Running Start is a program for 11th and 12th graders to take college classes at Washington two-year colleges and earn high school and college credit at the same time. Tuition is free for a maximum of 21 credits per quarter in college-level courses numbered 100 or higher.

Eligible students:

• Enrolled in a public WA State High School
• 11th or 12th grader
• Placed into college-level math (beyond Algebra 2)

Colleges, Classes, Credits

• We recommend attending Seattle Colleges (North, Central)
• Any class above level 100 is eligible for Running Start funding
• 5 college credits = 1 high school credit

College websites:

• North Seattle College
• Seattle Central College

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School Year

Seattle Colleges are on a quarter system (about 10 weeks/quarter) and IHS is on a semester system (18 weeks).

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Part-Time Schedule Options

Option 1: 2 classes at the college (per quarter) and 2 classes at IHS (per semester)

College

Time	Fall	Winter	Spring
9-9:50	English 101	Spanish 102	Psychology 101
10-10:50	History 146	History 147	Art 101

Ingraham High School

Time	1st Semester	2nd Semester
5th	Algebra 2A	Algebra 2B
6th	Algebra 2A	Chemistry B

8 credits earned per school year
High School and Beyond Plan is not optional

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Option 2: 1 class at the college (per quarter) and 4 classes at IHS (per semester

Ingraham

Time	1st Semester	2nd Semester
1st period	Algebra 2A	Algebra 2B
2nd period	Physics B	Chemistry B
3rd period	IB 20th Century	Chemistry B IB 20th Century
4th period	Spanish 3	Spanish 3

College

Time	Fall	Winter	Spring
After 2:30pm	English 101	Art 101	Psychology 101

7 credits earned per school year

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Full Time Schedule

Time	Fall	Winter	Spring
9-9:50	English 101	Physics 101	Spanish 103
10-10:50	History 146	History 147	Art 101
11-11:50	Math 146	Chemistry 101	Anthropology 101

• 9 high school credits earned per year, 15 college credits per quarter
• Required to complete High School and Beyond Plan graduation requirements
• Can still participate as an Ingraham student in sports, clubs, leadership
• Responsibility of student to watch the school website and email for important dates that impact you: PSAT/SAT, SBA testing, student assemblies, evening school events

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Maximizing a Full Time Schedule

• 21 credits MAX are available to be taken at the college a quarter for Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.
  • This could affect summer time allotment if all is   taken during the school year.
• If students want to max out on the allocated credits refer to this chart:
  • Counselor can help you

Ingraham courses per semester	# of Running Start courses per quarter	Total number of high school credits per year.
5-6	1	8-9
3-4	2	9-10
1-2	3	10-11
0	4	12

• Seattle Promise: Running Start + Seattle Promise covers up to 90 credits total
• WA State Public Colleges: All credits and GPA transfer (credits for specific majors may be applied differently)
• Private/Out-of-State Colleges: Acceptance of Running Start credits varies – do your research to determine transfer credit and eligibility
• International Colleges: Credits don’t transfer and these schools prefer AP and IB coursework for admissions. Running Start is NOT recommended.
• Revising Running Start plan mid-year: not following thru with full year RS plan can impact college acceptance. Colleges admit students based on past, present, future courses.

Profile of a Running Start Student

• Independent- you are able to navigate two systems simultaneously and don’t need a lot of support from adults
• Professional – consistently on time, communicative over email, and follow through with timelines
• Committed – Running Start is a commitment for the entire school year and your Ingraham schedule cannot be adjusted
• Plan on attending an in-state university after high school

Process to Register for Running Start

If any steps need to be completed at the college, please ask your college Running Start advisor
Use PDF in Counselor Schoology page for live hyperlinks

Steps 1-8 completed by May 30, 2025 for Summer/Fall Quarter

1. Ingraham
   Attend the Mandatory Ingraham Running Start Information Session on April 2nd at 2:30 pm or April 9th at 8:15 am in the library.
2. College
   Visit North Seattle Running Start’s site.
   RSVP for an Information Session at the College. They will go over their application process. College
3. College
   Apply to North Seattle College
   Create an Account (or other college) Admissions Application. You will receive a student ID.
4. College
   Start the College Running Start Online Enrollment Packet – North Seattle College Enrollment Packet. Finish Steps 5-8 to get the RSEVF signature from your counselor to complete the packet.
5. Ingraham
   Fill out an SPS MOU (Page 4 and 5 of this document), both you and your parents must sign. Send to Ms. Matthews by email. She will give you a copy of your transcript if needed mqmatthews@seattleschools.org
6. Ingraham
   Take the college provided Self Directed Placement into college-level English (English Self Directed Placement) and/or Math (Math Direct Self Placement). Send the screenshot to Ms. Matthews by email. mqmatthews@seattleschools.org
7. Ingraham
   Fill out the Running Start Survey before scheduling a meeting with your counselor.
8. Ingraham
   Once all of the information is received from steps 5-7, Ms. Matthews will reach out to you to schedule a meeting with your counselor to complete the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form  for step 4.
9. College
   Send Running Start Enrollment Verification Form (RSEVF) to community college and work with them to register for classes. See the North Seattle College Running Start website for details.