The Louisiana Virtual School is a Louisiana Department of Education initiative that provides Louisiana high school students access to standards-based high school courses delivered by certified Louisiana teachers via the Internet.

The Louisiana Virtual School, in collaboration with Northwestern State University, offers dual credit courses through the Louisiana Early Start Program.

Participation in the Louisiana Early Start Program provides an opportunity for high school students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously while in the familiar environment of their high school. Courses chosen for this program are on the Board of Regents' Statewide General Course Articulation Matrix.

In order to be eligible for the Louisiana Early Start Program, 11th and 12th grade students must attend a Louisiana public high school and be on track for completing the Regents’ TOPS/high school core (students graduating in 2009, 2010, and 2011) or the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum (students graduating in 2012 and beyond). Non-public high school students may enroll but are required to pay $100.00 per credit hour not to exceed $300.00 per course.

Student/High School Information - Eligibility Criteria:

English IV/English 1010

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• 17 PLAN or 18 ACT Composite Score (or SAT equivalent)
• 18 PLAN or ACT English Sub-score (or SAT equivalent)
• 2.75 cumulative GPA - Senior Status

English Literature/English 1020

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• Completion of English 1010
• 17 PLAN Composite score or 18 ACT Composite Score (or SAT equivalent)
• 18 PLAN or ACT English Sub-score (or SAT equivalent)
• 2.75 cumulative GPA - Senior Status

Advanced Math/Math 1020   Math 1090

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• 17 PLAN or 18 ACT composite Score (or SAT equivalent)
• 18 PLAN or ACT Math sub-score (or SAT equivalent)
• 3.00 Cumulative GPA – Junior Status
• 2.75 Cumulative GPA – Senior Status

Advanced Math is a year long course (1 Carnegie Unit) and is offered in conjunction with Math 1020 (College Algebra) and Math 1090 (Trigonometry). Students will receive 3 credit hours for the successful completion of Math 1020 in the fall semester. Students will have an opportunity to earn 3 credit hours in the spring semester with the successful completion of Math 1090.

Note: If a student decides not to enroll in Math 1090 in the spring semester, they will continue to be enrolled in Advanced Math for the 2008-2009 school year, earning 1 Carnegie Unit of Advanced Math.

Fine Arts Survey/Fine Arts 1040

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• 17 PLAN or 18 ACT Composite score (or SAT equivalent)
• 3.00 Cumulative GPA – Junior Status
• 2.75 Cumulative GPA – Senior Status

American History/History 2020

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• 17 PLAN or 18 ACT Composite score (or SAT equivalent)
• 3.00 Cumulative GPA – Junior Status
• 2.75 Cumulative GPA – Senior Status

Principles of Sociology/Sociology 1010

• Attend a school that offers LVS courses
• 17 PLAN or 18 ACT Composite Score (or SAT equivalent)
• 18 PLAN or ACT English Sub-score (or SAT equivalent)
• 3.00 cumulative GPA - Junior Status
• 2.75 cumulative GPA - Senior Status

To apply for admission into the Louisiana Early Start Program students should contact Julie Longlois with the Carl D. Perkins Program Office at (318) 357-5721 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A one time $20.00 application fee to the university is required.

For more information please vist the Louisiana Virtual School website at

http://lwww.louisianavirtualschool.net