent of those that offered courses with a

career and technical/vocational focus indicated that some or all of these courses were

offered cafeteria style (table 11).

• Of the schools that offered career and technical/vocational dual credit courses taught on 

a high school campus, fewer schools located in cities (29 percent) reported that some or 

all of these courses were offered cafeteria style, compared with 50 percent in urban

fringe areas and 44 percent in towns (table 11). In addition, schools in the Southeast

region offering career and technical/vocational dual credit courses on a high school

campus were less likely to indicate that some or all of these courses were offered 

cafeteria style than were schools in the other regions (25 vs. 42 to 46 percent).

• Of the schools that offered career and technical/vocational dual credit courses taught on 

the campus of a postsecondary institution, schools in the Northeast were more likely to

report that some or all of these courses were offered cafeteria style than were schools in

all other regions (100 vs. 55 to 59 percent) (table 11).

Course Instructors

Public high schools indicating that they offered dual credit courses taught on their high

school campus were asked to specify whether these courses were taught by high school instructors only,
14

postsecondary instructors only, or both high school and postsecondary instructors.6 Most dual credit

courses taught on a high school campus were taught by high school instructors only, regardless of the

educational focus of the dual credit courses.

• Of the schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on a high school

campus, 64 percent indicated that these courses were taught solely by high school

instructors, 24 percent reported that both high school and postsecondary instructors

taught the courses, and 11 percent stated that the courses were taught only by

postsecondary instructors (table 12). 

• For schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on 

a high school campus, 76 percent indicated that these courses were taught by high school 

instructors only, 12 percent of schools reported that the courses were taught by both high 

school and postsecondary instructors, and 12 percent reported that the courses were

taught by postsecondary instructors only (table 12).

Student Composition

Schools that offered dual credit courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution

were asked to indicate whether the most common student composition in these courses was high school

students only or a combination of high school students and postsecondary students. The most common

student composition for dual credit courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution was a mix 

of both high school and postsecondary students, regardless of the educational focus.

• Of the schools that offered academic dual credit courses on a postsecondary campus,

82 percent reported that these courses enrolled both high school and postsecondary

students, while 18 percent reported enrolling high school students only (table 13). 

• Similarly, of the schools that offered career and technical/vocational dual credit courses

on a postsecondary campus, 78 percent reported that these courses contained both high

school and postsecondary students, while 22 percent reported they contained high school 

students only (table 13). 

Awarding of Postsecondary Credit

There are two primary ways in which postsecondary credit for dual credit courses is

awarded. The credit can be awarded immediately upon completion of the dual credit course, or it can be

held in escrow until the student has graduated from public high school and enrolls in a specific

 

6

 Information about course instructors was not collected for dual credit courses taught at a postsecondary institution, because research during

survey development indicated that these courses are almost always taught by postsecondary faculty.
15

postsecondary institution that accepts the credit. Students taking courses for dual credit were most

commonly awarded postsecondary credit immediately upon completion of the course, regardless of

course location or educational focus.

• Among schools that offered academic dual credit courses on a high school campus,

86 percent awarded postsecondary credits to their students immediately and 15 percent 

held credits in escrow. Sixty-one percent of schools offering career and

technical/vocational dual credit courses reported immediate award of credits and

41 percent reported holding credits in escrow (table 14). 

• Among schools that offered academic dual credit courses taught on the campus of a

postsecondary institution, 91 percent awarded postsecondary credits to their students

immediately and 10 percent held credits in escrow. Eighty-six percent of schools

offering career and technical/vocational dual credit courses reported immediate award of 

credits and 18 percent of schools reported holding credits in escrow (table 14).

• Schools that offered courses for dual credit on a high school campus or on the campus of 

a postsecondary institution were more likely to report that the postsecondary credit was

awarded immediately rather than held in escrow, regardless of course location or focus. 

However, the percentage point difference between schools that offered postsecondary

credit immediately and those that held it in escrow was smaller for dual credit courses

with a career and technical/vocational focus taught on a high school campus than for any 

other dual credit course location or focus (20 percentage point difference vs. 68 to 81

percentage point difference) (table 14 and figure 5).
16

Figure 5. Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating whether postsecondary credit was awarded 

immediately or held in escrow, by dual credit course location and focus: 2003

86

61

91

86

15

41

10

18

0

20

40

60

80

100

Academic courses on a

high school campus

Career and

technical/vocational

courses on a high school

campus

Academic courses on

campus of postsecondary

institution

Career and

technical/vocational

courses on campus of

postsecondary institution

Percent Credit awarded immediately

Credit held in escrow

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals since schools could select more than one response option. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.

School Requirements Related to Dual Credit Courses

Schools that offered courses for dual credit were asked whether their school had established

any entrance requirements, other than state or specific postsecondary entrance requirements, that their

students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit. Schools that had such requirements were 

asked to indicate which requirements students must meet.

• Sixty-two percent of schools that offered courses for dual credit indicated that their

school had established requirements for students to enroll in dual credit courses (table

15). Among schools with requirements, the most common requirement was grade level

(84 percent), followed by minimum GPA (48 percent), teacher recommendation

(42 percent), and minimum score on standardized tests (31 percent) (figure 6). Twentyeight percent reported that their school had established some other requirement(s) than

those listed.
17

• A greater proportion of schools located in urban fringe areas reported that their school

had specific requirements for taking dual credit courses (56 percent) than schools located 

in cities or towns (69 and 68 percent, respectively) (table 16). Furthermore, a greater

proportion of schools in the Northeast (70 percent) and the Southeast (70 percent) than

in the West (61 percent) or Central region (55 percent) reported having specific

requirements.

Figure 6. Percent of public high schools reporting established requirements that students must 

meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit: 2003

84

48

42

31 28

0

20

40

60

80

100

Grade level Minimum GPA Teacher

recommendation

Minimum score on

standardized tests

Other

Percent

NOTE: Percentages are based on the 7,300 schools that reported having established requirements that students must meet to enroll in dual credit 

courses (see table 15). Percentages are based on unrounded numbers.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
18

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19

References

Bailey, T., and Karp, M. (2003). Promoting College Access and Success: A Review of Credit-Based 

Transition Programs (ERIC ED482497). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office

of Adult and Vocational Education.

Clark, R.W. (2001). Dual Credit: A Report of Programs and Policy that Offer High School Students

College Credits. Seattle, WA: Institute for Educational Inquiry. 

Education Commission of the States. (2004). Dual/Concurrent Enrollment. Retrieved April 27, 2004,

from http://www.ecs.org/html/IssueSection.asp?issueid=214&s=Quick+Facts.

Snyder, T.D., Tan, A.G., and Hoffman, C.M. (2004). Digest of Education Statistics 2003 (NCES 2005-

025). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February

23, 2005, from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d03/tables/dt002.asp.
20

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21

Tables of Estimates and Standard Errors
22

Table 1. Number and percent of public high schools that offered dual credit, Advanced 

Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03 12-month school 

year, by school characteristics: 2003

Offered dual 

credit courses

Offered Advanced 

Placement courses

Offered International 

School characteristic Baccalaureate courses

Total number of 

high schools

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools..................... 16,500 11,700 71 11,000 67 390 2

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ..................................... 7,400 4,700 63 3,000 40 ‡ ‡

500 to 1,199 ....................................... 5,000 3,700 75 4,100 82 70 2

1,200 or more ..................................... 4,100 3,300 82 3,900 97 290 7

School locale

City .................................................... 2,700 1,800 65 2,100 77 150 6

Urban fringe ....................................... 4,100 3,100 74 3,600 87 180 4

Town .................................................. 2,400 1,900 79 1,700 72 20! 1!

Rural .................................................. 7,200 5,000 70 3,600 50 ‡ ‡

Region

Northeast............................................ 2,800 1,600 58 2,300 84 30 1

Southeast............................................ 3,500 2,400 69 2,400 69 170 5

Central................................................ 5,200 4,100 80 2,800 54 50 1

West................................................... 5,100 3,600 71 3,500 69 150 3

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent............................. 5,600 4,300 76 3,300 58 # #

6 to 20 percent.................................... 3,800 3,000 78 2,600 70 90 2

21 to 49 percent.................................. 3,200 2,300 72 2,400 75 150 5

50 percent or more ............................. 3,600 2,100 58 2,500 69 150 4

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study 

sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in 

analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
23

Table 1-A. Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered dual 

credit, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 

2002–03 12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003

Offered dual 

credit courses

Offered Advanced 

Placement courses

Offered International 

School characteristic Baccalaureate courses

Total number of 

high schools

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools...................... 120 230 1.4 190 1.1 63 0.4

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ...................................... 120 200 2.5 80 2.3 ‡ ‡

500 to 1,199 ........................................ 80 90 1.7 110 1.6 30 0.6

1,200 or more ...................................... 80 100 1.8 80 0.8 46 1.1

School locale

City ..................................................... 110 100 3.4 80 2.9 34 1.3

Urban fringe ........................................ 130 110 1.9 100 2.2 37 0.9

Town ................................................... 130 120 3.3 90 3.8 14 0.6

Rural ................................................... 220 180 2.3 180 2.2 ‡ ‡

Region

Northeast............................................. 160 130 3.5 120 2.3 15 0.5

Southeast............................................. 180 150 3.4 130 2.6 36 1.1

Central................................................. 190 210 2.6 150 2.5 18 0.4

West.................................................... 230 200 2.2 200 2.3 45 0.9

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent.............................. 90 150 2.5 130 2.1 † †

6 to 20 percent..................................... 80 100 2.4 100 2.2 24 0.6

21 to 49 percent................................... 120 130 3.5 110 3.0 41 1.3

50 percent or more .............................. 100 120 3.1 100 2.5 35 1.0

† Not applicable; estimate of standard error is not derived because it is based on an estimate of 0 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
24

Table 2. Total enrollments of public high school students in dual credit, Advanced Placement, and 

International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by school 

characteristics: 2003

School characteristic

Enrollments in

dual credit 

courses

Enrollments in 

Advanced Placement 

courses

Enrollments in 

International

Baccalaureate courses

All public high schools.......................................................... 1,162,000 1,795,400 165,100

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 185,300 81,100 ‡

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 335,100 481,000 24,800

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 641,600 1,233,300 140,200

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 246,300 548,400 58,700

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 458,800 853,200 97,600

Town ....................................................................................... 201,700 143,200 8,300!

Rural ....................................................................................... 255,200 250,600 ‡

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 144,800 390,900 7,300!

Southeast................................................................................. 194,000 386,100 65,800

Central..................................................................................... 333,900 319,300 25,600!

