AP courses are college level courses based on the College Board course description guidelines. Students may earn college credit if they earn a qualifying score on the AP exams. Students who enroll in AP courses are expected to take the course for its duration, and they are required to take the appropriate AP exam(s) whith a good-faith effort in May to receive the weighted grade. Waiakea High School requires that all students and their parent/guardian(s) sign a contract to acknowledge that the student is making an informed decision regarding enrollment in AP classes.
Early College is a cohort Running Start program that provides students a range of supports and the opportunity to earn at least 12 college credits at Hawai'i Community College (HawCC). Early College students enroll in a series of pre-selected dual credit courses at the high school campus. Interested students can begin applying in the spring semester of their freshman year and should consult with their counselor or the Early College Coordinator. Students must meet admission criteria and submit the Early College Application and the Early College Student and Parent Consent form. College tuition and fees may apply. Qualified applicants may receive Early College tuition assistance.
Running Start at Hawai'i Community College (HawCC) and University of Hawai'i at Hilo (HH) is an optional program designed to provide academic opportunities for qualified high school juniors and seniors. Students are able to enroll in HawCC and UHH classes and earn both college and high school credits. Interested students must take the Accuplacer or equivalent placement tests in reading, writing, and/or math and meet the pre-requisite levels for the course. The UH System Application Form and Dual Credit Form must be completed. College tuition and fees apply. Students and parents must also read and sign the Waiakea High School Running Start Criteria form. Interested student should consult with their school counselor.