As high school students await their final grades, many are not only looking to their grade point averages but to the college credits they could nab in the process.
It’s shaping up to be a busy time of year for local Tech Prep programs, which let students get community college credit for good grades in selected high school classes.
Locally, partnerships with Edmonds and Everett community colleges reach nearly every high school in Snohomish County, helping more than 3,300 students earn more than 9,500 college credits, tuition savings of more than $680,000.
“The Tech Prep program recognizes the valuable education students are getting in high school and awards credit for their hard work,” said Ben Doucette, a marketing teacher at Snohomish High School.
Snohomish High’s marketing classes are the latest to join Tech Prep. The new agreement lets students who get a B or better in each of two high school classes earn credit for a sales management course at EdCC, worth $400.
The school also has agreements with EdCC for horticulture and some computer-related classes, along with more than a dozen links to EvCC’s program.
Senior Nate Davis, 18, will head to the Edmonds college this fall with nine credits in hand.
“The fact that I’m not having to pay outrageous amounts of money to get into a class and get books … it’s going to be a real big help,” Davis said. “I have an opportunity to, in high school, take classes that will help me in the future and be affordable.”
Tech Prep classes are generally vocational or technical.
EvCC’s program is one of the state’s largest, serving more than 7,000 students.
“It helps them focus on a career path, keeps them interested in school. They’re so excited to see these credits,” said Flo McIntyre, an assistant in EvCC’s Tech Prep office.
“We really reach a wide range of students. And to me, that’s the best part,” said Karen Traversie, EdCC’s Tech Prep coordinator.
Sixteen Snohomish High marketing students have signed up to earn the college marketing credit, Doucette said. He expects more next year as students have time to plan.
Other students who wanted to earn the credit didn’t get good enough grades in class.
“I think this will inspire some to work harder,” the teacher said.
To learn more about Tech Prep agreements with local high schools at Edmonds and Everett community colleges, visit techprep.edcc.edu or www.evcc.ctc.edu/techprep.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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