West........................................................................................ 489,400 699,100 66,400

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent.................................................................. 317,400 267,100 #

6 to 20 percent......................................................................... 380,900 463,800 16,700

21 to 49 percent....................................................................... 228,900 528,500 64,300

50 percent or more .................................................................. 231,400 497,700 84,100

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

NOTE: Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students in each type of course, since schools were instructed to count a student enrolled in 

multiple courses of a particular type for each course in which he or she was enrolled. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or 

missing data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases 

were included in the totals and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
25

Table 2-A. Standard errors for the total enrollments of public high school students in dual credit, 

Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses during the 2002–03

12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003

School characteristic

Enrollments in

dual credit 

courses

Enrollments in 

Advanced Placement 

courses

Enrollments in 

International 

Baccalaureate courses

All public high schools.......................................................... 53,420 54,930 32,820

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 15,590 8,510 ‡

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 24,020 26,970 11,180

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 47,500 47,700 29,740

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 33,160 32,020 15,920

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 36,290 41,300 26,990

Town ....................................................................................... 20,440 10,970 4,770

Rural ....................................................................................... 18,150 14,900 ‡

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 20,600 29,210 4,880

Southeast................................................................................. 19,300 30,540 18,990

Central..................................................................................... 29,010 22,060 14,170

West........................................................................................ 47,580 48,150 23,380

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent.................................................................. 24,840 18,820 †

6 to 20 percent......................................................................... 35,440 21,630 5,470

21 to 49 percent....................................................................... 22,890 29,150 19,280

50 percent or more .................................................................. 36,220 35,430 26,560

† Not applicable; estimate of standard error is not derived because it is based on an estimate of 0 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
26

Table 3. Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered dual credit and/or exam-based 

courses, by combinations of type(s) of courses offered during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year, by school characteristics: 2003

School characteristic

Offered dual 

credit only

Offered 

Advanced 

Placement only

Offered 

Advanced 

Placement and 

International 

Baccalaureate

Offered 

dual credit and 

Advanced 

Placement

Offered 

dual credit and 

International 

Baccalaureate 

Offered 

dual credit, 

Advanced 

Placement, and 

International 

Baccalaureate

Did not offer 

any dual credit 

or exam-based 

courses

All public high schools 20 16 # 49 1 2 13

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................... 35 12 # 28 ‡ # 25

500 to 1,199 ............................ 13 20 ‡ 61 ‡ 1 4

1,200 or more .......................... 2 17 1 74 1 5 1!

School locale

City ......................................... 7 20 ‡ 53 1 4 15

Urban fringe ............................ 7 20 1 63 1 3 5

Town ................................ 21 13 # 57 # 1! 8

Rural ................................ 32 12 # 37 ‡ ‡ 18

Region

Northeast................................ 7 33 ‡ 50 # ‡ 8

Southeast................................ 17 16 1! 48 ‡ 4 15

Central................................ 35 8 ‡ 45 ‡ 1 11

West................................ 14 13 ‡ 54 1 1 15

Percent minority 

enrollment

Less than 6 percent.................. 30 12 # 47 # # 12

6 to 20 percent......................... 23 15 # 53 ‡ 2 6

21 to 49 percent....................... 12 16 ‡ 56 2 2 11

50 percent or more .................. 10 20 1 45 ‡ 3 20

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

NOTE: There were no schools that offered International Baccalaureate courses exclusively. Percentages are based on the estimated 16,500 

public high schools (see table 1). Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing 

data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were 

included in the totals and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
27

Table 3-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

dual credit and/or exam-based courses, by combinations of type(s) of courses offered 

during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by school characteristics: 2003

School characteristic

Offered dual 

credit only

Offered 

Advanced 

Placement only

Offered 

Advanced 

Placement and 

International 

Baccalaureate

Offered 

dual credit and 

Advanced 

Placement 

Offered

dual credit and 

International 

Baccalaureate 

Offered 

dual credit, 

Advanced 

Placement, and 

International 

Baccalaureate

Did not offer 

any dual credit 

or exam-based 

courses

All public high schools 1.1 1.0 0.1 1.3 0.2 0.3 1.1

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................... 2.5 1.6 † 2.1 ‡ † 2.4

500 to 1,199 ............................ 1.4 1.6 ‡ 1.7 ‡ 0.4 1.0

1,200 or more .......................... 0.5 1.8 0.5 1.9 0.4 0.9 0.3

School locale

City ......................................... 2.3 2.4 ‡ 2.7 0.6 1.1 2.9

Urban fringe ............................ 1.3 2.1 0.4 2.1 0.4 0.6 1.9

Town ................................ 3.5 2.4 † 4.2 † 0.6 2.4

Rural ................................ 2.2 1.4 † 2.2 ‡ ‡ 2.3

Region

Northeast................................ 1.9 2.7 ‡ 3.1 † ‡ 2.0

Southeast................................ 2.5 2.1 0.4 2.9 ‡ 0.9 2.3

Central................................ 2.7 1.9 ‡ 2.3 ‡ 0.3 1.9

West................................ 2.1 2.0 ‡ 2.4 0.6 0.4 2.3

Percent minority 

enrollment

Less than 6 percent.................. 2.3 1.8 † 2.1 † † 1.9

6 to 20 percent......................... 2.4 2.0 † 2.4 ‡ 0.6 1.7

21 to 49 percent....................... 2.4 2.4 ‡ 3.8 1.0 0.7 2.5

50 percent or more .................. 2.0 2.3 0.5 2.7 ‡ 0.8 2.8

† Not applicable; estimate of standard error is not derived because it is based on an estimate of 0 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

NOTE: There were no schools that offered International Baccalaureate courses exclusively. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
28

Table 4. Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location and school 

characteristics: 2003

Schools with dual credit courses taught:

On a high 

school campus

On the campus of a 

postsecondary 

institution

Through distance 

education

School characteristic

Total 

number of 

schools that 

offered dual 

credit 

courses Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools.......................................................... 11,700 7,200 61 7,700 65 3,000 25

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 4,700 2,900 61 2,700 57 1,600 35

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 3,700 2,200 59 2,500 68 800 21

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 3,300 2,100 63 2,500 74 600 17

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 1,800 1,000 54 1,400 78 200 11

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 3,100 1,800 59 2,100 70 600 18

Town ....................................................................................... 1,900 1,400 73 1,200 64 500 29

Rural ....................................................................................... 5,000 3,100 61 2,900 58 1,700 33

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 1,600 1,000 64 900 55 200 14

Southeast................................................................................. 2,400 1,400 59 1,700 70 600 23

Central..................................................................................... 4,100 2,400 59 2,700 65 1,200 29

West........................................................................................ 3,600 2,300 65 2,400 66 1,000 27

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 4,400 2,700 63 2,500 59 1,300 31

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 3,000 1,900 64 2,000 69 700 24

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 2,300 1,500 64 1,500 64 500 21

50 percent or more ................................................................ 2,100 1,100 51 1,600 76 400 20

NOTE: The numbers of schools with dual credit courses on a high school campus, on the campus of a postsecondary institution, and taught 

through distance education do not sum to all schools that offered dual credit courses, since many schools offer dual credit courses at more than 

one location. Percents are based on the 11,700 public high schools that offered any courses for dual credit in 2002–03. Percentages are based on 

unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for 

which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in analyses by other school 

characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
29

Table 4-A. Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit 

course location and school characteristics: 2003

Schools with dual credit courses taught:

On a high 

school campus

On the campus of a 

postsecondary 

institution

Through distance 

education

School characteristic

Total 

number of 

schools that 

offered dual 

credit 

courses Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools.......................................................... 230 250 1.8 220 1.6 160 1.3

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 200 190 3.1 180 3.0 150 2.8

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 90 110 2.8 110 2.5 80 2.2

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 100 100 2.4 90 1.9 60 1.7

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 100 90 3.7 100 3.1 40 2.1

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 110 90 2.8 100 2.2 80 2.3

Town ....................................................................................... 120 110 4.1 100 4.2 80 3.9

Rural ....................................................................................... 180 190 2.8 160 2.8 150 2.7

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 130 100 3.9 100 4.2 50 2.7

Southeast................................................................................. 150 130 3.6 110 3.2 70 2.6

Central..................................................................................... 210 160 3.3 170 2.8 130 2.6

West........................................................................................ 200 180 3.1 150 2.9 110 2.7

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 150 150 3.2 150 2.9 140 2.9

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 100 120 3.3 110 3.1 90 2.8

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 130 120 3.3 120 3.9 80 3.1

50 percent or more ................................................................ 120 110 4.0 110 3.2 70 3.0

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
30

Table 5. Total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by dual credit course location and selected school characteristics: 

2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught:

School characteristic

Total enrollment 

in dual credit 

courses

On a high 

school campus

On the campus of a 

postsecondary 

institution

Through 

distance education

All public high schools.......................................................... 1,162,000 855,400 261,700 44,900

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 185,300 122,300 41,200 21,800

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 335,100 245,700 78,200 11,200

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 641,600 487,400 142,300 11,900

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 246,300 191,900 50,400 4,000!

