Thinking about Running Start?

The Running Start Program is authorized by the Washington State Legislature and the Auburn School District. The

program allows qualified students to attend classes at community/technical colleges to earn college and high school credit

simultaneously. Students must pass specific criteria to be eligible to participate in this program. Tuition is funded under

the Running Start Program. Students are responsible for purchasing any required books, lab and miscellaneous fees, and

for providing their own transportation.

• A student must be in 11

th

or 12

th

grade to participate in Running Start.

• A student must be at least 16 years old during the first quarter of enrollment in Running Start.

• A student must meet certain requirements to participate in Running Start – credits, GPA, and qualify via college

placement test or acceptable substitution.

• A student can be Full-Time (only taking classes at college) or Part-Time (taking classes at both the college and at

AMHS) to total full-time schedule status.

• A student must have completed Advanced Algebra/Trig with an A or B grade to qualify for college math.

• A student must take a class each quarter that meets high school graduation requirements.

• Tuition will be paid by the school district for 100 level courses or above for a credit load that does not exceed 15

community college credits. Books, supplies, fees, and transportation are the responsibility of the student and

their family. Tuition for summer courses are not paid for by the district.

• Running Start courses may conflict with high school extracurricular activities. This is also true of Auburn School

District breaks and recognized holidays.

• Seniors must take a minimum of 3 classes or 10.5 credits either at AMHS or Running Start the spring

quarter/semester of their Senior year in order to walk at Auburn Mountainview graduation in June.

• ACADEMIC PROBATION/ALERT: if a student fails one class or withdraws from a class, they may be put on

academic probation or alert. If the student fails a class or withdraws from a class while on academic probation,

they may be dropped from Running Start and will need to return to AMHS for classes.

• Non-Resident Waiver/Transfer students must take a minimum of 2 credits at AMHS each year.

• Counselor, parent, and student will all meet for 1

st

EVF meeting to go over expectations, classes, and answer

questions. Plan 30 minutes for this appointment.

• Students will meet with their AMHS Counselor before each quarter to review classes and verify that they are

on track to graduate. EVF appointments begin 2-3 weeks before they are due to the college – Students are

responsible to make their own appointments with their AMHS Counselor.

o late April or May (May registration for Fall Session)

o late October (November registration for Winter Session)

o late January (February registration for Spring Session)

• Students who are home schooled must be enrolled in their boundary high school to enroll.

o Home schooled students must complete the following forms:

▪ Home Schooling Letter of Intent (must be completed each school year)

▪ Request for Ancillary Services

▪ Running Start Enrollment Request Home-Based Instruction Students Only

▪ AMHS Counselor Contract

o Home schooled students do not need an appointment with their Counselor, they only need a signed EVF

form.

How to apply to Running Start 
For students interested in Running Start, they must first apply to the college they plan to attend (Green River, 
Highline, Bellevue, or Pierce College).  Once you complete your application, you should receive a confirmation 
email from the college within a few days or up to a week. 
Once you have your acceptance email, you will then need to take a placement test to determine whether you 
are academically eligible for college classes at this time.  You must show that you meet the English Placement 
standard to enroll in Running Start. 
You should receive your placement tests results immediately.  Share them with your counselor via email when 
you receive them, and then you will be able to schedule a meeting with them. Counselors are specifically looking 
to see that a student earns college level placement scores on the exam to qualify. 
As always, students should have a 3.0 GPA or higher to be considered a strong candidate for Running Start.  
Please know, that this is not a “soft start” to college, it is the real deal!  Students will begin building a College 
Transcript  through  Running  Start  and  will  be  treated  like  any  other  College  Freshman  with  all  the  same 
requirements and standards.  Beginning this process does not require you to see it through.  Students are not 
obligated to take Running Start classes in the fall, even if they are registered. 
Please be aware that if a student gets less than 2.0 GPA in Running Start, for 3 quarters, they will be exited from 
Running Start and need to return to AMHS (or resident school) for classes.  
Where to start: 
**These links are for Green River College.  If you intend to attend another college, please visit their website for specific links.** 
 
