Is there a theme as to why students are transferring out of Bellarmine?
Bellarmine is a private school in the Jesuit tradition. The school provides high-level courses such as AP, Dual Credit to provide students with an opportunity to advance themselves before attending college.
Bellarmine has a lot to offer, but as a private it gets constantly compared to the public schools and what they have to offer. One particular aspect of a public school that Bellarmine lacks is Running Start. A program where 11th or 12th-grade students take college courses at a community or technical college with no tuition costs.
Dalys Sullivan, 11th grader, a student who attended Bellarmine for two years then transferred to Liberty High School, speaks as to why he chose Running Start over Bellarmine, “I switched because of the more flexible schedule and freedom of picking what time your classes are and I felt like I could work better in the college environment. I was influenced by other students who have done Running Start…I can get my future started sooner with more experience.”
The uniqueness of Running Start is its time flexibility and ability to have autonomy over your schedule. Over the last seven years as Running Start has been on the rise, Bellarmine decided to take action by implementing several Dual Credit courses that provide transferable college credits. These credits advance a student going into college. Notably, the difference lies in that Running Start is through a community college. Whereas, Bellarmine Dual Credit is through regional colleges such as Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University.
What draws students to Bellarmine rather than Running Start? Zoe Cook, an 11th grader, is a new transfer student to Bellarmine. A significant reason she did not choose Running Start was the community. She says, “It’s a better community to be involved in. Community is very important to me, and that’s why I didn’t choose to go into Running Start, because I didn’t wanna miss out on high school.”
Overall, each experience is different. Everyone has their own path to what they want in their life. Whether going to Bellarmine, or choosing Running Start, is dependent on what will help you in the path you choose.
