Running Start Information

High School Running Start Program

Washington State legislature allows qualified students to take courses at local community/technical college during their junior and/or senior year of high school through the Running Start Program. Students can earn both college credit and high school credit at the same time. 

2023-2024 Running Start Power Point

Please follow the steps below to apply for the Running Start program and refer to the FAQ's list for commonly asked questions.

Want to hear more information from current Running Start students? Go to this site

   Steps to Enroll in Running Start:

Step 1:

• Find out if the RS program is for you by attending an Information Session at the college! 

•  Click below on the community college of interest to you:

  • Bellevue College

  • Renton Technical College

  • Central Washington University Sammamish

  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology

  • Green River Community College

Step 2:

• Apply to the college:

• Bellevue College  Steps to Enroll

• Renton Tech Steps to Enroll

• CWU Steps to Enroll

• LWIT Steps to Enroll

• GRCC Steps to Enroll

Step 3:

• Upload current transcript to college for English and Math Placements (if your GPA is 3.0 or above)

• To get a copy of your transcript sent to your email address to upload to college, use Parchment

• Take Placement Tests through college for English and Math if required

Step 4:

• Complete and return Liberty High School Running Start Paperwork to your Counselor

• Email your Counselor to Set up an Appointment after you have completed paperwork with a parent and have your English and Math placements from the college

Step 5:

• Complete Running Start Enrollment Verification Form with your Counselor

                   *Each quarter, students must have the LHS counselor sign a Running Start EVF. The form is located on the website of the college the student is attending and in the link above. When a student has identified the courses they are going to take and has completed the form, they need to call the LHS office at 425-837-4833 in advance to make an appointment with their counselor.  PLEASE NOTE: Counselors book appointments weeks in advance and drop ins will not be seen. Students must email or call ahead to make an appointment.

        College Coursework that count towards LHS Graduation Requirement Credits

• BC Equivalent Courses

• RTC Equivalent Courses 

• CWU Equivalent Courses                                    

High School Credit Conversion Chart - for community college credits