Running Start Gives High Schoolers a Jump on College

Cory Stevens and Jack Naylor attend Walla Walla Community College to complete their high school coursework and get started on a college degree.

By Madeline Cavazos

Cory Stevens is in his second year of the Running Start Program at Walla Walla Community College. He is a senior at Dayton High School and is the third in his family to participate. Besides the environment and the teachers, Cory's favorite thing about Running Start is the independence. "Teachers don't hold your hand, so they spend their time teaching, not babysitting," says Cory. "You have to be much more self-reliant." Cory's decision was his own, but first he discussed it with his parents.

"I did a lot of research into the pros and cons of Running Start," says Clay Stevens, Cory's father. "I gave him information and my opinion, but it was his choice." Clay says that Running Start has great benefits. "The biggest three are that the coursework is more challenging, you basically get two years of college free, and the transition from high school to college is easier. You get a feel for what college professors expect."

In 1990, the Washington State Legislature initiated the Running Start Program to allow high school juniors and seniors to attend a higher education institution and reap the benefit of earning dual credits for high school and college. Dayton High School students have this option through Whitman College, an on-line college or, most commonly, Walla Walla Community College.

Running Start students usually take the Columbia County Transportation Bus back and forth to Walla Walla. "We're at the college by 8:30 and that's when my first class, Computer Support and Maintenance, is," says Cory. "Then I have a break. I usually go to the library, do homework, read, e-mail, whatever I need to. Then I've got Intro to Film and Weightlifting, another break, and then I get back on the bus and go home."

Jack Naylor, a junior, has a similar day. But he's taking core classes to satisfy graduation and university requirements. "I've got Math, Spanish and American Government," he says. "Senor Adams is definitely my favorite teacher. He's really funny." Jack believes doing well in Running Start will make him more competitive when it comes to getting into a university. "That's not the only reason I like Running Start. The courses are more rigorous and the maturity level of the students is so much higher," says Jack.

Dayton School Superintendent Rich Stewart believes that, for some students, Running Start can be the best choice. For others, it could be a mistake. "It's one option for kids. It's not black and white. It depends on the individual," he says. "It's dependent on what's important to you. If the social parts of high school are important, Running Start can challenge that. The activities and athletics can be hard to keep up with unless a student communicates well with advisers and coaches."

If a student does consider the social aspect as valuable, there is another option. They can take college courses on-line from any college that offers it, without ever having to leave the high school campus. WWCC has started offering this option.

Dayton High School Principal Jude Cornaggia also emphasizes the fact that the merit of Running Start is based entirely on the individual. "There's a lot of value in Running Start for some students. Each student needs to look at their own goals. It requires a mature, open-minded student to make the decision," says Principal Cornaggia. "It makes you think – it puts you into a position where you have to make a choice based on where you're going with your educational goals. The type of student who excels at Running Start is self-disciplined, motivated and is very much interested in learning."

As important as academic coursework is, Principal Cornaggia doesn't think that it's the only thing that high school provides a student. It's also a social growing-up.    Superintendent Stewart encourages students to look at all the options and make a decision with the help of their families and school counselors. "I'm just hoping students get information that helps them make a good decision."

Because of the transportation schedule, Jack Naylor has plenty of time to study in the mornings on school days. "I have an hour before my first class," he says, "so I usually go to the bookstore and get a muffin. They have great poppy seed muffins."