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 458,800 352,800 99,400 6,600

Town ....................................................................................... 201,700 135,100 55,900 10,600

Rural ....................................................................................... 255,200 175,600 55,900 23,700

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 144,800 129,400 13,000 2,400

Southeast................................................................................. 194,000 128,800 55,300 9,900

Central..................................................................................... 333,900 239,900 80,300 13,800

West........................................................................................ 489,400 357,300 113,100 18,900

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 317,400 238,100 62,300 17,000

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 380,900 281,700 87,300 11,900

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 228,900 151,300 70,400 7,300

50 percent or more ................................................................ 231,400 181,100 41,600 8,700

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

NOTE: Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students, since schools were instructed to count a student enrolled in multiple courses for 

dual credit for each course in which he or she was enrolled. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS 

study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals 

and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
31

Table 5-A. Standard errors for the total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location and 

selected school characteristics: 2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught:

School characteristic

Total enrollment 

in dual credit 

courses

On a high 

school campus

On the campus of a 

postsecondary 

institution

Through 

distance education

All public high schools.......................................................... 53,420 53,590 18,140 4,740

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .......................................................................... 15,590 11,350 6,900 3,830

500 to 1,199 ............................................................................ 24,020 21,080 10,320 2,500

1,200 or more .......................................................................... 47,500 45,640 12,300 3,040

School locale

City ......................................................................................... 33,160 31,410 6,220 2,400

Urban fringe ............................................................................ 36,290 35,550 11,970 1,250

Town ....................................................................................... 20,440 17,270 9,830 2,330

Rural ....................................................................................... 18,150 15,240 5,800 3,610

Region

Northeast................................................................................. 20,600 20,410 2,310 720

Southeast................................................................................. 19,300 17,760 7,990 2,570

Central..................................................................................... 29,010 26,250 9,120 2,970

West........................................................................................ 47,580 43,490 14,770 3,940

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 24,840 22,540 9,650 3,200

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 35,440 32,160 13,090 2,220

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 22,890 17,030 10,670 1,850

50 percent or more ................................................................ 36,220 35,430 4,680 3,060

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
32

Table 6. Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit at the 

high school campus or at the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003

Schools that offered dual credit courses with:

An academic focus

A career and 

School characteristic technical/vocational focus

Total number of schools that 

offered dual credit courses taught 

on a high school campus 

or campus of a 

postsecondary institution Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools................................ 11,400 10,600 92 5,800 51

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 4,500 4,100 92 1,900 43

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 3,700 3,400 93 1,900 52

1,200 or more ................................................................ 3,300 3,000 92 2,000 61

School locale

City ................................................................ 1,800 1,600 92 900 52

Urban fringe ................................................................ 3,000 2,700 90 1,700 56

Town ................................................................ 1,900 1,800 96 1,200 63

Rural ................................................................ 4,900 4,500 92 2,100 43

Region

Northeast................................................................ 1,600 1,500 95 500 30

Southeast................................................................ 2,400 2,200 91 1,200 51

Central................................................................ 4,000 3,800 93 2,000 50

West................................................................ 3,400 3,100 91 2,100 62

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 4,200 3,900 94 1,800 44

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 2,900 2,700 92 1,600 57

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 2,200 2,000 91 1,300 57

50 percent or more ................................................................ 2,000 1,900 91 1,100 52

NOTE: Percents are based on the 11,400 schools that offered dual credit courses taught on a high school campus or on the campus of a 

postsecondary institution and do not include schools that offered dual credit courses taught through distance education. The numbers of schools 

that offered dual credit courses with an academic focus or a career and technical/vocational focus do not sum to all schools that offered dual 

credit courses taught on a high school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution, since many schools offer both academic and career 

and technical/vocational courses for dual credit. Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding 

or missing data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those 

cases were included in the totals and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
33

Table 6-A. Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit at the high school campus or at the campus of a postsecondary 

institution during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and 

school characteristics: 2003

Schools that offered dual credit courses with:

An academic focus

A career and 

School characteristic technical/vocational focus

Total number of schools that 

offered dual credit courses taught 

on a high school campus 

or campus of a 

postsecondary institution Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools................................ 220 250 1.1 230 1.9

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 200 210 2.2 190 4.0

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 90 100 1.5 110 2.6

1,200 or more ................................................................ 100 100 1.2 90 1.9

School locale

City ................................................................ 100 110 2.3 100 4.0

Urban fringe ................................................................ 100 110 1.8 80 2.5

Town ................................................................ 110 120 1.7 100 3.9

Rural ................................................................ 190 200 1.9 160 3.2

Region

Northeast................................................................ 130 130 1.6 70 3.9

Southeast................................................................ 150 150 2.2 120 3.8

Central................................................................ 200 200 1.5 170 3.0

West................................................................ 200 190 2.1 160 3.4

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 150 150 1.5 150 3.3

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 100 110 2.1 110 3.2

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 130 140 2.2 90 3.1

50 percent or more ................................................................ 120 120 2.0 110 4.1

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
34

Table 7. Enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses taught on a high school 

campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year, by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses with:

School characteristic

Total enrollment 

in dual credit 

courses taught on 

a high school 

campus or campus 

of a postsecondary 

institution

An 

academic focus

A career and 

technical/

vocational focus

All public high schools................................................................................................ 1,117,100 718,800 398,300

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .................................................................................................................. 163,500 115,400 48,100

500 to 1,199 .................................................................................................................... 323,900 221,700 102,200

1,200 or more .................................................................................................................. 629,700 381,600 248,100

School locale

City ................................................................................................................................ 242,400 148,600 93,700

Urban fringe .................................................................................................................... 452,200 284,200 168,000

Town ............................................................................................................................... 191,000 130,500 60,500

Rural ............................................................................................................................... 231,500 155,500 76,100

Region

Northeast......................................................................................................................... 142,400 100,400 42,000

Southeast......................................................................................................................... 184,100 140,400 43,700

Central............................................................................................................................. 320,100 196,000 124,100

West................................................................................................................................ 470,400 282,000 188,500

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................................................ 300,400 199,300 101,100

6 to 20 percent................................................................................................ 369,000 222,600 146,400

21 to 49 percent................................................................................................ 221,700 159,100 62,500

50 percent or more ................................................................................................ 222,700 134,800 87,900

NOTE: Enrollments include enrollments in dual credit courses taught on a high school campus or the campus of a postsecondary institution but 

do not include enrollment in courses taught through distance education. Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students, since schools 

were instructed to count a student enrolled in multiple courses of a particular type for each course in which he or she was enrolled. Detail may 

not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment 

in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
35

Table 7-A. Standard errors for the enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses taught on a high school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course focus and 

school characteristics: 2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses with:

School characteristic

Total enrollment 

in dual credit 

courses taught on 

a high school 

campus or campus 

of a postsecondary 

institution

An 

academic focus

A career and 

technical/

vocational focus

All public high schools................................................................................................ 53,090 37,150 35,390

Enrollment size

Less than 500 .................................................................................................................. 13,750 9,980 8,490

500 to 1,199 .................................................................................................................... 24,070 19,120 12,240

1,200 or more .................................................................................................................. 47,080 29,900 30,470

School locale

City ................................................................................................................................ 32,950 17,260 24,120

Urban fringe .................................................................................................................... 35,990 25,340 26,040

Town ............................................................................................................................... 20,010 14,570 9,830

Rural ............................................................................................................................... 16,150 11,470 10,110

Region

Northeast......................................................................................................................... 20,570 13,040 13,040

Southeast......................................................................................................................... 18,910 16,490 7,520

Central............................................................................................................................. 27,860 18,020 16,580

West................................................................................................................................ 47,450 29,050 31,690

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................................................ 24,070 16,690 14,080

6 to 20 percent................................................................................................ 35,480 21,970 26,430

21 to 49 percent................................................................................................ 22,430 18,350 8,380

50 percent or more ................................................................................................ 35,950 23,870 23,520

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
36

Table 8. Number and percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003

Public schools that offered dual credit courses 

taught on a high school campus1

Public schools that offered dual credit courses 

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution2

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

School characteristic

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools................................ 6,000 83 3,500 49 7,000 92 3,500 46

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 2,500 87 1,200 40 2,400 90 1,100 41

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 1,900 84 1,100 50 2,300 93 1,200 46

1,200 or more ................................................................ 1,600 78 1,200 59 2,300 92 1,300 51

School locale

City ................................................................800 80 500 56 1,300 92 600 42

Urban fringe ................................................................ 1,400 79 1,000 57 1,900 90 1,000 47

Town ................................................................ 1,200 84 800 58 1,100 91 700 57

Rural ................................................................ 2,600 86 1,100 37 2,700 92 1,200 42

Region

Northeast................................................................ 900 88 400 37 900 99 100 13

Southeast................................................................ 1,200 85 600 41 1,500 90 800 49

Central................................................................ 2,000 84 1,100 47 2,400 90 1,300 48

West................................................................ 1,800 79 1,400 60 2,200 92 1,300 54

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 2,400 87 1,200 43 2,400 93 1,000 40

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 1,500 81 1,000 53 1,900 92 1,000 51

21 to 49 percent................................ 1,200 82 700 50 1,300 91 800 53

50 percent or more ................................ 800 78 600 55 1,400 90 700 42

1

Percentages are based on the 7,200 public high schools with dual credit courses taught on a high school campus (see table 4). Percentages do not 

sum to 100 and numbers do not sum to all schools with dual credit courses taught on a high school campus, since many schools offer both 

academic and career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit.

2

Percentages are based on the 7,700 public high schools with dual credit courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution (see table 4). 

Percentages do not sum to 100 and numbers do not sum to all schools with dual credit courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution, since many schools offer both academic and career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit.

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study 

sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in 

analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
37

Table 8-A. Standard errors for the number and percent of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course 

location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003

Public schools that offered dual credit courses 

taught on a high school campus

Public schools that offered dual credit courses 

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

School characteristic

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools................................240 1.5 190 2.5 240 1.2 200 2.5

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 190 2.7 140 4.8 200 3.0 140 5.0

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 100 2.8 100 3.6 110 1.6 90 3.2

1,200 or more ................................................................ 100 2.8 70 2.2 90 1.3 80 2.5

School locale

City ................................................................80 4.3 60 4.7 100 2.4 80 4.2

Urban fringe ................................................................ 100 3.3 90 3.6 100 2.2 80 3.5

Town ................................................................ 110 3.4 110 4.9 100 2.9 80 5.7

Rural ................................................................ 190 2.8 130 3.8 170 2.1 110 3.8

Region

Northeast................................................................ 110 3.1 60 4.8 100 1.0 40 4.7

Southeast................................................................ 120 2.9 90 5.1 110 2.6 90 4.0

Central................................................................ 160 2.3 140 4.3 180 2.4 130 4.0

West................................................................ 150 2.8 130 4.4 150 1.9 120 4.4

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 140 2.4 140 4.4 150 2.5 110 4.2

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 110 3.0 90 4.5 110 2.5 100 3.9

21 to 49 percent................................ 120 3.5 80 4.2 120 2.6 70 4.3

50 percent or more ................................ 100 4.6 80 5.3 110 2.8 90 4.5

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
38

Table 9. Total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit courses during the 2002–03 

12-month school year, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 

2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught 

on a high school campus

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught on the 

campus of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus Academic course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

All public high schools................................ 513,400 342,000 205,400 56,300

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................85,300 37,000 30,200 11,000

500 to 1,199 ................................................................160,500 85,200 61,200 17,000

1,200 or more ................................................................ 267,600 219,800 114,000 28,300

School locale

City ................................................................ 109,000 82,900 39,600 10,800

Urban fringe ................................................................202,200 150,600 82,000 17,400

Town ................................................................ 89,300 45,800 41,200 14,700

Rural ................................................................ 112,900 62,700 42,600 13,300

Region

Northeast................................................................ 87,800 41,700 12,600 400

Southeast................................................................ 98,000 30,900 42,500 12,800

Central................................................................ 136,800 103,000 59,100 21,100

