High School Programs

www.lwtech.edu/academy

Lake Washington Technical Academy

West Building, W210
(425) 739-8107

Lake Washington Technical Academy offers eligible high school junior and senior students, ages 16 to 21, the opportunity to train for a career and work toward a high school diploma. Students must be 16 years old or younger than 21 years old before September 1 to enter that academic year. Lake Washington Technical Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission and is a full-time high school program on the campus of Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Eligible students must enroll full-time in a technical training program and general education classes to complete the high school diploma.

To be eligible for Lake Washington Technical Academy, students must:

have a GPA at or above 2.0
register and attend a HOP (High school Options) session
obtain a copy of high school transcript and bring to the HOP session
meet all other eligibility requirements (these will be covered at HOP session)

Running Start

Running Start is a program designed for high school juniors and seniors, who are ready for college-level work, want to take college-level courses, and want to receive both college and high school credit while completing high school. Admission to Lake Washington Institute of Technology for Running Start students requires the approval of the high school that the student attends, a 2.5 GPA in high school, and minimum COMPASS scores of 70 writing (ENGL 100 /ENGL& 101 ), and 39 pre-algebra (math 80 or meet the higher math requisite for the technical program). A reading score of 85 is recommended and is used for advising & placement.

Some Running Start tuition is paid by the student’s local school district. Students are generally responsible for the balance and for course fees, textbooks and additional required course supplies. For information, contact the Running Start coordinator in the West Building, W210, or call (425) 739-8107.

General Education Development (GED®)

General Education Development (GED®) is a series of five tests developed by the American Council on Education to enable persons to obtain the equivalency of a high school diploma. Earning a GED® provides students with greater access to employment, advancement and higher education opportunities.

The Academic Skills Center offers GED® preparation classes and pre-tests.

All students under the age of 19 will need to obtain a release from their school district to test for the GED®. Two pieces of ID are required at the time of testing.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a designated testing center for GED® exams. Testing appointments must be scheduled in advance either by visiting the Assessment Center, West Building, W204, or by calling (425) 739-8115. For more GED® information, please visit www.lwtech.edu/assessment.

High School Completion

This is a program which allows students 18 years of age or older to take college-level classes to meet Washington state high school diploma requirements. The student must meet Washington State minimum graduation requirements. A five-credit college course equals one high school credit. Prospective students must submit an official high school transcript for evaluation, complete an admissions application and take at least one class at LWTech to qualify. This option is only recommended for students who need 1-3 classes to meet diploma requirements. Upon completion of all requirements, the student will be awarded an Adult High School completion diploma by Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Students age 21 or older who earn an associate degree from LWTech can be awarded the high school diploma without any additional requirements but must request the diploma in writing.

For further information call (425) 739-8107 or visit our website at www.lwtech.edu/academy

HS21+ Adult High School Completion Pathway

The HS21+ Adult High School Completion Pathway combines high school equivalency test preparation with course content designed to meet the requirements for high school diploma credits. Those choosing to enroll in the HS21+ program can apply previously earned high school credits, and possibly earn credits for current and/or prior learning or work experience, and choose from a variety of approaches to complete their unfinished coursework. College level classes can be taken for a reduced tuition fee, and possibly count toward credits needed for their diploma. Students must enroll in an Orientation course, and be registered for classes to earn credits. Credits are earned based on evidence of having met the competencies for each of the subjects, with work presented in a portfolio. For more information contact Lynne Cross in the Academic Skills Center 425 739-8331, or email lynne.cross@lwtech.edu

International High School Completion Program

See International High School Completion Program for information on this program.

Tech Prep

Tech Prep is a partnership between Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Tech Prep College Connections and 27 high schools. This partnership allows students taking classes in a high school with courses that are articulated with Lake Washington Institute of Technology to receive college credit while attending their home high school.

Tech Prep College Connections staff visit the high schools to enroll and register students in selected college courses. College credit is awarded to students who receive a B grade or higher in their high school courses.

Students who have received Tech Prep credit and complete high school will be eligible to register as a continuing student at the college. For more information please see our website at www.lwtech.edu/techprep.

Gateway to College

Lake Washington Institute of Technology has been selected to join a national network of community and technical colleges to offer Gateway to College, a national dropout recovery program originally developed by Portland Community College in Oregon.

The Gateway to College program is for 16-20 year olds who have either dropped out of high school or on the verge of dropping out and are interested in returning to school and completing their high school diploma. Students simultaneously accumulate high school and college credits, earning their high school diploma while progressing toward a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Students selected to participate in the Gateway to College program will receive a scholarship for tuition and books. Enrollment is limited.

To be eligible for GTC students must:

have a GPA below 2.0 and be behind in high school credits for age and grade
be at least 16 years old but not yet 21 by September 1 to enter for the academic year
register and attend a HOP (high school options) session
obtain a copy of a high school transcript and bring to the HOP
meet all other eligibility requirements (these will be covered at the HOP)

For more information or to register for a HOP session, call (425) 739-8107.