Running Start

Counselors will be available to complete Running Start enrollment when we return to work at the end of August.

What is Running Start?

Running Start is a program in which juniors and seniors who qualify may enroll in college level courses at Bellevue College, CWU Sammamish, or Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LW Tech) and earn high school and college credit concurrently. Lake Washington School District pays the college tuition for up to 21 credits per quarter and offers the opportunity for students to be either part- or full-time students at Eastlake and the school of choice. For more detailed information about the program, cost, process, please review the Running Start Agreement.

EHS counselors will start meeting with students after March 29th. Please review information on this page and start the enrollment process with your college before reaching out to your counselor.

A few important things to note:

It is the student’s responsibility to drive the enrollment process. College is an adult environment where students are expected to engage in the community in a positive, mature and independent manner. Both the high school and the colleges expect that students are able to
Parents: We have been asked to remind you that FERPA laws are followed at the college level. College faculty are NOT allowed to communicate with anyone but the student about the students academic progress. Please do not contact them for any reason.
EHS counselors are here to make sure you complete your high school requirements and sign the RSEVF. Students will communicate with the college advisor to register for classes or any other additional questions.

This website reviews possible Running Start programs in the community, the presentation that was given middle of February, resources related to EHS and FAQ for all things related to Running Start.

Step 1: Research
Research your options, review the Eastlake presentation and attend an Eastlake information session. Select your Running Start program and start enrollment process directly through the school.

View EHS Presentation HERE

Step 2: Enroll
Complete the enrollment and placement process for your chosen college. See Local Running Start Programs and Registration Dates for information about each colleges requirements and process

Step 3: Complete the RSEVF and initial intake meeting with EHS Counselor

Review Eastlake High School Running Start Agreement and expectations
Review course equivalency chart for remaining graduation credits.
Complete the RSEVF (see NEW and CURRENT student instructions)

Please fill out the form for your specific counselor to complete the RSEVF

Schwarz (A-CARK) RSEVF Link HERE

Hinn (CARL-DQ) RSEVF Link HERE

Olson (DR-HEV) RSEVF Link HERE

Cook (HEW-LAK) RSEVF Link HERE

Yonago (LAL-NAQ) RSEVF Link HERE

Bailey (NAR-PIO) RSEVF Link HERE

Beresford (PIP-SAG) RSEVF Link HERE

Miller (SAH-THD) RSEVF Link HERE

Owen-Clifford (THE-Z) RSEVF Link HERE

Completing the RSEVF

Returning Running Start Students:

The process to complete your RSEVF form for fall quarter has changed and no longer requires an in-person meeting. Please follow these instructions to guarantee swift and quick return of your completed .

Download and complete the RSEVF.
Review your outstanding graduation requirements and select courses that meet those requirements, using the course equivalency chart.
Fill out the Microsoft form for your counselor (links listed on this page), which includes attaching your RSEVF.
Your counselor will return your completed RSEVF within 2-3 school days of receiving it, then it is your responsibility to submit it to the college and completing enrollment.

The window to submit the form for Fall 2024 is April 1 through June 2. Counselors will not process forms over the summer break.

New Running Start Students for the 2024-2025 School Year:

First step is to complete enrollment in a Running Start Program. Counselors are meeting with students once they get to that step of the process, not prior to registration at a school. If you have any questions, please review the presentation and the Running Start page for some of the frequently asked questions.

Once you are ready to meet with your counselor…

Review the Running Start Agreement and prior to the meeting.
Print the RSEVF. Review, complete the top portion, get a parent signature.
Email your counselor to set up an intake meeting!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Running Start Presentation HERE

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

Local Running Start Programs

Below are local programs EHS students frequent, but LWSD students are eligible to participate in any Running Start program. Please contact your counselor if there is a different program you wish to enroll in.

Bellevue College

Phone: 425.564.2026
Email: hsprograms@bellevuecollege.edu
BC Info Session Information

Cascadia College
Phone: 425.352.8146
Email: runningstart@cascadia.edu

Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Phone: 425.739.8336
Email: Running.Start@lwtech.edu

CWU Sammamish
Phone: 509.963.1351
Email: RunningStart3@cwu.edu

Academic Skills

Academic traits necessary for success in college classes include highly organized self-management, proactive problem-solving, and self-advocating skills. Solid study habits, excellent test-taking and preparation skills, strong communication in written format under time constraints, and the ability to comfortably interact with adults are a must. Personal motivation for academic success and ability to get help when needed on your own are important.

Remember that you are entering a collegiate learning environment, a high-stakes test/essay performance-driven grading system, where only a handful of major tests/papers/projects will constitute your entire grade. Classroom participation and homework assignments represent a small portion of the overall grade if at all, but must be done to prepare for assessments

Personal Readiness

Personal Readiness:
A high level of maturity and goal-oriented academic motivation will bring success. In addition to deciding if your academic skill is a good fit to begin college early through the Running Start system, you must make a purely personal decision about how moving to a collegiate setting might change your high school experience and how your future college experience will be impacted by starting early. Running Start represents a significant environmental change. For students who thoroughly enjoy and are very involved in the traditional high school experience, this may be a painful shift that represents a loss. For students who feel they emotionally have grown past the high school social scene, who seek a more mature multi-generational environment, this can be a very positive change.
Do you love the traditional high school environment, or do you want an entirely different experience in an adult setting (average age at BC being 30 years old)? The average college student has a job, a busy day outside of school, and generally isn't seeking social interaction primarily with teens. At community college, you will be treated like an adult, and receive no special treatment or flexibility due to your Running Start designation. Be prepared to work hard and grow as a student, and to have to learn new strategies to succeed in a collegiate environment. You own the outcome, and parents cannot problem-solve on your behalf. Parents must trust that you can manage your education independently. You will start a permanent college-level transcript, which will impact your future plans and higher-level college prospects.

