Finish Your High School Diploma!

Program Page High School Completion

Welcome to the program page for high school completion!

Hundreds of students come to Renton Technical College every year to complete a high school diploma or GED. We are proud to offer more than one way for you to finish your requirements -- we work with you to find the options that fit your life and your goals.

 How To Get Started!

It is easy! Click on the link to complete the intake form. Links to an external site. Enter your personal details and contact information, and we will e-mail you with the next steps.

 You will only need 5 minutes to finish the form. You can change the language of the form at the top right.

 General Information about High School Programs

Who can enroll in high school completion classes?

Anyone who is 16 years old or older. It is never too late to finish high school!

What options do I have?

We can help you with two kinds of high school completion:

• A Washington State high school diploma
• A GED high school equivalency

Once we know your goal, we can determine the best program option(s) for you.

We have several different programs under two different areas of the college:

• College and Career Pathways (CCP)
• Youth High School Completion (YHSC)

Your eligibility for each one depends on your age, as shown in the diagram below.

It can be confusing, but don't worry! We look at your individual situation and present all of your options.

 High School Plus (HS+) Diploma (CCP)

Who can participate in HS+?

You need to be at least 18 years old for this option.

Note: If you are 18 and currently enrolled in a local high school, you may want to look at Running Start, Open Doors, or Youth High School Completion. Please fill out this interest form Links to an external site..

How can I complete my Washington high school diploma through HS+?

We look the diploma requirements for your original graduation year. You may need to show your knowledge in several areas. These include English Language Arts (reading and writing), mathematics, science, history, government, health, and arts.

How do you show your knowledge? This is the best part -- we look at LOTS of different things to determine whether or not you have shown competency in each area. One of your first RTC classes will be Portfolio, where you can include information about...

• your past high school credits
• your work, training, or military experience
• your volunteer work with a religious organization, your child's school, or a club
• your ability to speak, read, and/or write a language besides English
• your participation in state programs like YWCA, WIC, or Goodwill
• your certifications (CPR/First Aid, food handler, forklift driver)
• your past GED tests or college classes
• and much, much more!

You will work with RTC's advisers and instructors to create a personalized graduation plan. You will only need to take classes in subject areas where you cannot show your competency.

We also offer classes like "English in Science" and "Math in Health," so you are working on at least two graduation requirements at the same time. This can help you complete your high school diploma more quickly.

Bilingual (Spanish) Option: You can complete your HS+ diploma in Spanish, with our evening program. 

Usted puede obtener un diploma de preparatoria de WA State (para personas mayores de 18 años). Tomamos en cuenta su experiencia de vida y trabajo, así como los créditos anteriores que pueda tener. Las clases son de Lunes a Jueves de 6:00 a 9:00 p.m. en el RTC campus.

How long does it take to complete my HS+ diploma?

It depends on your individual background and your motivation. Students who have a lot of prior high school credit or a lot of life experience may finish in one or two quarters. Other students take classes at RTC for a year or longer. We work with you until you finish your high school diploma.

When are HS+ classes offered?

Classes are hybrid and online.

• Hybrid means that you come to RTC once or twice per week, in person, and do some of your work online.
• Online means that 100% of your lessons and assignments are available in our Canvas website.

When can I start HS+ classes?

We recommend that you start at the beginning of an academic quarter. This is September for fall, January for winter, April for spring, or July for summer.

You can enroll in HS+ classes until week 8 of the fall, winter or spring quarters (week 2 for summer), as long as there is space for you.

How much do classes cost?

The fee is just $25 per quarter for HS+ classes (waivers are available if you cannot afford the cost).

 High School Diploma (YHSC)

Who can participate in YHSC?

You must be between 16 and 21 years old for this option.

How can I complete my Washington high school diploma through YHSC?

With the permission of the school district where you live, you enroll in the Renton Technical College school district as your new high school.

We will look at the state's graduation requirements for your graduation year, and we will look at all of your high school records. You do not have to repeat any classes that you already passed. We offer classes like Civics or English in Science to make sure that you earn the rest of your diploma credits.

After you do well in a few of our high school classes, you can even take free college-level classes to meet your diploma requirements!

Please fill out our YHSC Interest Form Links to an external site., and we will contact you.

How long does it take to complete my YHSC diploma?

You can complete up to 1 high school credit per month. Once you know how many credits you need, you can figure out how many months are required to meet all of your requirements.

I am between 18 and 21 years old. Which is better, HS+ or YHSC?

Both programs are great! They are just different, and your personal preference may mean that one program is a better choice for you.

There is more financial support in the Youth High School program because you are connected to your school district. It can pay for your GED, diploma, AND college classes. There also is more structure and guidance, similar to a traditional high school. Finally, YHSC has a different approach to GED preparation where it looks more like tutoring than class, and you might prefer our model.

HS+ has more freedom, like the way that you build your schedule and the opportunity to do independent projects for credit. While YHSC has more structure, HS+ offers more flexibility. If you feel like independence is a strength and you want to move through things quickly, HS+ may be your option.

When are classes offered?

Classes are hybrid.

• Hybrid means that you come to RTC in person some of the time and do the rest of your work online.

When can I start YHSC classes?

New YHSC students can start on the 10th or the 20th of each month. If those days are on a weekend or holiday, you can start on the next business day.

How much do classes cost?

Nothing. Because you enroll in RTC's high school, it is free, just like any other public high school in Washington.

 GED High School Equivalency (CCP or YHSC)

How can I work on my GED?

We offer GED preparation for the four GED tests Links to an external site. in Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. You can take GED classes in CCP or YHSC.

The GED is a high school equivalency option, and it can be a great pathway for students who have a lot of credits to earn for a diploma. It is also good if you do well on standardized, multiple-choice exams. You need to pass each GED test with a score of 145 out of 200.

Each GED test has a fee of $30, for a total cost of $120. We may be able to help you pay your exam fees.

I don't know a lot about the GED. Do I have to choose it right now?

NO! This is why we ask you to complete the intake survey Links to an external site.. We can use that information to identify all of your options, and then we will talk with you and help you decide where to begin.

You can change your mind, too. Students often start in the HS+ or YHSC diploma pathway and then decide to take the GED tests.