Running Start and
Early College
Earn dual high school and college credits by attending a college class on a college campus (Running Start) or on a high school campus (Early College) while still enrolled in high school.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Running Start is a statewide dual-credit program that provides an opportunity for eligible high school students to enroll in college classes on the University of Hawaii system campuses as part of their high school coursework.
Early College is a dual-credit program that provides an opportunity for eligible high school students to enroll in college classes through the UH system campuses and students attend the college classes on the high school campus.
The unique partnership between HIDOE and the University of Hawaii System allows public high school students to attend college classes during the fall, spring, and summer while earning high school and college credits. The college credits earned by students are accepted at all University of Hawaii system campuses. Students who plan to attend private or Mainland universities after high school graduation need to check with each individual institution regarding their acceptance of credit from concurrent enrollment programs such as Running Start and Early College.
RUNNING START DEADLINES
2023 Spring Courses
Friday, March 31, 2023
2023 Fall Courses
Friday, April 21, 2023
*UH West Oahu Early Admission: If you miss the deadlines listed above, UHWO offers Running Start through their Early Admissions program at later dates. Public High Schools are not necessarily open during these later deadlines so students must apply on their own and obtain the necessary paperwork and signatures. School personnel can sometimes be located during non school calendar dates with help from the front office of public high schools. See UHWO website for details.
EARLY COLLEGE DEADLINES
2022 Fall Courses
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Registration for Early College happens along with regular school registration for the following school year.
LEILEHUA HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS
Be in the Sophomore, Junior or Senior year of high school while taking Early College courses
Be in the Junior or Senior year of high school while taking Running Start courses
Meet the State Qualifications below
STATE QUALIFICATIONS
Any public high school or charter school student within the state of Hawaii who:
Is under the age of 21 as of September 1st of the school year in which the college course is taken
Fulfills and complies with college campus requirements such as:
Admission forms
Meeting admission requirements
Satisfactory scores on appropriate Math and English placement tests
TB and MMR immunization requirements
Payment of college tuition and fees
Maintenance of acceptable academic standing
Information provided above is from the Hawaii DOE and Hawaii P20 websites.
HOW TO APPLY
Meet with your Grade Level Counselor
Review progress towards graduation
Understand what credits are required for graduation
Obtain an unofficial transcript
Complete Dual Credit Application online, print it, and sign it (student and parent)
Submit it to the Early College Coordinator
Counselor and Principal will sign after you submit it with student and parent signature
Complete the University of Hawaii (UH) System Application online, print confirmation page, attach it to your signed Dual Credit Application
On the UH System Application for Planned Course of Study (Item 7)
Leeward Community College (LCC) select "Running Start"
University of Hawaii West Oahu (UHWO) select "Non-Degree Seeking Student"
Submit it to the Early College Coordinator
Complete the LCC or UWHO Health Clearance Forms with proof of TB test and immunizations
TB test must be within one year of the first day of class
Attaching TB card or shot record is okay, BUT you must complete your student information on the top of the form and then attach
Submit it to the Early College Coordinator
(UHWO only) Submit a transcript request form in the LHS Registrar's Office
There is a $2.00 fee
No transcript needed for LCC
You will receive an acceptance letter directly from the college you have applied
It may be an email or hard copy
Follow the steps on your acceptance letter from the college to complete enrollment
If you have applied for the Gear Up Scholarship then you will receive a letter of notification from Gear Up
Follow the steps needed by the Gear Up grant for your scholarship
Bring your acceptance letter to the Early College Coordinator and confirm you have completed the steps or get help if you need it
One of the enrollment requirements is to take a placement test called the Accuplacer
You must schedule this with the college and the results are used to place you into courses in the college