West................................................................ 190,800 166,500 91,200 22,000

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 152,600 85,500 46,700 15,600

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 153,800 127,800 68,700 18,600

21 to 49 percent................................ 102,000 49,300 57,100 13,300

50 percent or more ................................ 102,000 79,100 32,800 8,800

NOTE: Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students, since schools were instructed to count a student enrolled in multiple courses of a 

particular type for each course in which he or she was enrolled. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS 

study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals 

and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
39

Table 9-A. Standard errors for the total enrollment of public high school students in dual credit 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year, by dual credit course location, 

focus, and school characteristics: 2003

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught 

on a high school campus

Enrollment in dual credit courses taught on the 

campus of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus Academic course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

All public high schools................................ 34,770 36,220 16,040 5,090

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 8,160 7,020 5,410 2,980

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 16,570 11,940 8,860 2,740

1,200 or more ................................................................27,750 30,600 11,410 3,120

School locale

City ................................................................ 15,720 23,710 4,660 2,420

Urban fringe ................................................................ 23,570 26,120 11,600 2,400

Town ................................................................ 13,430 8,570 8,180 3,450

Rural ................................................................ 10,530 9,820 4,960 2,210

Region

Northeast................................................................ 12,820 13,050 2,310 160

Southeast................................................................ 15,830 6,440 6,670 2,450

Central................................................................ 15,870 15,770 7,060 3,750

West................................................................ 25,510 31,500 13,050 3,030

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 14,890 13,120 7,890 3,390

6 to 20 percent................................................................18,820 26,220 10,900 2,950

21 to 49 percent................................ 14,230 7,690 9,360 2,410

50 percent or more ................................ 23,020 23,730 3,950 2,240

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
40

Table 10. Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating that some of the dual credit courses were part of a 

sequence of courses, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 

2003

Dual credit courses taught on 

a high school campus

Dual credit courses taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic 

course focus1

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus2

Academic 

course focus3

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus4

All public high schools................................ 53 72 53 72

Enrollment size

Less than 500................................ 51 69 47 65

500 to 1,199................................ 54 74 60 76

1,200 or more ................................ 55 74 54 73

School locale

City................................................................ 42 68 46 78

Urban fringe ................................ 55 75 60 69

Town ................................................................ 59 78 51 74

Rural................................................................ 52 67 54 70

Region

Northeast ................................ 65 73 51 71

Southeast ................................ 50 73 59 81

Central................................................................ 47 66 51 73

West ................................................................ 55 77 53 65

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 58 69 53 65

6 to 20 percent................................ 49 74 59 76

21 to 49 percent................................ 48 70 50 73

50 percent or more................................ 54 78 52 73

1

Percentages are based on the 6,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus (see table 

8).

2

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on a high 

school campus (see table 8).

3

Percentages are based on the 7,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution (see table 8).

4

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution (see table 8).

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
41

Table 10-A. Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual 

credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating that some of the dual 

credit courses were part of a sequence of courses, by dual credit course location, 

focus, and school characteristics: 2003

Dual credit courses taught on 

a high school campus

Dual credit courses taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

All public high schools................................ 2.5 2.4 2.1 2.8

Enrollment size

Less than 500................................ 4.7 6.5 5.3 6.6

500 to 1,199................................ 3.6 3.7 3.2 4.5

1,200 or more ................................ 3.6 3.3 2.8 3.1

School locale

City................................................................ 6.8 5.0 5.0 5.6

Urban fringe ................................ 3.6 3.7 2.9 4.2

Town ................................................................ 4.8 4.9 5.2 5.8

Rural................................................................ 4.7 5.7 3.9 5.1

Region

Northeast ................................ 5.4 6.4 4.9 16.0

Southeast ................................ 5.5 5.4 4.2 4.9

Central................................................................ 4.8 5.3 3.9 4.8

West ................................................................ 4.5 4.4 4.0 4.9

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 4.3 4.9 4.1 5.5

6 to 20 percent................................ 4.6 4.8 4.1 5.1

21 to 49 percent................................ 5.5 5.2 4.1 5.9

50 percent or more................................ 5.9 4.9 4.2 6.1

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
42

Table 11. Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating that some of the dual credit courses were cafeteria 

style, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003

Dual credit courses taught on 

a high school campus

Dual credit courses taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic 

course focus1

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus2

Academic 

course focus3

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus4

All public high schools................................ 35 41 68 59

Enrollment size

Less than 500................................ 30 34 69 51

500 to 1,199................................ 36 44 66 64

1,200 or more ................................ 39 45 71 61

School locale

City................................................................ 33 29 65 63

Urban fringe ................................ 40 50 74 61

Town ................................................................ 35 44 69 63

Rural................................................................ 32 36 65 53

Region

Northeast ................................ 31 46 63 100

Southeast ................................ 30 25 64 58

Central................................................................ 42 42 74 55

West ................................................................ 31 45 67 59

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 35 43 72 62

6 to 20 percent................................ 40 48 71 63

21 to 49 percent................................ 28 31 60 50

50 percent or more................................ 33 40 68 59

1

Percentages are based on the 6,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus (see table 

8).

2

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on a high 

school campus (see table 8).

3

Percentages are based on the 7,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution (see table 8).

4

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution (see table 8).

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
43

Table 11-A. Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual 

credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating that some of the dual 

credit courses were cafeteria style, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003

Dual credit courses taught on 

a high school campus

Dual credit courses taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution

School characteristic

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

Academic 

course focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational course focus

All public high schools................................ 2.1 2.9 2.4 3.5

Enrollment size

Less than 500................................ 4.1 7.1 4.8 8.2

500 to 1,199................................ 4.0 4.4 3.6 4.6

1,200 or more ................................ 3.4 3.6 2.7 4.1

School locale

City................................................................ 5.0 5.6 4.0 7.6

Urban fringe ................................ 4.1 4.8 3.4 4.9

Town ................................................................ 4.8 5.0 5.4 6.4

Rural................................................................ 3.8 5.9 3.5 6.0

Region

Northeast ................................ 5.2 8.6 6.1 †

Southeast ................................ 4.8 6.0 5.2 5.8

Central................................................................ 3.9 5.6 3.6 5.1

West ................................................................ 4.5 4.8 4.2 5.8

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 3.6 5.0 3.5 5.8

6 to 20 percent................................ 4.8 5.2 4.0 6.7

21 to 49 percent................................ 3.4 5.5 5.8 5.6

50 percent or more................................ 5.1 6.3 3.9 7.6

† Not applicable; estimate of standard error is not derived because it is based on an estimate of 100 percent.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
44

Table 12. Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

taught on the campus of a high school during the 2002–03 12-month school year 

indicating who the instructors were for the dual credit course, by dual credit course 

focus and school characteristics: 2003

Academic course focus1 Career and technical/vocational course focus2

School characteristic

High school 

instructors only

Postsecondary 

instructors 

only

Both high 

school and 

postsecondary 

instructors

High school 

instructors only

Postsecondary 

instructors 

only

Both high 

school and 

postsecondary 

instructors

All public high schools................................ 64 11 24 76 12 12

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 61 12 28 73 20 7

500 to 1,199 ................................................................68 12 19 80 7 13

1,200 or more ................................................................ 66 9 25 76 8 16

School locale

City ................................................................ 67 11 22 74 7 18

Urban fringe ................................................................70 11 19 83 7 10

Town ................................................................ 60 6 33 72 10 18

Rural ................................................................ 62 14 24 74 19 7

Region

Northeast................................................................ 83 ‡ 15 93 ‡ ‡

Southeast................................................................ 46 22 33 63 20 17

Central................................................................ 70 7 22 79 8 13

West................................................................ 61 13 26 75 14 11

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 71 7 22 78 9 13

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 67 9 23 84 7! 9

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 51 22 27 69 18 13

50 percent or more ................................ 63 9 28 66 17 17

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

1

Percentages are based on the 6,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus (see table 

8).

2

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on a high 

school campus (see table 8).

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study 

sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in 

analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
45

Table 12-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a high school during the 2002–03 

12-month school year indicating who the instructors were for the dual credit course, 

by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003

Academic course focus Career and technical/vocational course focus

School characteristic

High school 

instructors only

Postsecondary 

instructors 

only

Both high 

school and 

postsecondary 

instructors

High school 

instructors only

Postsecondary 

instructors 

only

Both high 

school and 

postsecondary 

instructors

All public high schools................................ 2.3 1.5 2.2 2.1 1.8 1.8

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 47 3.0 4.4 5.7 5.0 3.4

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 29 2.6 3.0 4.2 2.4 3.3

1,200 or more ................................................................ 27 2.0 2.7 3.4 2.2 3.4

School locale

City ................................................................ 5.1 3.4 4.9 5.1 3.2 4.7

Urban fringe ................................................................ 45 2.8 3.2 4.2 2.5 2.8

Town ................................................................ 4.9 2.6 4.9 4.9 3.7 4.8

Rural ................................................................ 4.4 2.6 3.9 5.0 4.6 3.0

Region

Northeast................................................................ 4.5 ‡ 4.1 4.3 ‡ ‡

Southeast................................................................ 5.2 3.8 4.5 7.2 4.8 5.5

Central................................................................ 4.2 2.2 4.1 4.5 3.4 3.8

West................................................................ 4.3 3.4 3.5 4.0 3.6 2.4

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 3.9 1.9 3.6 4.2 3.4 3.4

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 49 3.0 4.4 4.3 3.8 2.7

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 4.7 4.1 4.8 5.6 5.4 3.7

50 percent or more ................................ 6.1 3.1 5.4 5.9 4.8 6.0

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
46

Table 13. Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year indicating the most common student composition, by dual credit course 

focus and school characteristics: 2003

Academic course focus1 Career and technical/vocational course focus2

School characteristic High school 

students only

Both high school and 

postsecondary students

High school 

students only

Both high school and 

postsecondary students

All public high schools................................ 18 82 22 78

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 20 80 23 77

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 19 81 22 78

1,200 or more ................................................................ 14 86 21 79

School locale

City ................................................................ 13 87 13 87

Urban fringe ................................................................ 16 84 17 83

Town ................................................................ 25 75 33 67

Rural ................................................................ 18 82 23 77

Region

Northeast................................................................ 23 77 ‡ 84

Southeast................................................................ 18 82 26 74

Central................................................................ 14 86 20 80

West................................................................ 19 81 21 79

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 22 78 29 71

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 13 87 17 83

21 to 49 percent................................ 20 80 26 74

50 percent or more ................................ 15 85 14 86

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

1

Percentages are based on the 7,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution (see table 8).

