West Valley School District is at the forefront of preparing students for life after graduation, with over 93% of its graduates from the Class of 2024 earning college credits. The key?  WVSD’s College-in-the-High-School program.

Offered at West Valley High School and the West Valley Innovation Center, College-in-the-High-School allows students to earn high school and college credits at the same time, giving them an early start on postsecondary education while remaining in a supportive high school environment.

“College-in-the-High-School is about access and opportunity,” says Jed Watters, WVSD’s Executive Director for Innovation. “We’re removing barriers and helping students see themselves as capable of completing college-level work—sometimes before they ever imagined that was possible.”

Participation in West Valley’s College-in-the-High-School program has grown substantially in recent years, reflecting a district-wide shift toward open access, affordability, and intentional career pathway alignment. Today, WVSD offers over 40 different College-in-the-High-School courses through partnerships with Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, the University of Washington, and Yakima Valley College. These strong articulation agreements ensure that students are earning real, transcripted college credits.

“This isn’t an exam score or a placeholder,” Watters emphasized. “When students complete a College-in-the-High-School course, they earn an official college transcript from the partnering institution.”

And those credits equal big savings!  College-in-the-High-School significantly reduces families' future financial commitments. Benefits of this program include…

• Smaller class sizes

• Familiar teachers and peers

• Built-in academic and social support

• An estimated $1,000–$2,000 in tuition savings per 5-credit class (including no university fees and no book fees)

• Reduced housing, food, and living expenses (due to less time in college)

What Students and Parents Should Know

One of the most important aspects of College-in-the-High-School is understanding credit portability and the need to confirm credits for specific degree programs.

• The credit is real, but transferability varies. Students earn transcripted college credit from UW, CWU, EWU, or YVC. Families should always check with their future college or university to confirm how credits apply to a specific degree program.

• Negative grades won’t negatively impact a student’s future: Students have the option to take the course for high school credit only. Students learn about the college credit option early in the course, receive parent approval, and have a window to withdraw from the college credit if needed—while still earning high school credit.

• As education and workforce needs continue to evolve, so does College-in-the-High-School: “Education is changing,” says Mr. Watters. “Students need pathways that connect what they’re learning today to the careers and industries of tomorrow.”

Looking Ahead

The West Valley School District has a commitment to continuous improvement.  Looking ahead, the program focus will be:

• Intentional Pathways that align College-in-the-High-School courses with Associate Degree requirements, Bachelor’s Degree requirements, and high-demand Career and Technical Education fields—so more students graduate with a year or more of college credits.

• Expanding participation among low-income and first-generation students through targeted outreach, academic support, and clear connections for College-in-the-High-School, college, and career success.

More Than College Credit

For students who may be on the fence, Mr. Watters offers this encouragement: “College-in-the-High-School is your opportunity to test-drive college risk-free. You get to experience the real pace and rigor of a university course right here in West Valley, surrounded by the teachers and peers you already know. You’ll gain skills, confidence, and potentially save thousands of dollars.”

For Mr. Watters, the most rewarding part of the program goes beyond transcripts. “Seeing a student—especially one who never thought college was an option—walk across the stage with an official college transcript and earned confidence is incredibly fulfilling,” he said. “That moment when they realize, ‘I can do this,’ is what unlocks their future.”

Learn more at https://www.wvsd208.org/college-in-the-high-school