Youth High School Completion FAQ

Under the Center for High School Programs department, the CEO Program offers a CEO Youth High School Completion pathway. This program is for at-risk youth ages 16-21 years old. Please refer to the CEO Program eligibility website for details.

Students can complete college classes for a high school diploma that meets the minimum graduation requirements for the State of Washington. The diploma is granted by Bellevue College and is recognized just like a diploma issued by any accredited, (official), high school in Washington.

1. Contact any high schools you have attended and request an official, sealed copy of your transcripts (the records of the classes you took and your grades). All high schools in the United States are required by Federal Law to keep your transcripts on file for 75 years. When the student makes the decision to join, please make sure they are withdrawn from their last school.
2. Complete the CEO Intent Form, which is an online application to inform the CEO Program you wish to join. Complete a Bellevue College application. Make sure the student is inputting their information. This is a state college account and must only contain the student’s information. The college application fee will be waived for students coming into the CEO Program. 
3. Turn in your official U.S. high school transcript(s) to the Center for High School Programs Office front desk, located in U building 2nd floor. Please inform staff the transcript is for the CEO Program. Staff will evaluate the high school transcript to determine what college courses are needed for the CEO Youth High School Completion pathway.
4. Request an appointment with one of our High School Completion CEO Specialist at ceo@bellevuecollege.edu.
5. If the student is ready to join the CEO Program, staff will follow up with required paperwork and entrance testing steps.

Classes completed in grades nine through twelve from a U.S. public or private school may count toward the credits needed for a high school diploma. State graduation pathways (e.g., state tests) and a High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) are required if you are under the age of 21. When you request your transcripts, be sure to ask for your transcripts to include results from those tests (example: Smarter Balance for Washington State Students) and a copy of your High School and Beyond Plan. If you are under the age of 21, you should ask to make sure all state tests, if taken, are listed on your transcript, along with the High School and Beyond Plan. If they are not, ask the high school to include those test results and a copy of your HSBP when you receive your transcripts. If you have completed a Washington State History class any time from grade seven to twelve, ask to make sure your transcript shows that completion. If students completed other means of graduation pathway options, such as SAT/ACT, AP/IB/Cambridge credit, completed a CTE Sequence, or earned Dual Credit for English/math (through Running Start, College in the High School, and/or Career and Technical Education dual credit courses), then please provide documentation.

The CEO Youth High School Completion Program at Bellevue College follows the minimum requirements for obtaining your diploma set by The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

• Earn college credits to meet Washington state high school graduation requirements
  • 5-6 college credits = 1.0 high school credit
  • 3 college credits = 0.5 high school credit
• Number of credits required is set by state law and are dependent on your graduation class year.
• Students must also complete non-credit graduation requirements, such as
  • Washington state history
  • High School and Beyond Plan
  • Graduation pathway (if incomplete, students in CEO take college-level courses in English/math)

Credits and requirements vary by graduating class year. A CEO Specialist will discuss this with you at your first appointment.

During your attendance in CEO Youth High School Completion Program, you will be required to meet with your CEO Specialist for a minimum of two hours per month. During these meetings, you and your CEO Specialist will work together on your college and career pathways, your quarterly education plan so that you will know exactly how long it will take you to earn your diploma.

During your final quarter in the CEO Youth High School Completion Program, you will work with your case manager to complete a diploma application. At that meeting, you and your CEO Specialist will review all classes you have taken to ensure that you have fulfilled all requirements to graduate.

No, if you are between 16-21 years old and live in an approved school district, you are eligible for the CEO Youth High School Completion Program. Students must be 16 years old by September 1st to join during the academic year. Students who turn 21 one by September 1st will be ineligible, but if they turn 21 years old on September 2nd or later then they can join during that academic year. No exceptions.

Visit the CEO Program’s main website here: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ceo/.

Visit the CEO Program’s eligibility page here: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ceo/future/eligibility/.

If you are at least 18 years or older and do not with to join the CEO Program, then you are eligible to join the High School+, also known as HS+. The HS+ program helps adults of any age work towards a high school diploma from Bellevue College. Please know that students cannot pursue High School+ while in the CEO Program.

Visit the High School+ main website here: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/bats/highschoolplus/.

Be sure to read the information about each of these programs and make an appointment to talk to one of our High School Completion Advisors to decide which one is best for you.

This purely depends on how many credits you have already earned at your previous U.S. public/private high school(s). We cannot tell you for sure until you have your high school transcripts evaluated and speak with the designated CEO Specialist afterward.

If you qualify for the High School+ program, the amount of time it will take for you to earn your diploma will depend on how well you can show proof of competency in the subject areas required. High School+ students must also meet the Washington State History requirement, but neither high school credit or college credit are awarded.

That’s part of what you’ll decide when you meet with a CEO Youth High School Completion CEO Specialist. They will evaluate your transcripts, help you decide which program is right for you, and determine which classes you will need to complete your diploma.

You might take classes that apply toward your high school diploma and college classes at the same time! For example, if you take computer classes, some of them may apply towards the CTE or elective requirements for a high school diploma and gain college credits that could go towards a college degree. Please know that the CEO Program does not award high school credit, nor do we create or edit a high school transcript. All classes are through Bellevue College and all class records are contained through a Bellevue College transcript.

There is no right answer to this question. Things to consider when making that choice are your academic skills, how much time you have to complete a high school diploma or a GED, and what your goals are in life. Either option can be the right one. This is a good question to discuss with a High School Completion CEO Specialist.

Please know that the CEO Program requires entrance testing as a state law requirement. Students must be administered a standardized reading and a writing test either within six months prior joining or within one month of starting the program, no exceptions.

Bellevue College’s Testing Center now provides self-assessment as a tool and not a test. The CEO Program will discuss either (1) administering a GED practice test in Language Arts and Math or (2) requesting math placement testing and a retired English placement test to fulfill state law requirements. We may seek out math testing through this service or seek out math placement testing at Bellevue College. For students joining the CEO Program, do not seek out placement testing without connecting with designated CEO staff.

Once you’ve started the application process, the CEO Program will connect with you with further details.

In general, it is good to finish the program you start so you don’t have to go through a second evaluation process. If you qualify for and start in the HS+ program, you will need to finish in that program. However, please always reach out to a CEO staff member to ask questions, concerns, and help brainstorm together.

No, you don’t need to be a citizen. However, if you are in the United States with an F, M, H, J, L, TD, TN or B visa, you need to contact the International Student Services office at 425-564-3185 for information about admissions to Bellevue College.

Find more information for high school completion for international students here: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/international/.