Step 1:  Talk with your parents about Running Start.  Check your credits.  You will want to have 12 credits by 
the end of your Sophomore year and 18 credits by the end of your Junior year, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to 
be eligible for Running Start. 
Step 2:  Apply to Green River (or other college): https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/getting-
started/runningstart/  **Apply online at the College website, obtain your college email account and student ID 
number, and complete the Online Orientation.  If you have questions about your college application, please 
contact the college. 
Step 3:  Take the College Success Assessment test (English Placement test) at the college:  
https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/assessment-testing-center/course-placement/  
Step 4:  Submit your College Success Assessment results to your AMHS Counselor by email and schedule an 
appointment through Calendly.com to determine classes to take and obtain your EVF form.  A parent or 
guardian must attend this first meeting with you and your counselor. 
AMHS Counselors email and Calendly links: 
Deb Landis     A-Da   [email protected] & calendly.com/dlandis-1 
Heather Neumann  De-H  [email protected] & calendly.com/heatherneumann 
Melissa Lemanski  I-Me  [email protected] & calendly.com/melissalemanski 
Kevin Nishimoto  Mi-Sc  [email protected] & calendly.com/knishimoto 
Kari Heinz    Se-Z  [email protected] & calendly.com/kariheinz 
 
If you have questions, please contact the Auburn Mountainview Guidance Office at 253-804-4548. 

RUNNING START

AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT EQUIVALENCY GUIDE

greenriver.edu/runningstart • (253) 833-9111 Ext. 2643 • 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn, WA 98092

Green River College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, disability, genetic information or on any other unlawful basis. The college is committed to

preventing and stopping discrimination, including harassment of any kind and any associated retaliatory behavior. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Vice President

of Human Resources, 12401 SE 320th Street, Auburn, WA 98092-3622, (253) 288-3320. To receive this information in an alternate format, please contact Disability Support Services at (253) 833-9111, ext. 2631; TTY (253) 288-3359.

RN1507EquivGuideAuburn

Auburn School District Running Start Equivilancy Guide • 1 of 1

AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT RUNNING START EQUIVALENCY GUIDE

High School Graduation Requirement Green River College Equivalency

American Literature/Writing or

Honors American Literature

English &101, &244, &245, &246

12th Grade Elective English

English &112, &113, &114, 115, 126, 127, 128, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 168, 180,

181, 183, 185, 187, 190, &220, &226, &227, &228, &236, &237, 247, 248, 249, &254,

&255, &256, 257

Below classes may not satisfy NCAA or four year college entrance requirements.

Communication Studies &102, &210, 212, 215, &220, &230, 238, 245

Humanities 100, 110, 133, 186, 190, 191, 224 • Journalism 100.1, 100.2, 100.3, 101

Math

Math 106, &107, &141, &142, 147, &148, &151, &152, &153, 238, 240, &254

Below classes may not satisfy NCAA or four year college entrance requirements.

Math &171, &172, &173 • Engineering 106, &204, &214, &215

Washington State history History &214

U.S. History History 135, &136, &137, &215, 240, 250

Global Issues

Geography 123, &200, 201• History 103 • Philosophy 102, 110

Political Science &203, &204

Civics Political Science &202, 207, 209

Social Studies Elective

Courses which meet Green River’s ‘Social Sciences’ requirement,

with the exception of Business classes.

Lab Science

Courses which meet Green River’s ‘Natural Sciences’ lab requirement

as outlined on the AA Degree.

Non-lab Science

Courses which meet Green River’s ‘Natural Sciences’ requirement

but do not include a lab component.

Health Health Education 150, 160, 180

Physical Education All courses in the PE Dept.

Occupational Education

Any 100 and above level course taken from the following disciplines:

Automotive • Aviation • Business Administration • Business Management Business

Technologies and Administrative Careers (BTAC) • Carpentry

Computer Reporting • Computer Science • Computerized Machining & Manufacturing

Criminal Justice • Design Drafting Tech • Early Childhood Education

Education in Early Childhood • Education • Engineering • Industrial Education

Information Tech • Journalism • Natural Resources • Welding

Fine/Performing Arts Any 100 and above course in Art, Music, or Drama • Photography 101, 111

Foreign Language Any – see counselor/college Running Start advisor.

Other Elective 100 level or above – see counselor.

Please note: Common Course Numbers (CCN) are designated with the “&” symbol.

5 college credits = 1 HS credit • 3 college credits = .5 HS credit

Minimum Green River College grade to earn credit for high school is 1.0.