AP versus Running Start

Parents

Please note that while Running Start can be an excellent opportunity for the right student, it can represent a serious risk for others. College instructors do not notify parents or high schools when a student is failing or not attending class. College instructors do not inform parents or the high school of student progress in college courses or whether a student has dropped the class. Poor performance in Running Start can result in significant loss of credit, permanent harm both high school and college transcripts, and dismissal from the Running Start program.

Transferring College Credit

Community college credits earned through Running Start are not guaranteed to apply to EVERY four-year college later. Transfer of credits depends on the four-year college you choose to attend. In-state public colleges are a part of the same higher education system as the community colleges, and have transfer credit guidelines established and posted for you to review.

Some private colleges and other states' public colleges will accept Running Start credit, and others will not -- the only way to know is to consult with each college of interest to you. Highly selective four-year colleges are much less likely to accept community college credits and generally prefer that a student stays in high school and takes AP classes and takes the AP exams for potential college.

EHS is a Closed Campus

Students are not permitted on campus during the school day when they do not have a class scheduled, unless they have an appointment with a school official. This is to ensure that we can account for all students on campus in case of an emergency. Students with a part-time Running Start schedule may not arrive at EHS early and spend time in the Commons or Library doing homework, for example.

Running Start FAQ's

I am not doing well in my current EHS classes. Is Running Start for me?

If I don't like Running Start or am not doing well, can I come back to EHS mid year?

Can I start Running Start at any quarter?

Will my EHS Counselor help me register for my college classes?

Is Running Start for me if I don't know what I may want to major in, or even go to college?

What is the difference between being a Running Start student vs a normal high school student?

I am a current 9th or 10th grader and I want to prepare to do Running Start. What should I do?

If I am a current 10th grader planning on doing Running Start in 11th grade, can I start taking classes summer before 11th grade?

Are parents allowed to contact professors or access my Running Start grades?

No. As a Running Start student, the college you attend will treat you as a college student which means they do not meet with or email with parents. The college has asked high schools to share the following guidelines regarding instructor-parent communication:

Instructors and other college staff cannot communicate with parents about a student’s educational records in person, via email, or by phone.
Grade appeals and student complaints must be handled by the student and communicated by the student to the instructor, department chair, or dean.
Parents should not come to the instructor’s classroom or office in hopes of discussing a student’s work.

Running Start and Participating in Eastlake Athletics

Yes, you can but you need to make sure you communicate with Mrs. Hill in the Athletics office. Running Start is on a different academic calendar than LWSD.

Prior to your season you will need to complete the WIAA Running Start contract and provide grades on grade check dates.

See the How to Register for a Sport page on the Eastlake website here for specific directions for Running Start students on completing the contract.

All communication will take place in person with Mrs. Hill or through your LWSD email account so please check your email!

How do I meet my high school graduation requirements?

Can my EHS counselor help with academic planning if I want to earn my AA degree while doing Running Start?

How do Running Start credits transfer to college?

College credits earned through Running Start are not guaranteed to apply to EVERY four-year college. Transfer of credits depends on the college you choose to attend. In-state public colleges are a part of the same higher education system as the running start campuses and have transfer credit guidelines established and posted for you to review. Some private colleges and out of state public colleges will accept Running Start credits as transfer credits, and others will not. The only way to know is to consult with each college of interest to you.

Do my grades at Running Start affect my GPA at Eastlake High School?

How many credits can/should I take?

Washington state law dictates that students must meet a certain number of total classes across educational opportunities to meet overall "full-time student" status. Additionally, WA state law sets a cap for total number of credits that can be taken tuition-free through Running Start (incorporating any EHS classes into this equation). Counselors can provide more specific details, but generally speaking a full-time Running Start student will take 15
college credits each quarter (equivalent to 3.0 HS credits). Part-time Running Start students generally take either 2 classes at EHS and 2 at BC each quarter (2x2), though other options do exist. Consult your counselor for more specific information.

Can I take Algebra 2 through Running Start?

College-level math starts above the Algebra 2 level, usually at Pre-Calculus. Running Start funds can only be used for college-level classes (those with a course code at the 100 level or above). Courses numbered below the 100 level represent high school level classes, and students are expected to take these courses at high school. While we recommend against it, students can opt to take Algebra 2 equivalent classes (in the 90-level) as "enrichment students," which means the family pays tuition and can involve a separate application. For courses below the 100 level, the credit value at high school is reduced. Where a 5-credit class at the 100-level or above equates to 1.0 high school credit, a course below the 100 level equates to a 0.5 semester credit on the high school transcript.