2

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on the campus 

of a postsecondary institution (see table 8).

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study 

sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in 

analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
47

Table 13-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution during 

the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating the most common student composition, 

by dual credit course focus and school characteristics: 2003

Academic course focus Career and technical/vocational course focus

School characteristic High school 

students only

Both high school and 

postsecondary students

High school 

students only

Both high school and

postsecondary students

All public high schools................................ 1.6 1.6 2.4 2.4

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 3.9 3.9 4.8 4.8

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 2.3 2.3 3.6 3.6

1,200 or more ................................................................ 2.2 2.2 3.3 3.3

School locale

City ................................................................ 2.6 2.6 3.5 3.5

Urban fringe ................................................................ 2.7 2.7 3.3 3.3

Town ................................................................ 5.1 5.1 6.2 6.2

Rural ................................................................ 3.2 3.2 4.9 4.9

Region

Northeast................................................................ 4.9 4.9 ‡ 10.2

Southeast................................................................ 3.4 3.4 4.8 4.8

Central................................................................ 2.8 2.8 4.1 4.1

West................................................................ 3.4 3.4 3.9 3.9

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 3.6 3.6 5.1 5.1

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 2.3 2.3 3.8 3.8

21 to 49 percent................................ 3.9 3.9 5.0 5.0

50 percent or more ................................ 3.0 3.0 3.6 3.6

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
48

Table 14. Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating how 

students are awarded postsecondary credit, by dual credit course location, focus, and school characteristics: 2003

Taught on a high school campus Taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution

Academic focus1

Career and technical/ 

vocational focus2 Academic focus3

Career and technical/ 

vocational focus4

School characteristic

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

All public high schools..........................................................86 15 3 61 41 4 91 10 2 86 18 1!

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 87 14 3! 64 37 ‡ 89 12 3! 89 16 ‡

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 86 16 2 62 37 5 93 8 ‡ 89 16 ‡

1,200 or more ................................................................ 85 17 4 57 48 4 90 10 2 81 22 2!

School locale

City .........................................................................................85 14 3! 66 47 7! 94 6 2! 79 25 1!

Urban fringe ................................................................ 80 20 5 53 46 6 86 15 2 83 24 ‡

Town .......................................................................................87 16 ‡ 66 39 # 92 8 ‡ 90 11 #

Rural .......................................................................................89 13 3! 63 35 ‡ 91 9 2! 90 14 ‡

Region

Northeast.................................................................................80 17 5 56 34 13 89 11 3! 100 # #

Southeast.................................................................................91 15 4 69 37 ‡ 90 9 2! 85 18 ‡

Central.....................................................................................86 15 3! 63 38 ‡ 87 13 3! 87 19 ‡

West........................................................................................86 16 1! 57 47 3 95 7 ‡ 85 19 ‡

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 86 15 2! 63 38 ‡ 90 12 2! 87 13 3!

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 88 16 4! 63 41 5 89 12 2 87 22 ‡

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 84 13 5 56 40 5 92 6 2! 85 18 #

50 percent or more ................................................................ 87 16 ‡ 63 48 ‡ 91 9 ‡ 85 18 #

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation is greater than 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

1

Percentages are based on the 6,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus (see table 8).

2

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on a high school campus (see table 8).

3

Percentages are based on the 7,000 public high schools that offered academic courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution (see table 8).

4

Percentages are based on the 3,500 public high schools that offered career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution (see table 8).

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Percents do not sum to 100 because schools could choose more than one category of postsecondary credit award. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
49

Table 14-A. Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month 

school year indicating how students are awarded postsecondary credit, by dual credit course location, focus, and school 

characteristics: 2003

Taught on a high school campus Taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution

Academic focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational focus Academic focus

Career and technical/ 

vocational focus

School characteristic

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

Credit 

awarded 

immediately

Credit 

held in 

escrow Other

All public high schools..........................................................2.0 1.8 1.0 2.7 2.5 1.0 1.3 1.4 0.6 2.3 2.2 0.7

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 3.5 3.3 2.0 5.7 5.8 ‡ 3.6 3.3 1.7 4.3 5.3 ‡

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 2.5 2.7 1.1 4.5 4.6 2.3 1.7 2.0 ‡ 3.4 3.2 ‡

1,200 or more ................................................................ 2.4 2.5 1.2 4.0 3.2 1.8 1.8 1.9 0.8 3.1 3.0 1.0

School locale

City .........................................................................................3.9 3.8 1.9 5.0 6.0 3.5 1.8 2.0 1.0 6.7 6.8 1.2

Urban fringe ................................................................ 2.8 2.9 1.6 4.2 4.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 0.9 3.6 3.9 ‡

Town .......................................................................................3.8 4.1 ‡ 5.7 5.3 † 2.6 2.9 ‡ 3.8 3.9 †

Rural .......................................................................................3.2 2.9 1.8 6.5 6.3 ‡ 2.5 2.5 1.2 3.5 4.1 ‡

Region

Northeast.................................................................................4.9 4.9 2.3 8.5 8.1 5.5 3.5 3.8 1.5 † † †

Southeast.................................................................................2.6 3.6 1.9 6.6 7.0 ‡ 2.9 2.6 1.2 4.0 4.4 ‡

Central.....................................................................................3.6 2.9 1.8 5.3 5.4 ‡ 2.3 2.6 1.6 4.2 5.0 ‡

West........................................................................................3.1 2.9 0.7 5.2 5.0 1.5 1.5 1.8 ‡ 3.1 3.3 ‡

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................................................ 3.1 2.9 1.2 5.7 5.7 ‡ 2.1 2.5 0.9 4.4 5.1 1.9

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 3.2 3.4 2.4 5.3 5.5 2.3 2.9 3.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 ‡

21 to 49 percent................................................................ 3.9 3.5 2.0 6.2 6.0 2.4 1.9 1.7 1.4 3.5 4.1 †

50 percent or more ................................................................ 4.1 4.1 ‡ 7.1 7.1 ‡ 2.9 2.3 ‡ 5.3 4.9 †

† Not applicable; estimate of standard error is not derived because it is based on an estimate of 0 percent or 100 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
50

Table 15. Percentage distribution of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit 

during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating whether their school has 

established requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual 

credit, by school requirements: 2003

School requirement

Yes No

Don’t 

know

School has established requirements to enroll in dual credit courses1................................................................ 62 38 †

School requirements2

Grade level........................................................................................................................................................ 84 16 ‡

Minimum GPA.................................................................................................................................................. 48 52 #

Teacher recommendation ................................................................................................................................ 42 58 ‡

Minimum score on standardized tests................................................................................................................ 31 68 #

Other3................................................................................................................................................................ 28 67 5

† Not applicable. Option was not available in the survey.

# Rounds to zero.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

1

Percentages are based on the 11,700 public high schools that offered courses for dual credit (see table 1).

2

Percentages are based on the 7,300 schools with established requirements to enroll in dual credit courses.

3Other school requirements provided by respondents included attendance, course prerequisites, and class ranking.

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and not reporting where there are too 

few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
51

Table 15-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of public high schools that offered 

courses for dual credit during the 2002–03 12-month school year indicating whether 

their school has established requirements that students must meet in order to enroll 

in courses for dual credit, by school requirements: 2003

School requirement

Yes No

Don’t 

know

School has established requirements to enroll in dual credit courses ................................................................ 2.1 2.1 †

School requirements

Grade level........................................................................................................................................................ 1.6 1.6 ‡

Minimum GPA.................................................................................................................................................. 2.4 2.3 0.2

Teacher recommendation ................................................................................................................................ 1.9 1.8 ‡

Minimum score on standardized tests................................................................................................................ 2.2 2.2 0.2

Other................................................................................................................................................................ 2.0 2.2 1.1

† Not applicable. Option was not available in the survey.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Too few cases for a reliable estimate.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
52

Table 16. Percent of public high schools that offered dual credit courses during the 2002–03 

12-month school year with various requirements that students must meet in order to 

enroll in courses for dual credit, by school characteristics: 2003

School requirements2

School characteristic

School has 

requirements 

for dual credit 

course 

enrollment1 Grade level

Minimum

GPA

Teacher 

recommendation

Minimum 

score on 

standardized 

tests Other3

All public high schools................................ 62 84 48 42 31 28

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 60 89 47 39 33 22

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 62 85 49 43 30 32

1,200 or more ................................................................ 65 78 47 44 31 31

School locale

City ................................................................ 69 85 48 52 27 32

Urban fringe ................................................................ 56 78 48 48 29 29

Town ................................................................ 68 86 44 37 29 34

Rural ................................................................ 61 86 48 36 35 22

Region

Northeast................................................................ 70 83 48 69 22 32

Southeast................................................................ 70 84 60 37 42 24

Central................................................................ 55 83 43 32 27 34

West................................................................ 61 86 43 42 33 22

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 57 84 45 37 31 30

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 62 81 47 43 29 26

21 to 49 percent................................ 70 87 50 42 35 23

50 percent or more ................................ 64 86 50 49 32 31

1

Percentages are based on the 11,700 public high schools that offered courses for dual credit (see table 1).

2

Percentages are based on the 7,300 schools with established requirements that students must meet to enroll in courses for dual credit. 

Percentages do not sum to 100 because schools could have multiple requirements.

3Other school requirements provided by respondents included attendance, course prerequisites, and class ranking.

