Dual Credit Options

💡 What Is Dual Credit?

Dual Credit allows students to earn both high school and college credit for the same class. These credits are recorded on official college transcripts and are transferable to many institutions. It is treated the same as if the student had earned the credit directly on a college campus.

👥 Who Can Participate?

All students are eligible!

💰 Tuition Savings

- One 5-credit college course = $660 saved!

- Students earning an AA Degree at CHS can save over $11,000!

Types of Dual Credit?

Dual Credit refers to any time a student earns both high school and college credit for the same class. There are three different kinds of Dual Credit programs at Columbia High School:
1) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Dual Credit
2) College in the High School
3) Running Start

Often, CTE Dual Credit courses are the first college courses that students take.

There are several reasons for this:

CTE Dual Credit requires that students earn a “B” or better in the course for it to be counted on the college transcript. This can help protect students from starting their college transcript with a poor grade.
Many of the CTE Dual Credit classes are introductory courses that do not have prerequisite requirements. This allows all students in grades 9-12 to enroll.
Taking CTE courses also helps meet CHS graduation requirements.
Some College in the High School courses are open to all students in grades 9-12; however, others have pre-requisites that limit enrollment to grades 10-12, or 11-12.

College Transcripts

When a student earns credit through any of the Dual Credit programs, they are establishing credit on a college transcript.

For example, if a student takes Literature at CHS, they will receive a grade on their CHS transcript for that class. They will also receive a grade on a Eastern Washington University transcript for English 170.

Since CHS partners with multiple colleges, it is very possible for one student to have as many as three different college transcripts at the end of their high school career. Specifically, a student may have transcripts from:

Eastern Washington University
Walla Walla Community College
Columbia Basin Community College

Available Dual Credit through College in the Classroom at Columbia High School

College in the Classroom

College in the High School

Our district partners with Eastern Washington University & Walla Walla Community College to bring this program to our high school campus. It enables high school students to remain on the high school campus and receive dual credit for a variety of courses.

College in the High School (CiHS) Programs offer high school students in the Columbia School District the opportunity to take rigorous college courses on high school campuses. These courses are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors while still attending high school.

High school students enrolled in CiHS are officially enrolled in the university and must meet college specific course requirements and prerequisites. All students interested in these courses must meet the prerequisite requirements (which may include taking a placement test). Students who choose to enroll in these courses will become aware of university course work expectations and may be better prepared for college when they graduate from high school.

These courses are taught by qualifying high school teachers who work closely with university faculty mentors to ensure that the work the students perform in the high school course is equivalent to a similar course taught on university campus. Students can earn college credit and fulfill high school graduation requirements at the same time.

Through CiHS, students will begin building an official college transcript. Therefore, if students do well in the courses, they will build a transcript with a good grade point average. However, if students do poorly in their courses, it will be reflected on their transcript. A student’s college grade point average can and probably will be different from their high school grade point average. University deadlines for registration, dropping a course, and withdrawing from a course are nonnegotiable. College credit earned may count as elective or academic credit depending on the receiving colleges' transfer credit policies.

There is no charge for College in the High School classes. Since the classes are held at Columbia High School, there are no transportation fees and textbooks are provided.

Eastern Washington University

Walla Walla Community College

Columbia Basin Community College

Running Start

Running Start is a program that enables high school students to attend Columbia Basin College (CBC) and earn both High School and CBC credits. If students are eligible, the Columbia District pays the tuition. Students are responsible for their own transportation, college fees, books, and classroom materials.

There are some fee waivers available for eligible students.

Transportation Reimbursements: https://www.columbiabasin.edu/i-am/current-hawk/student-resources/money-for-you/index.html

Book Assistance Program:

There is a Book Assistance Program at CBC that covers books over $25. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher and return Books each quarter to continue eligibility. To apply for the Book Assistance Program each semester, email runningstart@columbiabasin.edu.

Students must complete all high school graduation requirements by the end of winter quarter prior to high school graduation in order to participate in the high school graduation ceremony. Students must see their high school counselor for information. Numerical grades given at CBC will be converted to letter grades based on the state grading system for high school students.

The typical process has the following steps:

1. Take and pass the Placement Test or submit other entrance scores

2. Fill out the CBC Running Start Application

3. Receive Acceptance letter (late April-May)

4. Review Credits with CHS Counselor (schedule an appointment)

5. Attend a CBC New Student Information Session (these are scheduled throughout the Spring)

6. Go over classes/degrees with a CBC Completion Coach

7. Pre fill the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) with recommendation from CBC completion coach, obtain parent signature

8. Schedule an appointment with your CHS counselor

9. Finish filling out the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form with your counselor, who will then submit the EVF to CBC.

10. Register for classes on your registration date

All these steps must be completed before students go on summer break. Appointments to fill out the Running Start Enrollment Verification form with CHS counselors will not be made during summer break. Please don't wait until the last minute to complete this process. It is important that you work on the process in a timely manner. The entire process may take 1-3 weeks to complete so careful planning is important.

CTE Dual Credit

CTE Dual Credit is a statewide dual-credit program which allows high school students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Students must earn the minimum grade required according to the Community College for which the CTE course is articulated. Check with your CTE teacher for updates, information, and deadlines.

Students register for CTE Dual Credit in the classroom with their teacher.

There is no cost to students and parents!

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