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College in the High School & Running Start

College in the High School Handbook

The College in the High School courses are offered free of charge at Mt. Spokane High School for college credit through one of our local community colleges or universities; this option provides our students with the opportunity to earn college credit along with high school credit. These courses can also be accessed without the college credit attached.  If you choose to access college credits please keep in mind that a college transcript will reflect the grade earned in the class and that the credit may or may not transfer directly to a specific university. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with those institutions concerning specific credit transfer and admissions requirements. 

Dual Credit Information Night Slides 2026

Course Planner

The College in the High School courses are offered free of charge at Mt. Spokane High School for college credit through one of our local community colleges or universities; this option provides our students with the opportunity to earn college credit along with high school credit. These courses can also be accessed without the college credit attached.  If you choose to access college credits please keep in mind that a college transcript will reflect the grade earned in the class and that the credit may or may not transfer directly to a specific university.

Running Start Zoom Information Meeting

Washington's Running Start program gives 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to take college courses at the Community Colleges of Spokane and Eastern Washington University.  Running Start Courses are regular college courses offered on the college campus.  Running Start is not a Mt. Spokane High School Program.

Fees:  Students do not pay tuition; however, they do pay for textbooks, fees, and transportation (which can be upwards of $500 per quarter).

It is important to understand that when a student chooses Running Start, the high school is no longer responsible for their academic progress.  There are no progress reports and the grades will not be seen in PowerSchool until the transcript has been sent to the high school.  The student is solely responsible for:

  • The Application:  Completing the college's admissions process and placement tests
  • Registration:  Picking their own classes and registering on time
  • Communication:  Checking their college email daily.  This is how the colleges will communicate.
  • Course Management:  Tracking Syllabi, meeting project deadlines, buying own textbooks

One of the biggest shifts for families is the lack of direct communication from the college.  Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college instructors and staff will only communicate with the student, regardless of the student's age.

Resources:  SCC Running Start     SFCC Running Start     EWU Running Start     State of Washington Running Start