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
53

Table 16-A. Standard errors for the percent of public high schools that offered dual credit 

courses during the 2002–03 12-month school year with various requirements that 

students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit, by school 

characteristics: 2003

School requirements

School characteristic

School has 

requirements 

for dual credit 

course 

enrollment Grade level

Minimum

GPA

Teacher 

recommendation

Minimum 

score on 

standardized 

tests Other 

All public high schools................................ 2.1 1.6 2.4 1.9 2.2 2.0

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 3.3 2.6 4.4 3.8 4.0 3.2

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 2.7 2.5 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.6

1,200 or more ................................................................ 2.7 2.7 3.1 3.3 2.6 2.7

School locale

City ................................................................ 3.6 3.1 5.0 5.8 4.1 4.8

Urban fringe ................................................................ 3.2 2.8 3.8 3.2 3.7 3.1

Town ................................................................ 3.9 3.2 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.3

Rural ................................................................ 3.2 2.7 3.8 3.2 3.5 3.0

Region

Northeast................................................................ 3.5 3.5 4.3 5.0 4.6 5.2

Southeast................................................................ 2.9 3.1 5.3 3.9 4.5 3.5

Central................................................................ 3.5 3.2 4.0 2.8 3.8 4.0

West................................................................ 3.2 2.5 4.0 4.6 4.0 3.3

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 3.2 2.9 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.6

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 3.5 2.9 5.0 3.9 4.4 3.8

21 to 49 percent................................ 2.9 3.4 4.6 4.7 5.1 4.7

50 percent or more ................................ 4.1 3.0 4.8 4.6 4.8 4.5

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
54

Table 17. Estimates and standard errors for figures 1–6: 2003

Item Estimate Standard error

Figure 1. Percentage distribution of public high schools by whether they offered dual credit

and/or exam-based courses and the number of types of these courses offered during the

2002–03 12-month school year: 2003

Do not offer any dual credit or exam-based courses..................................................................... 13 1.1

1 type only.................................................................................................................................... 36 1.4

2 types.......................................................................................................................................... 50 1.3

3 types.......................................................................................................................................... 2 0.3

Figure 2. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course 

location: 2003

Enrollments in courses taught on a high school campus............................................................... 74 1.8

Enrollments in courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution................................ 23 1.8

Enrollments in courses taught through distance education ........................................................... 4 0.4

Figure 3. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit taught on a high 

school campus or on the campus of a postsecondary institution, by educational 

focus of those courses: 2003

Enrollments in courses with an academic focus........................................................................... 64 2.3

Enrollments in courses with a career and technical/vocational focus........................................... 36 2.3

Figure 4. Percentage distribution of enrollment in courses for dual credit, by course location 

and educational focus: 2003

Enrollment in academic courses taught on a high school campus ................................................ 46 2.2

Enrollment in career and technical/vocational courses taught on a high school campus .............. 31 2.4

Enrollment in academic courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution ................. 18 1.5

Enrollment in career and technical/vocational courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution ................................................................................................................................... 5 0.5

Figure 5. Percent of public high schools that offered courses for dual credit during the 

2002–03 12-month school year indicating whether postsecondary credit was awarded

immediately or held in escrow, by dual credit course location and focus: 2003

Academic courses taught on a high school campus: credit immediate ......................................... 86 2.0

Academic courses taught on a high school campus: credit held in escrow ................................... 15 1.8

Career and technical/vocational courses taught on a high school campus: credit immediate........ 61 2.7

Career and technical/vocational courses taught on a high school campus: credit held in escrow . 41 2.5

Academic courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution: credit immediate .......... 91 1.3

Academic courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution: credit held in escrow.... 10 1.4

Career and technical/vocational courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary 

institution: credit immediate....................................................................................................... 86 2.3

Career and technical/vocational courses taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution:

credit held in escrow .................................................................................................................. 18 2.2

See notes at end of table.
55

Table 17. Estimates and standard errors for figures 1-6: 2003—Continued

Item Estimate Standard error

Figure 6. Percent of public high schools reporting established requirements that students

must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit: 2003

Grade level................................................................................................................................... 84 1.6

Minimum GPA............................................................................................................................. 48 2.4

Teacher recommendation ............................................................................................................. 42 1.9

Minimum score on standardized tests........................................................................................... 31 2.2

Other reason ................................................................................................................................. 28 2.0

NOTE: Percentages are based on unrounded numbers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study 

sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in 

analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
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A-1

Appendix A

Technical Notes
A-2

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A-3

Technical Notes

Fast Response Survey System

The Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) was established in 1975 by the National Center

for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education. FRSS is designed to collect issueoriented data within a relatively short time frame. FRSS collects data from state education agencies, local 

education agencies, public and private elementary and secondary schools, public school teachers, and

public libraries. To ensure minimal burden on respondents, the surveys are generally limited to three

pages of questions, with a response burden of about 30 minutes per respondent. Sample sizes are

relatively small (usually about 1,000 to 1,500 respondents per survey) so that data collection can be

completed quickly. Data are weighted to produce national estimates of the sampled education sector. 

The sample size permits limited breakouts by classification variables. However, as the number of

categories within the classification variables increases, the sample size within categories decreases, which 

results in larger sampling errors for the breakouts by classification variables. 

Sample Design 

The sample for the FRSS survey on dual credit and exam-based courses consisted of 1,499

regular public secondary schools in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It was selected from the

2001–02 NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) Public School Universe file, which was the most current

file available at the time of selection. The sampling frame included 17,059 regular secondary schools. 

For the purposes of the study, a secondary school was defined as a school with a grade 11 or 12. Excluded 

from the sampling frame were schools with a highest grade lower than 11, along with special education,

vocational, and alternative/other schools, schools outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and

schools with zero or missing enrollment. 

The public school sampling frame was stratified by enrollment size (less than 300, 300 to

499, 500 to 999, 1,000 to 1,499, and 1,500 or more) and minority enrollment of the school (less than 6

percent, 6 to 20 percent, 21 to 49 percent, and 50 percent or more). Schools in the frame were then sorted 

by type of locale (city, urban fringe, town, rural) and region (Northeast, Southeast, Central, West) to

induce additional implicit stratification. These variables are defined in more detail in the “Definitions of

Analysis Variables” section of this report.
A-4

Data Collection and Response Rates

Questionnaires and cover letters for the study were mailed to the principal of each sampled

school in mid-September 2003. The letter introduced the study and requested that the questionnaire be

completed by the school’s director of guidance counseling or other staff member who is most

knowledgeable about the school’s dual credit, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate

courses. Respondents were offered the option of completing the survey via the web or by mail.

Telephone followup for survey nonresponse and data clarification was initiated in early October 2003 and 

completed in early January 2004.

To calculate response rates, NCES uses standard formulas established by the American

Association of Public Opinion Research.1 Thus, unit response rates (RRU) are calculated as the ratio of

the weighted number of completed interviews (I) to the weighted number of in-scope sample cases. 

There are a number of different categories of cases that compose the total number of in-scope cases:

I = weighted number of completed interviews;

R = weighted number of refused interview cases;

O = weighted number of eligible sample units not responding for reasons other than

refusal;

NC = weighted number of noncontacted sample units known to be eligible;

U = weighted number of sample units of unknown eligibility, with no interview; and

e = estimated proportion of sample units of unknown eligibility that are eligible.

The unit response rate represents a composite of the components:

I R O NC e(U )

I

RRU

+ + + +

=

Of the 1,499 schools in the sample, 11 were found to be ineligible for the survey because

they did not have an 11th or 12th grade. Another 21 were found to be ineligible because the school was

closed or did not meet some other criteria for inclusion in the sample (e.g., it was an alternative school). 

This left a total of 1,467 eligible schools in the sample. Completed questionnaires were received from

1,353 schools, or 92 percent of the eligible schools (table A-1). The weighted response rate was also

 

1

 See American Association of Public Opinion Research standard calculation (see American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), 

Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys (Ann Arbor, MI: AAPOR, 2000). Note that for this

survey, there were no sampled units with unknown eligibility.
A-5

92 percent. The weighted number of eligible institutions in the survey represent the estimated universe of 

regular secondary schools in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (table A-1). The estimated

number of schools in the survey universe decreased from the 17,059 schools in the CCD sampling frame

to an estimated 16,483 because some of the schools were determined to be ineligible for the FRSS survey 

during data collection.

Imputation for Item Nonresponse

Although item nonresponse for key items was very low, missing data were imputed for the

39 items listed in table A-2.2 The missing items included both numerical data such as counts of

enrollments in Advanced Placement courses, as well as categorical data such as whether there were any

requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit. The missing data were 

imputed using a “hot-deck” approach to obtain a “donor” school from which the imputed values were

derived. Under the hot-deck approach, a donor school that matched selected characteristics of the school 

with missing data (the recipient school) was identified. The matching characteristics included enrollment 

size class, and type of locale. Once a donor was found, it was used to derive the imputed values for the

school with missing data. For categorical items, the imputed value was simply the corresponding value

from the donor school. For numerical items, the imputed value was calculated by taking the donor’s

response for that item (e.g., enrollment in Advanced Placement courses) and dividing that number by the

total number of students enrolled in the donor school. This ratio was then multiplied by the total number 

of students enrolled in the recipient school to provide an imputed value. All missing items for a given

school were imputed from the same donor whenever possible.

 

2

 Per NCES standards, all missing questionnaire data are imputed.
A-6

Table A-1. Number and percent of public high schools in the study, and the estimated number 

and percent in the nation, for the total sample and for schools that offered courses for 

dual credit in 2002–03, by school characteristics: 2003

Total sample Offered courses for dual credit

Respondents

(unweighted)

National estimates

(weighted)

Respondents

(unweighted)

National estimates

(weighted)

School characteristic

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All public high schools................................ 1,353 100 16,480 100 1,016 100 11,750 100

Enrollment size

Less than 500 ................................................................ 365 27 7,450 45 236 23 4,690 40

500 to 1,199 ................................................................ 470 35 4,960 30 355 35 3,730 32

1,200 or more ................................................................ 518 38 4,080 25 425 42 3,330 28

School locale

City ................................................................269 21 2,740 17 193 19 1,790 15

Urban fringe ................................................................ 428 33 4,150 25 325 32 3,060 26

Town ................................................................ 198 15 2,360 14 164 16 1,870 16

Rural ................................................................ 458 30 7,240 44 334 33 5,030 43

Region

Northeast................................................................ 254 19 2,760 17 152 15 1,610 14

Southeast................................................................ 317 23 3,510 21 233 23 2,410 21

Central................................................................ 385 28 5,160 31 328 32 4,140 35

West................................................................ 397 29 5,060 31 303 30 3,590 31

Percent minority enrollment

Less than 6 percent................................ 398 30 5,640 35 316 32 4,290 37

6 to 20 percent................................................................ 335 25 3,770 23 269 27 2,950 25

21 to 49 percent................................ 290 22 3,170 20 223 22 2,300 20

50 percent or more ................................ 301 23 3,610 22 195 19 2,100 18

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing data. For the FRSS study sample, there were 29 cases for which the percent 

minority enrollment in the school was missing. Those cases were included in the totals and in analyses by other school characteristics.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
A-7

Table A-2. Number of cases with imputed data in the study sample, and number of cases with 

imputed data the sample represents, by questionnaire items: 2003

Questionnaire item

Respondent 

sample

(unweighted)

National 

estimate

(weighted)

2. Number enrolled in Advanced Placement courses................................................................................................ 23 214

8. School has requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit................................ 1 16

9a. School has requirement that students must have teacher recommendation to enroll in courses for dual credit 1 16

9b. School has requirement that students must be in specific grade level to enroll in courses for dual credit ........................ 1 16

