Running Start Option:
Is this the right Program for
Me?
What is Running Start?
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 Running start is a program offered for high school juniors
and seniors to attend college courses and earn college
credit while still in high school. The credits you earn apply
toward your high school diploma as well as your two-year or
four-year degree.
 The classes offered are tuition free. Books, supplies, lab
fees, and transportation are the responsibility of the
student. The average cost for books is $250.00 per quarter.
 Credits from the community college are transferable to all
other Washington State public 2-year or 4-year colleges
and universities. Transfers to private and out-of-state
colleges cannot be guaranteed.
College Credit… already?
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 A great way to stay connected to the high
school and take advantage of earning college
credit is to combine our college in the high
school classes with running start.
 This works the best with Olympic College
because of proximity, but can be worked out
with SPSCC.
 SPSCC is a great way for students to start to
branch out of Shelton and find even more
autonomy.
Tech Prep
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 Career and Technical Classes
 Examples:
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Computer Applications
American Sign Language
Drafting classes
Automotive classes
Engineering
Many others
Considerations
 STRENGTHS:

 Students may take courses not offered at their local
high school.
 Students experience college education while in high
school. This makes the transition to leaving home for a
college/university an easier one.
 Academically qualified students may take advanced level
courses.
 Students can earn up to two years of tuition-free
college credit, getting a head start at college.
 LIMITATIONS:
 Parents must take into consideration their student’s maturity level.
Students will be in college classes and treated like college students.
They will be completely responsible for themselves.

 Scheduling of college classes may conflict with high school classes
or extracurricular activities.
 Vacation periods will be different.
 The high school is the final authority on what is required for
graduation. Students must work with their counselor to ensure
graduation requirements are met, including the High School and
Beyond Plan and the testing requirements .
 College grades may be lower than those received in high school and
could affect scholarship eligibility and acceptance into universities.
However, most colleges give precedence to students taking more
challenging classes.
Running Start Grading Policies
The classes taken through Running Start will count as high school and
college credit. The grade will be included on both high school and
college transcripts.
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The grading policy for each college can be found in the college catalog.
A copy of the student’s grades will be sent to the high school at the
end of each quarter.
The release of information policy is explained in the college catalog.
Information will only be disclosed by the college to parents with
written consent by the student. The high school will inform parents
of their student’s grades if their student is failing or on probation
when that information is received.
When a student receives an “Incomplete” from a college class, it
becomes the full responsibility of the student to complete the work
and arrange to have an official transcript sent to the high school
when a grade has been earned. An incomplete that is not amended
will result in a failing grade on the student’s transcript.
Admissions Process

 Take and pass the Accuplacer placement test. (Olympic College
students must have a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA)
 Consult with high school counselor to coordinate classes and
make sure graduation requirements are being met.
 Follow college registration timelines when turning in paperwork.
Attend any college orientations offered.
 Remember, only college level courses (100 or higher) will be
available under the Running Start program. Classes below 100
level must be paid for by the student
When we talk as a family,
what if we don’t agree?
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 Sometimes the student wants RST and the family is
hesitant.
 Sometimes the family wants RST and the student is
hesitant.
This very real conflict has very real consequences both
academic, financial, and personal. Do your best to come
to a mutual decision that you all support before making
this commitment.
Attendance

All students are expected to be in
attendance at all college classes. Though
college faculty may or may not take
attendance, it is the student’s
responsibility to be prepared and meet all
deadlines each day.
Students attending Shelton High School
part time are expected to meet Shelton
High School’s attendance requirements.
CREDIT EQUIVALENCIES
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Any student satisfactorily completing college level courses
shall receive high school credit upon receipt of an official
transcript from the college. Credit equivalencies will be as
follows:
 Five (5) college credits equal one (1) high school credit.
 Three (3) college credit equal one half (0.5) high school
credit.
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Whatever grade the student receives for a college class
will be part of the high school transcript and, as such, will
impact the grade point average (G.P.A.). Students who
withdraw from community college classes must wait until
the following high school semester and return to SHS.
Academic Standards

Both community colleges have academic
standing requirements that a student must
meet. Failure to maintain sufficient G.P.A. will
result in probation and eventual dismissal.
Each college catalog outlines that schools’
specific expectations. Remember, getting
behind while at the college effects your
credit accrual at SHS too. It can have a large
impact!
Enrollment Ratio
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 Three (3) 5-credit classes = full time at college
 Two (2) 5-credit classes + two (2) SHS classes
 One (1) 5-credit class + four (4) high school classes
Students must be full time either at the high school,
community college, or a combination. Students may be
full time Running Start and take classes at the high
school, or vice versa, but should carefully weigh the
advisability of taking on too much.
The high school will not pay for classes audited at the
college and students that overenroll are responsible
for their fees at the college.
Sports Eligibility
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The Running Start student may be eligible to participate in sports
providing the student is in compliance with all eligibility rules required
of other students.
The RS student would be eligible at SHS provided the student:
 Has not graduated
 Is attending either SHS or a community college equivalent to a full
time student.
 Has enrolled in Running Start by procedures of SHS.
Sports Eligibility Cont.
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The RS student will be ineligible if the student:
 Is not enrolled as a full time student between SHS and the
community college.
 Does not maintain passing grades in all classes (including CSI) and
an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 from previous grading period.
 Fails to attend RS classes “regularly” (defined as 5/6 of the time)
 Fails to attend practices and contests as required by the WIAA.
 Does not comply with the graduation requirements including
attending and passing their CSI class.
Students need to be aware that failing, vacating, or withdrawing from
a five (5) credit course at the college may make that student
ineligible for athletics.
Students must be attending classes with the possibility of earning
credit in order to retain athletic eligibility. Students auditing
classes are ineligible.
C.S.I.
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SHS Classroom Option:
Continue to be required to meet the expectations of CSI.
You are welcome to maintain your SHS CSI class, and will
need to attend regularly.
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College Option:
Olympic College has GEN-S 130&140 as correlates for
our CSI requirements. If you are an OC student, your
options are a SHS class or the OC courses.
SPSCC also has HDEV 107 as a correlate, so if you are an
SPSCC student, this is your college option.
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ALL STUDENTS will present your final presentation at SHS. In your presentation
will be a continued, updated High School and Beyond plan and presentation of the
course correlates of the culmination project.
All students are welcome to submit scholarship portfolios that will be formatted
consistently with the other SHS students. YOU are responsible to communicate with
Carol English about your intentions regarding scholarships.
Next Steps
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 Discuss the pros and cons of the program for you
 Register with your CSI teacher with 12 classes AND RST
 Register with the college of your choice
 Take the Accuplacer
 Bring your scores to your SHS counselor
 Complete an Advising Tool with your counselor and family
 Complete your RSEVF for with your counselor then college