Categories of Students
High School Graduate (First Time in College)
High school graduates must apply and submit an official high school transcript. LSCPA recommends that students apply to LSCPA by applying online at www.ApplyTexas.org. Students who plan to complete a degree must also submit the results of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment Test (TSIA Test), unless exempt as detailed in this catalog under Texas Success Initiative assessment.
LSCPA evaluates and verifies all official high school transcripts based on its accreditation status with the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate out-of-state education agency. If LSCPA has reason to question the validity of a diploma, the applicant will be required to submit a letter of verification from a high school Registrar or Administration confirming completion of high school. If a high school is not listed as accredited with the appropriate state agency, LSCPA will contact the Superintendent of the school district to verify accreditation. If the high school accreditation status was revoked during the year you graduated and the applicant did not obtain a GED, the applicant may apply for admission to LSCPA through individual approval. LSCPA does not accept self-certification by students or parents of any kind. There is no appeal process if LSCPA is unable to validate your high school transcript.
High School Graduate of Non-Accredited High School
Applicants who did not graduate from an accredited high school may be admitted if they 1) graduated in the upper two-thirds of their class, 2) score 700 or above on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and 3) have the recommended high school preparation credits, or by individual approval provided the admitting officer is convinced that the applicant’s record indicates ability to carry the College work assigned.
High school graduates of Non-Accredited High Schools must submit an official high school transcript for evaluation. If LSCPA has reason to question the validity of a diploma, applicants will be required to submit a letter of verification from a high school Registrar or Administration confirming completion of a high school diploma. LSCPA does not accept self-certification by students or parents of any kind. There is no appeal process if LSCPA is unable to validate a high school transcript.
Students who are admitted to LSCPA as a graduate of a non-accredited high school will not be eligible to receive Financial Aid.
High School Completer
Students who do not have a high school diploma, have not passed the TAKS test nor received a GED or high school equivalent test may apply for admission to LSCPA through individual approval.
LSCPA evaluates and verifies all official high school transcripts based on their accreditation status with the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate out-of-state education agency. If LSCPA has reason to question the validity of your official transcript, you will be required to submit a letter of verification from a high school Registrar or Administration confirming courses and any administered test in question. LSCPA does not accept self-certification by students or parents of any kind. There is no appeal process if LSCPA is unable to validate a high school transcript.
Students who are admitted to LSCPA as a high school completer will not be eligible to receive Financial Aid.
Admission by Examination
Students may be admitted based upon a qualifying examination. The qualifying examinations include a General Educational Development Test (GED) or a state certificate received after passing a state-authorized examination that the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma, such as the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), and the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
A student must submit an LSCPA Application for Admission and GED verification or verification of a state authorized examination.
Dual Credit Students
Lamar State College Port Arthur has agreements with several school districts to offer dual credit courses for high school students.
High school students attending LSCPA are subject to all requirements regarding assessment, admissions, academic standards, and conduct. Interested students should contact an advisor to learn more about dual credit and exemptions for qualifiying students.
Dual credit students must meet TSIA Requirements. For academic courses, TAKS scores of 2200 in math and/or 2200 in English/Language Arts with a writing sub score of 3 or STAAR scores of 4000.
For workforce education or technical courses, TAKS scores of 2100 in math and/or 2100 in English/Language Arts with a writing sub score of 3 or STAAR scores of 4000.
Parental permission and permission from the high school principal or designee is required.
To enroll in Dual Credit courses, students must apply to LSCPA, complete the Texas Residency Questionnaire, submit an official high school transcript, and a submit a copy of TAKS or STAAR scores.
Early Admissions High School Student
Lamar State College Port Arthur allows and encourages high school students to enroll in college courses in order to get a “head start” on their college careers. This is particularly true for students who are seeking admission into allied health programs soon after high school graduation and wish to satisfy the academic prerequisites for those programs. Early admissions also offers students the opportunity to enroll for courses that are not offered through dual credit programs at their high schools but will be required at the colleges or universities they plan to attend.
