Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can participate in any clubs or extracurriculars offered at Williams high school and Plano East as long as the time does not conflict with your HSA courses. Due to the clinical component of the Collin tracks, students may not be able to take a zero-hour class in junior and/or senior year.  Clinicals can also interfere with senior release. 

Students must pass the STAAR/EOC in 9th grade.  Students must earn a 70 or above in the 9th grade course.  A 75 or higher is needed in all workforce dual credit courses to continue in HSA.   Students must accumulate at least 10 hours of community service per semester while in HSA.

PIano ISD will cover the tuition cost for HSA students in workforce and academic dual credit courses aligned to their degree plan. 

Plano ISD will pay fees associated with textbooks or online access fees required for workforce dual credit courses. 

Students are responsible for the costs of textbooks or online access required for academic dual credit courses.

The industry-based certification test fees will be covered by Plano ISD.  

One pair of scrubs will be provided for HSA students in 9th grade and in 11th grade.  

Students will be responsible for the tuition and textbooks/online access for any summer/wintermester Collin courses they choose to take.

Students are responsible for any immunization costs associated with the clinical component of their track.

Students in the Emergency Medical Technician track are responsible for the cost of their uniforms.

The coursework is rigorous.  Students start taking college-level courses in 10th grade.  It is recommended that students are on level or above for reading to be successful in the HSA. Students must pass the STAAR/EOC in 9th grade to continue in the HSA.  A 75 or above is required in all workforce dual credit courses to continue in the HSA.

Expectations and workload will be college level.  Much of the work for each class is done outside of class.  Students must be prepared, current in their assignments and full participants in each class.

The Academy expands the existing high school curriculum by offering unique health science-focused electives. Workforce dual credit courses will be applied toward earning healthcare certificates. When you graduate from high school, you can immediately begin working as a certified technician in several different medical fields. If you want to continue your education at a university, there are many advantages as well. You will be able to utilize the technical certificates to begin working while you are still in college, giving you a source of income and on the job experience.

Yes, healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices) require clinical students to have various immunizations, background checks and meet other possible criteria before spending time on-site.

Academic dual credit courses are general education courses that apply toward an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in the core areas of English and Social Studies. All academic courses offered in the Academy are listed in the Texas Academic Course Guide Manual and are accepted at public colleges and universities in Texas. Academic dual credit courses will transfer to any college or university that accepts dual credit coursework and will apply to most core curriculum or general education requirements.

The attendance policy for dual credit courses is set by each professor.  Tardies are not permitted and can result in being removed from the course.

Deadlines in dual credit courses are strictly enforced.  Late work and/or re-testing due to low scores is not permitted. 

College professors are not able to communicate with parents due to FERPA law unless a waiver is signed by the students each time a parent and student meet with the instructor.

Dual credit grades will not appear in the Plano ISD gradebook.

Dual credit is through a partnership with Collin College. Professors from Collin College will instruct dual credit courses.

Workforce dual credit courses are workforce education courses that provide an opportunity for you to obtain skills and knowledge needed for career exploration, licensure and specific job qualifications. Workforce courses at the Academy apply toward professional certification and may apply toward the Associate of Applied Science degree. Workforce courses may transfer to 4-year baccalaureate degrees.

Workforce dual credit courses that provide knowledge and skills needed for health science certifications also provide a foundation for further study at the university level in professional degree programs. Some universities do have a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree that may accept workforce education courses.

The workforce dual credit courses that a student will take are set based on their track.

There are optional academic dual credit courses in 11th and 12th grade. You may choose additional academic dual credit courses in English, Math, Social Studies, and Biology.

Yes, all college credit hours will be on your college transcript and will become a permanent part of your academic record at the collegiate level.

For the workforce dual credit courses the tuition and textbook are funded by the Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy. For academic dual credit courses, the tuition is funded by the Plano ISD Health Science Academy.  Students are responsible for any textbooks and online access that is required.

Yes. Enrollment in dual credit courses require that you submit all necessary information in order to be admitted to Collin College. You will need to pass the STAAR/EOC assessment before taking any dual credit courses which begin in the 10th grade.

Yes.  Refer to the current bus schedule.

Yes. You will need to be a student at Williams High School to attend the Health Sciences Academy.  If Williams High School is not your home campus or it is not in your feeder pattern, you will need to transfer to Williams High School.  There will be no transfer fee.  Information regarding the transfer process will be provided to students accepted into the HSA.

The Health Sciences Academy is a four-year program.  By accepting a placement in the HSA, you agree to attend all 4 years. 

In extenuating circumstances, you can drop at the end of the semester. 

If you reside outside of the Plano East or Williams attendance zone, you must complete a PISD Student Transfer Form to exit from the Health Sciences Academy and return to the campus assigned to your residence.

If you return to your home campus, please note that according to UIL regulations, you will be ineligible to participate in varsity athletics for one full year. Students are eligible at Plano East Senior High for varsity athletics when they enter the academy. Students leaving the academy and Plano East feeder system would be ineligible for varsity athletics for one full year from the date of returning to their home campus. Varsity eligibility is restored after one year.

Students entering ninth or tenth grade in the 2026-2027 school year are eligible to apply. 

Yes, the number of students accepted into the Academy, as well as certification programs within the Academy, is determined by maximum capacities.

Yes, AVID students will be able to continue in AVID and in the Health Sciences Academy; however, you will likely need to earn credits outside the school day so that you will have time in your schedule to do so. Some options would be Plano ISD eSchool, night school, summer school, correspondence courses from Texas Tech and Credit By Exam in language. Your best resource is your counselor, who will advise you of your options.