9c. School has requirement that students must meet a minimum GPA to enroll in courses for dual credit............................ 1 16

9d. School has requirement that students must meet minimum score on standardized test to enroll in courses for 

dual credit ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 32

9e. School has some other requirement that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit ........................ 1 16

10. Students took courses for dual credit taught primarily through distance education.......................................................... 1 9

11. Number enrolled in dual credit courses taught through distance education................................................................ 6 69

13b. Students took courses for dual credit on a high school campus with a career and technical/vocational focus.................. 1 8

14a. Number enrolled in courses for dual credit on high school campus with an academic focus................................ 2 15

14b. Number enrolled in courses for dual credit on high school campus with a career and technical/vocational 

focus................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 55

15b. Career and technical/vocational courses on high school campus were part of a sequence of courses .............................. 1 8

16a. Academic courses for dual credit on high school campus were cafeteria style............................................................... 1 15

16b. Career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit on high school campus were cafeteria style............................... 2 23

17b. Instructors of the courses for dual credit on high school campus with a career and technical/vocational focus 3 42

18a1. Academic courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit immediately upon completion of courses................ 1 11

18a2. Academic courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in escrow ................................................................ 1 11

18b1. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit immediately upon completion 

of courses................................................................................................................................................................ 2 19

18b2. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in escrow................................................ 2 19

18b3. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in some other way ................................ 1 8

20b. Students took courses for dual credit with a career and technical/vocational focus on campus of 

postsecondary institution ................................................................................................................................................. 1 8

21a. Number enrolled in courses for dual credit on campus of postsecondary institution with an academic focus.................. 14 118

21b. Number enrolled in courses for dual credit on campus of postsecondary institution with a career and 

technical/vocational focus................................................................................................................................................ 10 75

22a. Academic courses for dual credit on campus of a postsecondary institution were part of a sequence of 

courses................................................................................................................................................................ 4 30

22b. Career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit on campus of postsecondary institution were part of 

a sequence of courses....................................................................................................................................................... 3 25

23a. Academic courses for dual credit on campus of a postsecondary institution were cafeteria style ................................ 1 7

23b. Career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit on campus of a postsecondary institution were 

cafeteria style ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 25

24a. Student composition in academic courses for dual credit on campus of a postsecondary institution................................ 3 37

24b. Student composition in career and technical/vocational courses for dual credit on campus of a 

postsecondary institution ................................................................................................................................................. 4 38

25a1. Academic courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit immediately upon completion of courses................ 3 24

25a2. Academic courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in escrow ................................................................ 3 24

25a3. Academic courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in some other way.................................................. 3 24

25b1. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit immediately upon completion 

of courses................................................................................................................................................................. 3 25

25b2. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in escrow. ................................ 3 25

25b3. Career and technical courses for dual credit that offered postsecondary credit in some other way. ................................ 3 25

NOTE: Data were imputed using hot-deck imputation procedures.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), “Dual Credit and 

Exam-Based Courses,” FRSS 85, 2003.
A-8

Data Reliability

While the “Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses” survey was designed to account for

sampling error and to minimize nonsampling error, estimates produced from the data collected are subject 

to both types of error. Sampling error occurs because the data are collected from a sample rather than a

census of the population and nonsampling errors are errors made during the collection and processing of

the data.

Sampling Errors

The responses were weighted to produce national estimates (see table A-1). The weights

were designed to adjust for the variable probabilities of selection and differential nonresponse. The

findings in this report are estimates based on the sample selected and, consequently, are subject to

sampling variability. General sampling theory was used to estimate the sampling variability of the

estimates and to test for statistically significant differences between estimates.

The standard error is a measure of the variability of an estimate due to sampling. It indicates 

the variability of a sample estimate that would be obtained from all possible samples of a given design

and size. Standard errors are used as a measure of the precision expected from a particular sample. If all 

possible samples were surveyed under similar conditions, intervals of 1.96 standard errors below to 1.96

standard errors above a particular statistic would include the true population parameter being estimated in 

about 95 percent of the samples. This is a 95 percent confidence interval. For example, the estimated

percentage of public high schools offering courses for dual credit is 71.3 percent, and the standard error is 

1.4 percent (see tables 1 and 1a). The 95 percent confidence interval for the statistic extends from [71.3 –

(1.4 x 1.96)] to [71.3 + (1.4 x 1.96)], or from 68.6 to 74.0 percent. The 1.96 is the critical value for a

statistical test at the 0.05 significance level (where 0.05 indicates the 5 percent of all possible samples that 

would be outside the range of the confidence interval).

Because the data from the FRSS dual credit and exam-based courses survey were collected

using a complex sampling design, the variances of the estimates from this survey (e.g., estimates of

proportions) are typically different from what would be expected from data collected with a simple

random sample. Not taking the complex sample design into account can lead to an underestimation of the 

standard errors associated with such estimates. To generate accurate standard errors for the estimates in

this report, standard errors were computed using a technique known as jackknife replication. As with any 

replication method, jackknife replication involves constructing a number of subsamples (replicates) from
A-9

the full sample and computing the statistic of interest for each replicate. The mean square error of the

replicate estimates around the full sample estimate provides an estimate of the variance of the statistic. 

To construct the replications, 50 stratified subsamples of the full sample were created and then dropped 1 

at a time to define 50 jackknife replicates. A computer program (WesVar) was used to calculate the

estimates of standard errors. WesVar is a stand-alone Windows application that computes sampling

errors from complex samples for a wide variety of statistics (totals, percents, ratios, log-odds ratios,

general functions of estimates in tables, linear regression parameters, and logistic regression parameters).

For non-ordered variables (e.g., region), t-tests were used to test comparisons among the

categories of the variable. However, when comparing percentage or ratio estimates across a family of

three or more ordered categories (e.g., categories defined by school enrollment size), regression analyses

were used to test for trends rather than a series of paired comparisons. For percentages, the analyses

involved fitting models in WesVar with the ordered categories as the independent variable and the

(dichotomous) outcome of interest (e.g., whether or not the school offered courses for dual credit) as the

dependent variable. For testing the overall significance, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was

fitted by treating the categories of the independent variables as nominal categories. For the trend test, a

simple linear regression model was used with the categories of the independent variable as an ordinal

quantitative variable. In both cases, tests of significance were performed using an adjusted Wald F-test.

3

The test is applicable to data collected through complex sample surveys and is analogous to F tests in

standard regression analysis. A test was considered significant if the p-value associated with the statistic

was less than 0.05.

Nonsampling Errors

Nonsampling error is the term used to describe variations in the estimates that may be caused 

by population coverage limitations and data collection, processing, and reporting procedures. The sources 

of nonsampling errors are typically problems like unit and item nonresponse, differences in respondents’

interpretations of the meaning of questions, response differences related to the particular time the survey

was conducted, and mistakes made during data preparation. It is difficult to identify and estimate either

the amount of nonsampling error or the bias caused by this error. To minimize the potential for

nonsampling error, this study used a variety of procedures, including a pretest of the questionnaire with

directors of guidance counselors or other people at the school who were deemed to be the most

knowledgeable about the school’s dual credit, AP, and IB courses. The pretest provided the opportunity

 

3

 Westat, WesVar 4.0 User’s Guide (Rockville, MD: Author, 2000), C-21.
A-10

to check for consistency of interpretation of questions and definitions and to eliminate ambiguous items. 

The questionnaire and instructions were also extensively reviewed by NCES and the data requester at the 

Office of Vocational and Adult Education. In addition, manual and machine editing of the questionnaire

responses were conducted to check the data for accuracy and consistency. Cases with missing or

inconsistent items were recontacted by telephone to resolve problems. Data were keyed with 100 percent 

verification for surveys received by mail, fax, or telephone.

Definitions of Analysis Variables

Enrollment Size – This variable indicates the total number of students enrolled in the school based on

data from the 2001–02 CCD. The variable was collapsed into the following three categories:

Less than 500 students (small)

500 to 1,199 students (medium)

1,200 or more students (large)

School locale – This variable indicates the type of community in which the school is located, as defined

in the 2001–02 CCD (which uses definitions based on U.S. Census Bureau classifications). This variable 

was based on the eight-category locale variable from CCD, recoded into a four-category analysis variable 

for this report. Large and midsize cities were coded as city, the urban fringes of large and midsize cities

were coded as urban fringe, large and small towns were coded as town, and rural areas outside and inside 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were coded as rural. The categories are described in more detail

below.

City – A large or midsize central city of a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) or

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). 

Urban fringe – Any incorporated place, Census-designated place, or non-place territory within a

CSMA or MSA of a large or midsize city, and defined as urban by the Census Bureau.

Town – Any incorporated place or Census-designated place with a population greater than or equal 

to 2,500 and located outside a CMSA or MSA.

Rural – Any incorporated place, Census-designated place, or non-place territory defined as rural by 

the Census Bureau. 

Region – This variable classifies schools into one of the four geographic regions used by the Bureau of

Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Assessment of Educational

Progress, and the National Education Association. Data were obtained from the 2001–02 CCD School

Universe file. The geographic regions are:

Northeast – Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
A-11

Southeast – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia 

Central – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

West – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,

Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming 

Percent Minority Enrollment – This variable indicates the percentage of students enrolled in the school 

whose race or ethnicity is classified as one of the following: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or 

Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic, based on data in the 2001–02 CCD School Universe

file. Data on this variable were missing for 29 schools; schools with missing data were excluded from all 

analyses by percent minority enrollment. The percent minority enrollment variable was collapsed into the 

following four categories:

Less than 6 percent minority

6 to 20 percent minority

21 to 49 percent minority

50 percent or more minority

It is important to note that many of these school characteristics may be related to each other. For

example, school enrollment size and locale are related, with city schools typically being larger than rural

schools. Other relationships between these analysis variables may exist. However, this E.D. TAB report

focuses on bivariate relationships between the analysis variables and questionnaire variables rather than

more complex analyses.

Contact Information

For more information about the survey, contact Bernie Greene, Early Childhood, International, and 

Crosscutting Studies Division, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences,

U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, e-mail: 

Bernard.Greene@ed.gov; telephone (202) 502-7348. 
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B-1

Appendix B

Questionnaire
B-2

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B-3

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006–5651

DUAL CREDIT AND EXAM-BASED COURSES

FAST RESPONSE SURVEY SYSTEM

O.M.B. APPROVED 

No.: 1850–0733

This survey is authorized by law (P.L. 103–382). While participation in this survey is voluntary, your cooperation is critical to make the results of 

this survey comprehensive, accurate, and timely.

