Course Offerings

We’ve partnered with Century College to design Accelerated Pathways - a unique Articulated College Credit (ACC) option. Accelerated Pathways are available in Business, Computer Science, and Exercise Science.

• Accelerated Pathways clearly outline what classes you can take at SAHS that align with required courses at Century College.
• Taking these courses guarantees college credit to accelerate degree completion (up to 70% of their AA degree completed at SAHS)!
• These credits can be used to complete a two-year degree at Century or transfer them to any Minnesota state university.

Students who successfully complete these college-level courses taught at the high school, and pass an AP exam, may be able to earn college credit at participating institutions.

Articulated college credit courses are college courses offered at the high school, taught by a high school teacher. The courses are offered in partnership with a career or technical college (sometimes referred to as a two-year college). Students do not leave their high schools to enroll in these college classes. There are many ACC courses offered in each of our six Pathways: Arts, Film & Communications, Business, Healthcare and Human Services, Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, and Trades and Industry. Most of our ACC courses are articulated through Century College.

• Fulfill the English Language Arts requirements needed for high school graduation
• Take an approved test in their target language in 10th-12th grade and earn the appropriate scores demonstrating proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking

Tests are available in: Amharic, ASL, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Dakota, Dari, French, German, Hindi, Hebrew, Hmong, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Latin, Ojibwe, Oromo, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Telugu, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Depending on the level of proficiency students demonstrate on the test, they may earn one of three awards:

A description of each proficiency level can be found here.

How do I register for the test?
The tests for the Bilingual Seals Program will be given this year on Friday, May 1 at Stillwater Area High School. To register for the test, complete this form: Bilingual Seals Test Registration 2025-26. 

What test will I take? How can I practice for the test?
The test you will take depends on your target language. Different assessments are approved for different languages. Many test providers offer free practice tests and sample prompts on their website. 

More information about practice tests and resources can be found here.

How can I receive college credit?
To receive college credit at a Minnesota State College or University, work with your college advisor to request credit within three years of high school graduation. Your high school transcript notes your Bilingual Seal and serves as record of your language proficiency.

To receive college credit at another school, work with your college advisor to determine what credit as available and what additional documentation is needed. 

FAQs

Are students who have had no formal education in their home language able to obtain a seal?
Yes! Seals are offered in over 30 languages, including language that are not currently taught at Stillwater Area Public Schools. The Bilingual Seal can be a great way to earn credit for a language you speak at home. As you prepare for the test, be sure you can demonstrate your proficiency in all four domains of your home language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. A description of the proficiency levels for each domain can be found here.

What are the time commitments for students?
Testing itself takes on average 2-3 hours. You should also plan to spend some time practicing and preparing for the test -- this will vary by student.

Can students earn college credit outside of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities?
Yes! Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are mandated by law to grant college credit for the Seals following the guidelines above. However, other MN universities may grant college credit following their own guidelines. Schools may also use the Seals to make placement decisions. Schools in the Twin Cities metro that grant credit or make placement decisions include:

• University of Minnesota (fulfills the College of Liberal Arts' Second Language Requirement and grants access to third-year language courses)
• St. Thomas (may be used to determine language placement)
• Augsburg University (follows the Minnesota State guidelines and grants college credit)
• Century College (potential college credit)
• Macalester College (fulfills the foreign language requirement)

Outside of Minnesota, all 50 states have some form of Bilingual Seals program. Each state has a different set of rules, including different criteria, different award levels, and different requirements for college credit. It is always worth checking the requirements of the specific state(s) and school(s) you are interested in, and it never hurts to ask!

Do students have to demonstrate English language proficiency?
Yes, but there is no test required. Instead, students demonstrate English language proficiency by successfully meeting all English Language Arts graduation requirements.

When are students awarded the Bilingual Seal?
Students may take a test in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, but Bilingual or Multilingual Seals may not be awarded until graduation. This confirms that students met the graduation and English Language Arts requirements in addition to the second language proficiency requirements. Awards will be noted on final transcripts and mailed to students the summer following graduation.

What are the benefits of the Bilingual Seal outside of college credit?
The Bilingual Seal provides official and public recognition of a student's bilingualism.  It may also be included in resumes for a job or internship, or in applications for colleges. Bilingualism is an asset that goes beyond college credit and serves students throughout their lives.

When a student takes a concurrent enrollment or College in the Schools courses, they are building a college transcript for free without having to leave school. Students do not have to take a high-stakes test at the end of the term to determine whether they possibly earn college credit. If a student earns a C- or higher, they are automatically awarded college credit, which can be transferred to most colleges after high school. Individual colleges and universities will determine which general education goal areas the credits will apply.

When a student takes a concurrent enrollment or College in the Schools courses, they are building a college transcript for free without having to leave school. Students do not have to take a high-stakes test at the end of the term to determine whether they possibly earn college credit. If a student earns a C- or higher, they are automatically awarded college credit, which can be transferred to most colleges after high school. Individual colleges and universities will determine which general education goal areas the credits will apply.

Students who successfully complete the end-of-course assessments at the high school may receive college credit, scholarships, or admissions preferences at various higher education institutions, workforce certifications, and/or internship and other employment opportunities with industry partners.

Seniors may take courses taught at Northeast Metro 916, a career and technical education program located at Century College. Students who successfully complete courses can earn college credit through Century College. 

AVID is a college readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful, including writing, critical thinking, team work, organization and reading skills.

Career Seminar and Career Internship courses provide  opportunities for students to explore a career and earn high school credit at the same time. Students may participate in micro internships and gain real-world experiences to help them determine what they want to do after graduation. Contact the Pathways Coordinator to learn more.

Career Seminar: This self-directed elective is designed for students who are motivated to explore careers and make informed decisions about their post-secondary path. It provides an opportunity for students to discover their interests and develop employability skills as they explore careers through interviews, facility tours, job shadow and real world experiences with professionals in fields of interest. A Pathways Coordinator will act as Advisor and facilitate large group employability skills development sessions early in the semester, then help provide initial contacts to professionals. Students will be required to initiate and conduct at least five informational interviews with professionals who can provide insight into careers the student is exploring.  This course forms only during first semester.

Career Internship: The Pathways Career Internship is an elective course designed for the student who is motivated to explore careers and make an informed decision about their post-secondary path by gaining work experience in a field of interest. This self-directed elective is designed to provide a meaningful internship that allows the student to earn high school credit, earn money and learn applicable skills in an industry the student is pursuing. Students are required to complete a paid internship of approximately 40-80 hours.  This course forms only during second semester.

Independent study is an opportunity for students to design a study project in an academic area of interest. It allows students to dig deeper into a particular subject than they might be able to in class and possibly earn credit for their work. Contact your counselor to learn more.