Puget Sound Skills Center Application & Registration Form
Section 1: Description of Puget Sound Skills Center
Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) is a school of choice, specifically designed to prepare high school juniors and seniors for high-demand technical careers. Skills center programs are unique and more advanced than those offered in the high schools, operating in alignment with industry expectations and practices. As a student at PSSC, you will be expected to perform as a professional in the industry which you are preparing to enter. Your instructors are your supervisors and will assess your performance based on various academic and technical standards.
PSSC is a part of a consortium of school districts that include Highline as the host district, and Federal Way, Tahoma, and Tukwila as partner districts. Students in other districts may also apply, with the understanding that students within the consortium districts are given priority for placement in skills center programs. All PSSC programs operate as a half-day; if you attend PSSC, you will take classes at your home high school either in the morning or afternoon and attend PSSC for the other half of your school day. You may choose to drive to the school if you are a licensed driver and pay for a parking permit; school bus transportation is provided from each high school in the Highline, Federal Way, Tahoma, and Tukwila school districts.
PSSC is not a diploma-granting school. You will graduate from your home high school, and your transcript will include the course(s) you completed at PSSC. Report cards for each quarter you are enrolled at PSSC will be issued to you. Semester grade reports indicating grade and credit earned will be sent to your home school registrar to add to your transcript. If you have earned academic equivalency credits, they will be indicated on your second semester grade report and your transcript.
Skills Center programs provide opportunity to earn FREE college credits, ranging anywhere from 10 to 60 credits, depending upon the program you enroll in. Earning dual high school and college credits as well as industry certifications saves you time and money as you work toward earning a college degree or further industry credentials and distinguishes you as an accomplished scholar and worker. In order to earn these credits or industry credentials you must complete at least a full year of classes in your chosen program. Students who leave PSSC before finishing the year will not earn equivalency credits, college credits or industry certifications.
A complete list of PSSC programs is included in this application in Section 2. Please see the dropdown menu of programs to make your first, second and third choice selections. We also recommend that you review information in the PSSC Course Guide and program flyers that are in your school’s counseling or career center. Information can also be found on the PSSC website. Becoming familiar with what PSSC has to offer and the expectations of participating students will help you determine if PSSC is the right fit for you.
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