College Readiness
What is College Readiness?
College readiness refers to the skills, knowledge, and behaviors a high school student should have as they prepare to enter their freshman year of college. RISD believes college is attainable for all interested students, and the district provides resources and support to help transform a student’s dream of college into a reality.
College Testing
Texas requires students take the TSI-A, SAT or ACT test to determine if they are ready for college before they begin taking any college-level classes. Studies show scores on these tests can improve significantly with practice. There are several tools to help students prepare, including online practice tools and prep programs within the school district.
Register for Testing
College Ready Test Scores
| Subject | TSI-A | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading/Writing/ELAR | The score is higher to or equal to 945 or a diagnostic score equal to or higher than 5 AND an essay score equal to 5 or higher | The score is higher than or equal to 480 on evidenced based reading & writing | Testing administered after February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 or higher is needed on the English and Reading (E+R) tests. Test administered prior to February 15, 2023: English score of 19 or higher with a composite score of 23 or higher. |
| Math | The score is higher to or equal to 950 or a diagnostic score equal to or higher than 6 | The score is higher than or equal to 530 on mathematics | Testing administered after February 15, 2023: a score of 22 or higher is needed on the mathematics test. Test administered prior to February 15, 2023: math score of 19 or higher with a composite score of 23 or higher. |
College Resources
College Planning
College Financial Resources
- 529 College Savings Plan
- FAFSA
- Dallas County Promise
- Income Based Repayment Plan for Federal Loans
- Interactive Savings Plan Calculators
- Scholarship Search
- Simple Tuition
- Student Aid Chart for Undergraduates
- Student College Savings Guide
- Texas Financial Aid Programs (TASFA)
- Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan
CCMR News and Notes Resources
Some documents may contain content that is not accessible to all readers. To obtain assistance accessing these documents, please contact RISD at 469-593-0248.
Administration Dates for PSAT/NMSQT and College Advanced Placement Tests
The PSAT/NMSQT
Registration for the fall 2024 PSAT/NMSQT is open and will close on 8/22/24. For more information about the test and how to register, please visit our PSAT/NMSQT Testing page.
Online Resources
College Advanced Placement Tests
Registration opens 10/23/24. If you are an RISD student, please contact your campus AP Coordinator with registration questions. Homeschool students will register and test at Richardson High School. Please contact the Richardson High School AP Coordinator at Cosondra.Clay@risd.org.