Course and Credit Options

Two-for-one Crediting Options

Certain courses, when approved, can be applied as a two-for-one credit. This enables students to earn one credit but satisfy two graduation requirements when taking a class that meets the core standards for both content areas. For example, a student who takes 3-D Commercial Sculpture will earn a .5 credit for Art, while also satisfying the Career and Technical requirement for graduation. Students must still earn the minimum number of credits overall as determined for the Tahoma High School Diploma.

Please note that the two-for-one credit option MIGHT NOT APPLY FOR MEETING MINIMUM CORE REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGES (CADR). In other words, while a student may take a course and have it meet requirements for high school graduation purposes, it may or may not meet minimum requirements for college entrance purposes. Students are responsible for checking college entrance requirements by referring to the admissions requirements for each of the schools they hope to attend. The following courses have been approved to meet equivalency credit. Specific details will be in the course description sections of the course guide.

COLLEGE CREDIT OPTIONS 

Tahoma High School provides a variety of options for students who are planning to attend a college or university. In addition to the college preparatory curriculum we offer, students can participate in classes that earn Tahoma High graduation credit and college credit (or the potential for college credit) through the following programs: 

Advanced Placement Program

The internationally recognized AP program is a program administered by the College Board with the purpose of exposing high school students to college-level coursework while still in high school. Students earning at least a 3 (on a five-point scale) on the subject exam generally earn college credit, placement, or a waiver of required courses; however, some colleges and universities require a minimum score of 4. Students should confirm with prospective colleges as to how they give credit for AP, since their policies vary. Students receive their test results in July. While AP classes are not required prior to taking the optional AP test, the courses help to better prepare students for the tests and for college coursework. Coursework in an AP class is completely separate from achievement on the AP exam, and students' grades are not determined by their performance on the exam. 

The AP courses offered at THS, depending on enrollment, are: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP European History, AP Government & Politics, AP Government & Politics (We the People), AP Physics C-Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP 2D Art, AP Art Digital, AP Drawing, AP 3D Art & Design, AP United States History, and AP Human Geography. Additional, detailed information about the AP program can be found at - apcentral.collegeboard.com. 

AP courses are recommended for students who are self-directed and committed students.  Advanced Placement courses require more homework and are more challenging; thus, students should plan carefully before enrolling in multiple AP/College in the High School classes at a time. Since teaching schedules are created from student requests, students will not be allowed to drop any semester or year-long AP courses. If summer assignments are part of the course, they will need to be completed prior to the beginning of the school year. If students elect to take an AP exam and potentially earn college credit, they must pay an exam fee (unless on free/reduced lunch). For students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, the exam fee is waived. Other funding may also be available for those in financial need; student should contact Joscelyn Strasser, AP Coordinator jstrasse@tahomasd.us if finances are an issue. 

As noted on the CollegeBoard’s website, AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from College Board based on two year long AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who are motivated and prepared for college-level coursework are best suited for the program. The program also benefits those students who may have an interest in or show potential for AP coursework but have not yet enrolled in AP courses. Students should demonstrate curiosity about real-world issues, a willingness to take intellectual risks, and a dedication to acquiring the skills that colleges and universities value—critical inquiry, analysis, and research.

Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing receive the AP Capstone Diploma™. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.

College in the High School Program

Tahoma High School offers courses on the THS campus in which students may earn both high school and college credit through University of Washington, Central Washington University, and/or Eastern Washington University. These classes follow the same curriculum, use the same grading scale, and have the same expectations as the courses on the college campuses. 

Students taking these courses earn high school credit and a letter grade. Students may also earn college credit by registering with the host university and successfully completing the course. Grade requirements are determined by each university. Registering for the college credit automatically starts an official college transcript. College credit earned may count as elective or academic credit depending on the receiving college’s transfer credit policies. To transfer credits earned to college or universities after graduation, students who register for college credit must request transcripts from the awarding universities. For some courses, students may earn more than a 0.5 high school credit per semester. Courses are offered based on demonstrated student interest through registration.

These courses are more rigorous than a standard high school course. Students need to be self-directed, committed, and willing to put in 5-8+ hours of weekly out-of-class study time. Students should plan carefully before enrolling in multiple AP, College in the High School, and/or Running Start courses in the same year. 

Note: These are college courses taught by certified college level instructors who are also Tahoma HS teachers. These are taught on the Tahoma HS campus. 

Tahoma High School offers the following options for students to select:

From UW: ENGL 131 English Comp: Exposition, UW ENGL 111 English Comp: Literature, UW CHEM 110 Preparation for General Chemistry, UW SPAN 103 Elementary Spanish, UW SPAN 201 Advanced College Spanish

From CWU:CWU Theater 107, CWU Geology 101, CWU MATH 153/154 Pre-Calculus I and II, and CWU Physics 111/112.

From EWU: EWU College English 101, EWU College English 201, EWU College ASL 1, EWU College ASL 2, EWU College ASL 3

More information about these programs:

CWU https://www.cwu.edu/college-hs/

EWU https://www.ewu.edu/highschool/ewu-in-the-high-school/

UW https://www.uwhs.uw.edu/ 

Questions about College in the High School courses can be directed to Kathryn Strojan, College in the High School coordinator, kstrojan@tahomasd.us  

Career and Technical Education Dual Credit

Tahoma students can earn college credits while being enrolled in selected high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. After successful completion of the course with a “C” grade of better, students may register with colleges to attain college credit. Tahoma High School currently partners with Green River College, Renton Technical College, and Highline College for credit in many CTE classes. 

CTE college credit can help students prepare for college and careers, earn valuable skills and work experience, graduate from college early, and get a head start on their college program before graduating from high school. Earning college credit in high school can also reduce the cost of college tuition and books and allow students to discover their interests and skills. CTE Dual Credits are free to the student (with the potential exception of a nominal transcript fee) and students do not need to apply for credit until after high school graduation.

Running Start

Junior and senior students who qualify for this program may take approved courses for which they receive both high school and college credit and grades. Junior status for Running Start is determined by Tahoma High School and is defined as a student who has earned a total of 13 high school credits. Students have the option of attending local or technical college full-time or creating a blended schedule that includes local or technical college and HS classes. Once an option has been selected, however, the student is committed to that option for the remainder of the high school semester/college quarter. 

For more information on how to access the Running Start program, please attend High School and Beyond Night, a Power Hour information session in the Future Ready Center, visit the Running Start pages of the colleges’ websites, and/or stop by the counseling office or Future Ready Center to speak with the appropriate staff member.