General Information

Who is eligible for Early College?

Every Waiʻanae High School student is eligible to take Early College classes from the Spring of Freshman year through Graduation. 

We are in Year 2 (2026) of a pilot that allows rising freshmen to enroll in IS 103 or IS 115 in the summer prior.

We are in Year 1 (2026-2027) of a pilot that allows freshmen to enroll in 1 course from a specific list of courses during Fall of their freshman year.

To register for ENG 100 or any fully asynchronous course, students must first successfully complete another Early College class with a grade of "C" or better. 

What is the cost of Early College?

Early College classes are free. The school pays for your tuition and books.

• Failure to return books or equipment will result in an obligation to your school account which must be paid prior to graduation

Late Registration Fees apply and are charged by the college. The high school does not have the ability to waive or remove those charges.

Why should I take Early College?

Earning college credits in high school can help with your post-high school plans:

• COLLEGE bound students build confidence in their ability, learn about the systems colleges use to support their students, reduce time to a degree, and save money

• MILITARY bound students enter their career at a higher rank and pay grade

• CAREER bound students build specialized skills and knowledge for career success

Early College is one way to help you qualify for the HONORS RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE

What courses are available?

Every semester is different, we offer 6 - 12 classes each semester for students to choose from that: (1) help students get closer to a college certificate or degree; (2) are interesting for students to learn about, and (3) extend learning beyond what the high school is able to offer in the regular curriculum. Because classes are usually released after the application deadline, we suggest applying for every semester. Applying gives students the option, not obligation, to take a class.

Some courses have no prerequisite requirements, and others require a qualifying score on EdReady. The high school will send the college the student's transcript and any test score that help the student to qualify.

Do credits transfer?

All University of Hawai'i campuses accept credits earned in Early College.

Other colleges and universities have different policies and we cannot guarantee that the credits earned will be accepted.

How do I take a class?

Applications are accepted a semester in advance. Students must complete a UH System Application and Early Admit Application Form to Leeward Community College to be accepted. After acceptance, students must meet with the Early College Counselor or Advisor prior to registering on STAR.

How many classes can I take?

In your first semester, you will take only 1 class to become familiar with the college's systems and supports. After successfully completing that first semester, you can take up to 4 classes each semester, however, enrollment in additional classes may be limited in order to provide access to all students.

• Exception 1: first-time students can take IS 103 or IS 115 paired with another class that is not ENG 100

• Exception 2: Seniors who have never taken an Early College class may take 2 classes in S1 or in the special 8-week session in S2

Why can’t I sign the application on paper?

We require electronic signatures to streamline the application process and prepare students for college. Electronic forms are more secure and prevent lost applications. More importantly, this process helps students and parents become familiar with the digital requirements for college application and the FAFSA, both of which require electronic signatures and a valid email address.

 What should I consider before applying?

Attendance - Each instructor sets their own attendance policy. As a general rule, absences are neither excused nor unexcused. The high school's classification of excused absences (including field trips, school activities, illness) does not apply to Early College classes. It is the student's responsibility to communicate directly with the instructor and to consult the syllabus for information about absences. Parents will not be notified of student absences and attendance is not recorded in Infinite Campus. Early College classes follow the college's schedule, and class may be held on days when the high school is not in session.

Books - Early College students are not charged for using books during the semester. Books that are not returned become an obligation on the student's high school account and must be paid prior to graduation.

Class Cancellation - When Early College classes are cancelled, students and parents must have an alternate plan. The school will not provide alternate learning activities due to class cancellation.

College Instructors - Early College courses are taught by college instructors using the same modalities and pedagogy as if it were on the college campus. This is real-college for students who are ready while in high school.

Dual Credit - Students taking Early College classes earn both college and high school credit for the same work. That is great when a student performs well and earns a high grade, and it can be double trouble when a student performs poorly - negatively impacting both the college and high school GPA.

Financial Aid - Maintaining a college GPA lower than 2.0 or a success rate of less than 66.7% can impact a student's financial aid eligibility when transitioning to college after high school. Additionally, the number of credits taken while in high school can impact the financial aid remaining to complete a degree after high school.

Grading - Instructors grade according to the rubric provided in the course syllabus. This may differ greatly from the practices that high school teachers use to grade.

Modality - Early College classes are offered in a variety of modalities including in-person, online synchronous, online asynchronous, and hybrid. Most courses include some asynchronous work so that students become familiar using the online learning system, Lamakū. It is recommended for students to take an in-person, online synchronous, or hybrid class prior to taking an online asynchronous class to ensure they are familiar with the online learning system. The pass rate for online asynchronous courses is significantly lower than all other modalities.

Modified Schedule - Juniors and Seniors who are on-track to graduate may apply for a modified schedule to take Early College classes during the school day. Early College classes are offered at PD4. Students without a class must exit the campus until their next class starts.

Overlapping Classes - Students are not allowed to be enrolled in more than 1 credit bearing class at the same time. This applies to both college and high school classes.

Permanent Record - Students in Early College are starting their permanent college record. 

Progress Monitoring - Students have access to their grade in Lamakū and are encouraged to keep in regular communication with their instructor. The high school does not have access to student progress as we do for high school classes. FERPA regulates the instructor's ability to communicate directly with parents.

Self-Motivated - Successful Early College students are self-motivated and active learners. It is the student's responsibility to check both their high school and college email accounts daily as official information will come from both institutions.

Technology - All classes require work outside of class. Students have access computers on the school campus to complete their assignments. Students who will be working on assignments at home must have a computer with internet access to use the University of Hawai'i learning system. LCC-WM has a limited number of computers to lend each semester.

Weighted Courses - Not all courses are weighted. Weighted courses earn: 5.0 for an A, 4.0 for a B, 3.0 for a C, and 2.0 for a D. Non-weighted courses earn regular grade points: 4.0 for a A, 3.0 for a B, 2.0 for a C and 1.0 for a D. All courses in which a student receives an F are counted as 0.

How do I access my class(es)?

Go to lamaku.hawaii.edu and use your UH Username (without the @hawaii.edu) and Password to login.

RESOURCES

Need help?

Ignoring the problem or not showing up will not make it go away. If you need help in your Early College course, contact a counselor:

WHS/EC Counselor, Mr. Lau in the College Counseling Center • text/call 808.388.8892 • email elten.lau@k12.hi.us

WHS/EC Advisor, Mr. Oʻconnor in the College Counseling Center • email m.oconnor@seariders.k12.hi.seariders.k12.hi.us

LCC Counselor, Kumu Christopher "Poki" Pokipala at LCC-Waiʻanae Moku • call 808.454.4706 • email cp2@hawaii.edu • schedule an appointment using STAR BALANCE