RUNNING START

AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT RUNNING START EQUIVALENCY GUIDE

runningstart.highline.edu (206) 592-3583 2400 South 240

th

St, Des Moines, WA 98198

AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT RUNNING START EQUIVALENCY GUIDE

High School Graduation Requirement

Highline College Equivalency

American Literature/Writing or

Honors American Literature

English &101, &244, &245, &246, 247

12th Grade Elective English

Above classes plus:

English 110, &111, &112, &113, 115, 123, 200, 201, 205, &220, &235, &254,

256, 257

Below classes may not satisfy NCAA or four year college entrance requirements.

Communication Studies &101, &102, 200, &210, &220, &230;

Diversity Global Studies 150;

Humanities &116, &117, &118, 120;

Journalism 101, 115

Math

Math &107, 111, &141, &142, &146, &148, &151, &152, &153, 180, 181, 220,

230, &254

Washington State History

History &214

U.S. History

History 115, &146, &147, &148, 225

Global Issues

History &118; Philosophy 110; Political Science &203, &204

Civics

Political Science 150, &201, &202

Social Studies Elective

Courses which meet Highline’s ‘Social Sciences’ requirement

Lab Science

Courses which meet Highline’s ‘Life and Physical Science’ lab requirement as

outlined on the AA Degree.

Non-lab Science

Courses which meet Highline’s ‘Life and Physical Science’ but do not include a

lab component as outlined on the AA Degree.

Health

Physical Education 100, 101

Physical Education

Any PE Activity courses.

Occupational Education

Any 100 and above level course taken from the following disciplines:

Accounting, Business, Business Technology, Criminal Justice, Computer Info

Systems, Computer Science, Early Child Education, Engineering, Hospitality and

Tourism Management, Human Services, Healthcare Professions, Interior Design,

Library and Info Services, Multimedia Design, Nursing Assistant, Optical Licensed

Dispensing, Paralegal, Personal Fitness Trainer, Respiratory Care, Visual

Communications

Fine/Performing Arts

Any 100 and above level course in Art or Music

Foreign Language

Any—see high school counselor or college Running Start advisor.

Other Electives

100 level or above courses—see counselor.

Common Course Numbers (CCN) are designated with the “&” symbol.

5 college credits = 1 high school credit 3 college credits = .5 high school credit

Minimum Highline College grade to earn credit for high school is .9

Auburn Mountainview High School

Memorandum of Understanding Between Students and Parents

Pertaining to Enrollment in Running Start

We, the student and parent, understand the following condions to be true if we choose Running Start as an

educaonal opportunity.

1. We understand that in order to be successful, the student must be self-movated and self-directed,

and that even so, most students experience a drop in their GPA.

2. Full-me Running Start students are eligible for up to 15 college credits per quarter; part-me student

credits will be dependent upon the number of AMHS classes taken.

3. We understand that students seeking an AMHS diploma must meet all graduaon requirements,

including the 4-year porolio program with a senior presentaon in the spring. Students will not be

allowed to go through commencement exercises unless they have met all AMHS graduaon

requirements at the me of Senior Check-Out.

4. We understand that students currently on a waiver from out of our boundary must take a minimum of

2 credits at AMHS to enroll in Running Start each year.

5. We understand that seniors must take a minimum of 5 classes at the high school OR 12 credits at the

college OR a combinaon of both equaling full me school aendance the spring quarter/semester of

their senior year in order to walk at Mountainview graduaon in June.

6. We understand that all students are assigned a senior advisor at the beginning of their 12

th

grade year

and Running Start students will be responsible to connect with their advisor to receive help.

7. We understand that students will be parcipang in Senior Porolio/Presentaons and are responsible

for all materials required, due dates, meengs with advisor, and presentaon deadlines.

8. We understand that part-me Running Start students will be responsible for checking on any changes

to the AMHS bell schedule (assemblies, late start days, etc.).

It is through this Memorandum of Understanding that we, the student and parent, take full responsibility

for the success of the student while aending Running Start.

_____________________________________ ________________________________________

Student Signature Print Student Name Date

_____________________________________ ________________________________________

Student college and/or personal email Student Phone Number

_____________________________________ ________________________________________

Parent Signature Date Print Parent Name Date