High school perspective

Advantages

• Tuition-free college credits
• Opportunity to experience college environment
• Expanded course offerings, allows for exploration, more world language options, and chance to go further in certain content areas
• Potential to earn more credits during a school year; potential positive impact on GPA
• Fewer classes to manage at a time, depending on schedule = more time to get work done, more flexibility for daily schedule and outside commitments (job, appointments, other commitments)

Potential concerns

• No access to monitor academic progress for school counselor and parent until final grades posted
• Not a good fit for all students
• Schedule complications with high school semesters vs. college quarters and fitting courses with high school offerings, and a different spring break calendar
• Potential negative impact on GPA since each class is worth more credit than HS course
• Some colleges might prefer to see AP over RS courses

What is Running Start?

• Dual-enrollment program created in 1990 by WA State
• Juniors/seniors earn high school and college credit
• Free/reduced cost tuition up to 21 credits per quarter

Who can be in Running Start?

• WA State public high school juniors and seniors
• Must place into college-level English or math

What Support is Available?

• Disability Services
• Tutoring
• Academic Counseling
• Student Leadership

Ideal Students

• Have good time-management skills
• Are seeking challenging curriculum
• Prefer college campus
• Ready for independence

Fall 2024
622 students

68% part-time
32% full-time

Cumulative GPA (fall ‘24)
89% – 2.0 or above
77% – 3.0 or above
64% – 3.5 or above

32 students completed associates degrees

• Save ~$650 for one college class!
• Earn an associate’s degree and high school diploma through NSC
• Prepare for your major early
• Gain experience on a college campus
• Stay involved with high school while in Running Start (sports, prom, clubs, etc.)

Up to 21 credits of tuition free (15 credits would be considered full time), however you are responsible for some expenses:

• Class fees: $25 – $200 per quarter
• Books & Supplies: $50-$400 per quarter
• Transportation: Parking pass $50 per quarter

Students who qualify for free and reduced lunch at the high school are eligible for:

• Most class fees waived
• Borrow textbooks through Running Start office
• Laptop rental (limited numbers)

Classes

• Part-time or full-time
• Covers courses 100-level and above
• Complete high school requirements
• Explore new subjects

Credits

• 5 college credits (1 quarter)
• 1 high school credit (1 year)
• 1 class hour = 2 hours of study time outside of class

Timing

• Primarily morning and evening classes
• Limited afternoon classes
• Different class formats:
• in-person, online, and virtual

• Quarter vs. Semester system
• 11 weeks long (summer is 8 weeks)
• Breaks may not align with high school (no mid-winter break)
• Can join Running Start any quarter

Eligibility:

• Rising juniors (current 10th graders) eligible for 10 credits
• Rising seniors (current 11th graders) eligible for 10 credits if not previously enrolled in Running Start

Considerations:

• 8 weeks instead of 11 weeks
• No high school support
• Quarter typically runs late-June to mid-August
• Smaller college community Requires separate Summer enrollment form (EVF)

High School Counselor

• High schools have specific application requirements for Running Start students
• Meet every quarter before NSC Registration
• Understand high school  graduation requirements
• Any other high school requirements

Running Start Advisor

• Processes application
• Assists with quarterly registration and educational planning
• Monitors quarterly academic progress
• Connects students to campus resources

Running Start

• Classes taken in 11 weeks
• Earn a grade at end of the quarter and receive college credit
• Start your permanent college transcript

AP/IB

• Classes taken for an entire academic year
• Must take the AP/IB exam at end of year
• AP/IB scores only count as college credit if high enough

• Apply as a first-year/freshman
• Still required to take SAT/ACT as applicable
• Pay for NSC transcript to be sent to colleges
• Check with out-of-state schools regarding college credit
• Continue at NSC to complete an associate’s degree/career training program

• You will have access to Running Start grades at the end of the quarter via high school transcript
• Grades are not mailed home
• College staff cannot share information about the student with parents or guardians unless a consent to release confidential information form is on-file.

• Steps to enroll at North Seattle College
• Determine placement
• Meet with your high school Counselor
• Submit Running Start Enrollment Packet

Next Steps for the High School side

Please read carefully!

Before scheduling a meeting with your school counselor to make a plan and complete the RSEVF for the Running Start Enrollment Packet, you must complete the following steps:

• Visit the Running Start page for the college you plan to attend
• From the “Get Started” page, scroll down to the numbered “Steps to Enroll”
• Complete Steps 1 and 2
  • If you are a junior and have met standard on the SBA exams, you may use these for eligibility
  • Sophomores and students who don’t have other ways to show eligibility should take one or both self-assessments to show eligibility to enroll
• Start Step 3
  • Once you have completed all the forms except for the RSEVF, you may schedule an appointment with your counselor

• New student registration begins: May 27
• Summer Quarter begins: July 7
• Mandatory new student orientation: Early Sept.
• Fall Quarter begins: September 29

*Applications will be accepted through the first day of the quarter, however class selection will be limited

• Student population: ~6,200 students
• Transfer degrees, career training programs, Bachelor’s of Applied Science programs
• Average age: 32
• Majority of students are part-time
• No specific Running Start classes