On top of their classes, FAFSA, SAT and ACT, seniors who want to enroll in college level courses either normally, or as dual credit, must also take the Texas Success Initiative, or the TSI. This test is given to students on multiple dates at school.

“It is offered on campus,” Transition Coordinator Melissa Wood said. “It’s free of charge and if students need to retest on any area,, it is $5 per section.”

The dates available are April 2, April 19, and the last date to take it at the school is on June 19.

“Seniors should have already taken the SAT and ACT at the latest January,” Wood said. “If they need to take the test they have until June 19th. Most students should’ve taken it before then so they could do housing and orientation.”

If a student’s PSAT, ACT, or SAT scores are high enough students can exempt the test, but if they don’t meet the requirements for exemption they must take it.

“I don’t think it should be required,” senior Rachel Moore said. “If you graduate high school you should be eligible for all community college classes and you should be able to use your STAAR test or your high school classes as proof of prerequisite. It’s difficult for students to take the SAT and not qualify and then have to turn around and take yet another standardized test.”

Some students though see the test with a different set of ideas. 

“The TSI, in my opinion, is very important because it shows the people taking it what level of college readiness they are currently at, and what they have to do to improve, “ senior Gabby Aguilar said.