Wenatchee School District Home Page
about..Our Purpose
WestSide is a nontraditional, accredited high school established to meet the unique educational demands of a diverse student population. We provide an individualized learning environment with a supportive caring staff in a small school setting. Our aim is to assist and encourage students to obtain the necessary tools to achieve their educational goals and become responsible, contributing members of the community.
WestSide curently offers three different educational programs, each designed to meet the needs our students. Students can earn credit on a continuous basis, which means credit may be earned at an accelerated rate. We are also able to contract with students to receive credit for learning beyond the traditional classroom experience.
about..Student Eligibility and Enrollment
Eligibility
WestSide High School is a school of choice with limited enrollment. Because of facility limitations we are not able to accept more than 150 students into the Day Program, 75 students into the Night Program, and 30 students into the English as a Second Language Program. There is usually a waiting list, and students are admitted monthly as space becomes available. To enroll, students must be between 14 and 21 years of age. Student applications are reviewed on a monthly basis and new students are accepted and enrolled at the end of each month
Students who have been suspended or expelled are not eligible to enroll until the suspension or expulsion has been lifted.
Important Considerations for Enrollment
- WestSide is a school of choice. Because our intent is to match the needs of the student with the scope of the program, not every student who applies may be accepted.
- Students are admitted to the day program on a monthly basis. Those who apply are placed on a waiting list until the next enrollment. Students may be admitted to the evening CBE and ESL programs at any time, depending on space availability.
- Older students seen as having the best chances of success in our program are typically considered over younger students. Our preference is that a student attempt a traditional high school before coming to WestSide.
- In the last semester of the senior year, a student will not be accepted into the program unless they intend to graduate from WestSide High School. Second semester seniors who are credit deficient but want to graduate from WHS or other local schools must make other educational arrangements.
How to Apply
To be considered for enrollment, an application must be submitted. Applications are available at the school at 1521 Ninth Street, during regular school hours. Applications are also available online.For further information, please feel free to call us at 663-7947 to speak to our principal, Mr. Harum, to a school counselor or other staff person, or even to arrange a visit. We welcome visitors!
It is important that you fill out the application completely and accurately as they are carefully screened and used to help determine the order in which students will be admitted to school.
- Contact the school to pick up a WestSide High School Application Packet. Applications are also available online.
- Return the completed Application Packet and all of the forms requested. Be sure to include a copy of your Health Immunization Form and a copy of your transcript. If you do not live in the Wenatchee School District, you must include a completed and signed Interdistrict Transfer Form, which releases you from your school district to attend our school.
- Generally students with freshman or sophomore standing will be given an achievement test for placement in math and English.
An appeal process is available for students who are denied admission.
Day program
The Day Program has an enrollment of 150 students. Day students attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., except on Mondays, when school starts at 10:00 a.m. Full-time students are enrolled in seven classes each day. Students who qualify for the Day Program are usually between fifteen and nineteen years of age and are often credit deficient. Presently there are 34 ninth grade students, 40 tenth grade students, 44 eleventh grade students, and 32 twelfth grade students in the Day Program.
The seventy-eight students currently enrolled in the Night Program are older and are primarily juniors and seniors. This program is designed for older students who work during the day and are close to graduation. Students generally work on one or two subjects at a time. They are required to spend twenty-five hours a week on school work. This includes five hours at school, up to five hours working at a job, and the remaining hours spent doing independent study.
Students can choose to attend one of three sessions which are available on Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday. Night School is open from 2:30 to 8:30 from Monday to Thursday. Thirty-three of last year's sixty-eight graduates came from the Night Program. For more information about the Night Program, follow the link, Night School.
English as a Second Language
The English as a Second Language Program offers high school classes to students with limited English language skills. Students meet four nights a week and concentrate upon learning English while taking high school courses. The twenty-five students enrolled in this program must meet the same twenty-five hours a week requirement as the Night Program student. Five subjects are taught each quarter for students in grades nine through twelve. Last year, two students received their diploma through the ESL Program.
Off Campus Programs
In addition to these programs, WestSide students have the opportunity to participate in several off campus programs. These are: Running Start, PASS program, and the Skills Center.
The Running Start programprovides juniors and seniors the opportunity to take courses at Wenatchee Valley College for both high school and college credit. For more information, see your counselor.
Students may take correspondence courses through the PASS program. Students should register for courses no later than March 1 to earn credit for the current year. The cost of the course and materials is the responsibility of the student. For more information, see your counselor.
Students may also earn credit through the Skills Center. This program provides students with the opportunity to earn high school credit while participating in a vocational training program. For more information see your counselor.