External Credit Application Instructions
External Credit Application Request Form

Students seeking to add transfer or external credits from other institutions from the summer must have completed an External Credit Form prior to the summer. This approved form must be signed off on by the Instructional Director of the Department and the Director of Student Services. Turning a form in after the course has been taken does not ensure approval or credit to the transcript. Credits are not accepted nor will appear on the LFHS transcript from students entering as the Class of 2015. External credits can be applied for once a student has successfully enrolled at the high school. See your counselor for more information once school has started upon their return in August.

General Guidelines

Lake Forest High School reserves the sole right to grant credit for work completed at or through other institutions.  These guidelines apply to any academic work to be completed outside LFHS including, but not limited to, summer school at another high school, college level courses, correspondence courses, and special summer programs, institutes, and seminars offered by colleges and universities.  Once a student has enrolled at Lake Forest High School, courses to meet graduation requirements are to be taken at the high school. With the PRIOR written approval of the Director of Counseling and the appropriate department administrator, exceptions may be granted.  Approved external credit (taken at the student’s request) will be listed on the Lake Forest High School transcript with the grade received and a notation regarding the source of the credit. Grades for courses taken outside Lake Forest High School will not be included in the GPA. The GPA will reflect work done at LFHS only.  The costs (tuition, instructional or testing materials, proctoring of examinations, etc.) associated with the class that the student elects to take outside of Lake Forest High School is the responsibility of the student and/or his or her family.  

Acceptance of credit for work submitted post hoc without prior written approval by Lake
Forest High School cannot be guaranteed.  Procedure for Approval of External Credit
Prior to taking the course:

1. The student completes and submits “External Credit Application” to the Director of Counseling.

2. The student attaches course description and/or syllabus (preferred) to application as well as a statement explaining the reasons for taking the course outside of Lake Forest High School.

3. The application is then reviewed by the appropriate department administrator and the Director of Counseling and is approved or disapproved.

4. A copy of the approved/disapproved application is transmitted to the student, his/her counselor to place in student’s cumulative folder, and the Registrar.

5. The student may appeal a denial of his/her application for external credit to the Principal.

When the student completes the previously approved external course, he/she will have an official copy of the transcript sent to the Registrar at LFHS to have the credit posted to his/her transcript.  Again, please note that approval of requests for credit for external work that has not been approved in advance through this process is not guaranteed.