The courses would normally be taken in the summer after the 10th and 11th grades or during the 11th and 12th grade years. The courses can be taken on the college campus or online. Students must demonstrate college readiness in the subjects for which they wish to enroll, if college readiness is required.
Early admissions courses differ from dual credit in that they will not be counted for high school credit or toward high school graduation. Students who are interested in using these courses to satisfy high school requirements should contact their high school counselors for information. Any use of earned LSCPA credit toward high school graduation is the decision of the high school and must be approved by the high school prior to enrollment in college courses.
Home School Graduates
The State of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school. Therefore, home school graduates that have completed a 'nontraditional secondary education' may register for classes at Lamar State College Port Arthur. Graduates must complete an application and submit an official transcript. Graduates that apply and register after August 22, 2013 must complete the TSIA Assessment Test.
LSCPA evaluates and verifies all official high school transcripts under the guidance of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Education Agency, Texas Home School Coalition, Texas Home Educators, Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, International Association for Learner Driven Schools, or the appropriate out-of-state education agency. If LSCPA has reason to question the validity of a diploma, applicants will be required to submit a letter of verification from their home school Registrar or Administration confirming completion of high school. LSCPA may require additional documentation determined by the Registrar’s Office to confirm the validity of a high school diploma.
Readmitting Former Students
Former LSCPA students or its predecessors who are not currently enrolled or who were not enrolled during the previous long semester, must submit a new application for admission.
Students with incomplete records will not be allowed to register until the problems are resolved.
International Students
International students are entitled to all student services and programs for which they are eligible according to law and definition. The College reserves the right to establish policies for selected groups of students if the policies are in the students’ and the institution’s best interest. Applicants will be carefully screened for academic excellence, English proficiency, adequate health, and financial self-sufficiency.
International students are encouraged and expected to participate in student activity and organizational programs so as to experience more fully the culture and lifestyles of southeast Texas. It is the student’s responsibility to integrate into the campus environment; however, the College provides an atmosphere conducive to acceptance of internationals and affords them every opportunity to succeed.
The College recognizes this responsibility by setting entrance and exit standards for its non-native English speakers that consider the minimum language skills necessary for success in academic work as well as the minimum standards that a diploma from the College represents.
For international students to achieve their educational objectives, certain academic services are essential. The College provides facilities and staff to meet those needs. Moreover, the College recognizes that English language proficiency, and not citizenship or immigration status alone, is a key criterion in determining and meeting the needs of students for whom English is a second language.
Individual Approval
A person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older may be exempt from the admission requirements and admitted on "individual approval," provided the admitting officer is convinced that the applicant's record indicates ability to complete college level courses. Students admitted on this condition shall be subject to the same policies and regulations as all other students.
Ability to Benefit
Students entering Lamar State College Port Arthur without passing the General Educational Development Test (GED) or high school equivalent test, receiving a high school diploma, or a post-secondary degree must show the ability to benefit from the course of study they are pursuing.
These students must show the ability to benefit from the course of study they are pursuing by passing an independently administered test approved by the Secretary of the Department of Education before enrollment.
The College administers tests approved by the Department of Education to students who have been accepted for admission but have not yet enrolled in classes. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) is administered by the Student Success Center to determine placement in classes and the ability to benefit from programs offered by the College.
Classification of Students
Students are classified as freshmen or sophomores. For the purpose of determining eligibility to hold certain offices and for other reasons, officially enrolled students are classified as follows:
Freshman: completed less than thirty (30) semester credit hours.
Sophomore: completed a minimum of thirty (30) semester credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Early College High School
The Early College High School is a partnership between Lamar State College Port Arthur and the Port Arthur Independent School District. Participants in this program are chosen by the school district. Students classified as high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolling in college level courses as part of this program must meet the following requirements to be admitted for concurrent enrollment.
- Submit a Lamar State College Port Arthur admission application.
- Submit official TSIA scores.
- Meet the current academic standing rules of LSCPA to continue enrollment in college level courses.
- Submit proof of current bacterial meningitis vaccination.