Definition of Dual Credit and Exam-Based Courses

This survey includes questions about several different types of courses that are sometimes found in secondary schools: dual credit courses

(postsecondary options), and exam-based courses (advanced placement (AP) courses, and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses). These

are defined for this survey as follows:

• AP courses are defined as courses that follow the content and curricular goals as described in the AP Course Description booklets, 

developed and published by the College Board. A qualifying score on an AP exam may give the student college credit or advanced

standing in a college in the subject area in which the course/exam was taken. 

• IB courses compose a 2-year liberal arts curriculum that leads to a diploma and meets the requirements established by the International

Baccalaureate program. Students taking these courses are in grades 11 and 12 and must meet all requirements and pass examinations in 

each subject area in order to receive the IB diploma. In some schools, students who are not seeking the IB diploma are allowed to take

individual IB courses.

• Dual credit is defined for this survey as a course or program where high school students can earn both high school and postsecondary 

credits for the same courses. Postsecondary institutions include public and private 2- or 4-year colleges or universities, community

colleges, and technical or vocational schools. Credits may be earned either immediately upon course completion or “in escrow” upon

postsecondary enrollment at a specific institution. The dual credit options must either be legislated by your state or have an articulated or 

formal written agreement between your school and a postsecondary institution. These might include courses with an academic focus or

courses with a career and technical focus.

The time frame for this survey is the 2002–03 12-month school year. This includes courses during the summer of 2002 or the summer of 2003, 

depending upon how records are kept at your school. 

This survey is designed to be completed by the person(s) most knowledgeable about your school’s AP, IB, and dual credit courses.

This is often the director of school guidance counselors.

IF ABOVE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT, PLEASE MAKE CORRECTIONS DIRECTLY ON LABEL.

Name of person completing form:_____________________________________ Telephone:________________________

Title/position: ____________________________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________

Best days and times to reach you (in case of questions):_______________________________________________________

THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THIS SURVEY FOR YOUR RECORDS.

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT:

WESTAT Tiffany Waits

Attention: 7166.31 - Waits 800-937-8281, ext. 3829 or 301-294-3829

1650 Research Boulevard Fax: 800-254-0984

Rockville, Maryland 20850 E-mail: TiffanyWaits@westat.com

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid 

OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information is 1850–0733. The time required to complete this information

collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the 

data needed, and complete and review the information collected. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or 

suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202–4651. If you have comments or 

concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 K Street, 

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

FRSS Form No. 85, 09/2003 
B-4

I. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Courses

1. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your school offer any Advanced Placement (AP) courses (as defined 

on the front of this questionnaire)?

Yes......... 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 3.)

2. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, what was the total number of enrollments in AP courses at your school?

(Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students, i.e., a student should be counted for each AP course in which 

he/she was enrolled.) __________ Enrollments

3. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your school offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program (as

defined on the front of this questionnaire)? 

Yes ........ 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 5.)

4. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, what was the total number of enrollments in the IB courses at your

school? (Enrollments may include duplicated counts of students, i.e., a student should be counted for each IB course 

in which he/she was enrolled. Include all students who took IB courses, regardless of whether or not they were

seeking the IB diploma.) __________ Enrollments

II. Courses for Dual Credit 

5. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your students take any courses for which they could earn dual credit

(as defined on the front of this questionnaire) with any postsecondary institutions? (Include public and private 2-year 

and 4-year colleges and universities, community colleges, and technical or vocational schools.)

Yes ........ 1 No.......... 2 (Stop. Complete respondent section on front and return questionnaire.)

6. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, were any aspects of the courses for dual credit (e.g., entrance

requirements, maximum number of credits) determined by any state legislation or policy?

Yes ........ 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 8.) Don’t know..... 3 (Skip to question 8.)

7. Does the state legislation or policy on courses for dual credit determine any of the following? (Circle one on each line.)

Yes No

Don’t 

know

a. Student eligibility/entrance requirements for enrollment in courses taken for dual credit ................. 1 2 3

b. Maximum number of courses students can take for dual credit per semester or academic year ..... 1 2 3

c. Tuition and/or fees students pay to participate in courses for dual credit ......................................... 1 2 3

d. Tuition and/or fees districts pay for students to participate in courses for dual credit....................... 1 2 3

e. Requirements students must meet in order to continue taking courses for dual credit..................... 1 2 3

f. Types of courses students can take for dual credit ........................................................................... 1 2 3

g. How postsecondary credit is awarded to students taking courses for dual credit............................. 1 2 3

h. Qualifications of high school teachers who teach courses offered for dual credit............................. 1 2 3

8. Not including any state or specific postsecondary entrance requirements, has your school established any

requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for dual credit?

Yes......... 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 10.)

9. Has your school established any of the following requirements that students must meet in order to enroll in courses for 

dual credit? (Circle one on each line.)

Yes No

Don’t 

know

a. Teacher recommendation.................................................................................................................. 1 2 3

b. Grade level (for example, only juniors or seniors are allowed to take courses for dual credit) ......... 1 2 3

c. Minimum GPA.................................................................................................................................... 1 2 3

d. Minimum score on standardized tests .............................................................................................. 1 2 3

e. Other (specify)__________________________________________________________________ 1 2 3

Courses for Dual Credit Taught Through Distance Education

10. During the 2002–03 12–month school year, did your students take any courses for dual credit that were taught 

primarily through distance education? (Include any dual credit courses where the students and teachers are

separated by location. Courses can be offered through audio, video, or Internet or other computer technologies.)

Yes......... 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 12.)
B-5

11. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, what was the total number of high school enrollments in dual credit

courses that were taught through distance education? (Enrollments may include duplicated counts; i.e., a high school 

student should be counted for each course in which he/she was enrolled for dual credit. Include only students from

your school.) ___________ Enrollments

Courses for Dual Credit Taught on Your High School Campus

12. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your students take courses for dual credit that were taught on your

high school campus?

Yes......... 1 No.......... 2 (Skip to question 19.)

Please answer the following questions about courses for dual credit with an academic focus and those with a career and 

technical/vocational focus that were taught on your high school campus during the 2002–03 12-month school year. Do 

not include distance education courses. If your students did not take any courses for dual credit with an academic focus 

or with a career and technical/vocational focus at your high school, circle “2” for “No” in the appropriate column in question 

13 below and leave the rest of that column blank. 

• Courses with an academic focus are those such as English, history, and foreign languages.

• Courses with a career and technical/vocational focus are those such as computer maintenance technology and

automotive technology.

Course focus

Courses for dual credit TAUGHT ON YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS

2002–03 12-month school year Academic

Career and 

technical/

vocational

13. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your students take any courses for dual

credit with this course focus that were taught on your high school campus?

1 = Yes 2 = No (If “2” is circled, leave the rest of that column blank.)

1

2

1

2

14. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, what was the total number of high school

enrollments in courses for dual credit that were taught on your high school campus?

(Enrollments may include duplicated counts; i.e., a high school student should be

counted for each course in which he/she was enrolled for dual credit.)

Number of 

enrollments

______

Number of 

enrollments

______

15. Were any of the courses for dual credit part of a sequence of courses (i.e., students take 

a series of courses in a specific content area, for example, math, history, nursing, or

automotive technology), for which they receive both high school and postsecondary

credit?

1 = Yes 2 = No

1

2

1

2

16. Were any of the courses for dual credit “cafeteria style” (i.e., students can select

individual courses from a wide range of courses for which prerequisites are met)?

1 = Yes 2 = No

1

2

1

2

17. Who were the instructors of the courses for dual credit that were taught at your school? 

(Circle one.)

1 = Both high school and postsecondary instructors

2 = High school instructors only

3 = Postsecondary instructors only

1

2

3

1

2

3

18. Were students awarded postsecondary credit immediately upon completion of courses,

or were students offered “credit in escrow,” meaning that they must enroll in a specific

postsecondary institution after high school graduation in order to receive the credit?

(Circle all that apply.)

1 = Immediately upon completion of courses

2 = Credit in escrow

3 = Other (specify) ________________________________________________

1

2

3

1

2

3
B-6

Courses for Dual Credit Taught on the Campus of a Postsecondary Institution

19. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your students take courses for dual credit that were taught on the

campus of a postsecondary institution? (Include public and private 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities,

community colleges, and technical or vocational schools.) 

Yes......... 1 No.......... 2 (Stop. Complete respondent section on front and return questionnaire.)

Please answer the following questions about courses for dual credit with an academic focus and those with a career and 

technical/vocational focus that were taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution during the 2002–03 12-

month school year. Do not include distance education courses. If your students did not take any courses for dual credit 

with an academic focus or with a career and technical/vocational focus at a postsecondary institution, circle a “2” for “No”

in the appropriate column in question 20 below and leave the rest of that column blank. 

• Courses with an academic focus are those such as English, history, and foreign language.

• Courses with a career and technical/vocational focus are those such as computer maintenance technology and

automotive technology.

Course focus

Courses for dual credit TAUGHT ON THE CAMPUS OF A POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION

2002–03 12-month school year Academic

Career and 

technical/

vocational

20. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, did your students take any courses for dual 

credit with this course focus that were taught on the campus of a postsecondary

institution? 

1 = Yes 2 = No (If “2” is circled, leave the rest of that column blank.)

1

2

1

2

21. During the 2002–03 12-month school year, what was the total number of high school

enrollments in dual credit courses that were taught at a postsecondary institution? 

(Enrollments may include duplicated counts; i.e., a high school student should be

counted for each course in which he/she was enrolled for dual credit.)

Number of 

enrollments

______

Number of 

enrollments

______

22. Were any of the courses for dual credit part of a sequence of courses (i.e., students

take a series of courses in a specific content area, for example, math, history, nursing, 

or automotive technology), for which they receive both high school and postsecondary

credit?

1 = Yes 2 = No 

1

2

1

2

23. Were any of the courses for dual credit “cafeteria style” (i.e., students can select

individual courses from a wide range of courses for which prerequisites are met)? 

1 = Yes 2 = No

1

2

1

2

24. What was the most common student composition for the courses for dual credit 

taught on the campus of a postsecondary institution? (Circle one.)

1 = Only high school students

2 = High school and postsecondary students

1

2

1

2

25. Were students awarded postsecondary credit immediately upon completion of courses,

or were students offered “credit in escrow,” meaning they must enroll in a specific

postsecondary institution after high school graduation in order to receive the credit? 

(Circle all that apply.)

1 = Immediately upon completion of courses

2 = Credit in escrow

3 = Other (specify) ________________________________________________

1

2

3

1

2

3

Thank you. Please keep a copy for your records.