Bridge to College Courses

Bridge to College is a statewide transition course program in English and Mathematics designed to help high school students build the skills, confidence, and academic habits needed for success in college-level coursework. 

Developed through a partnership between the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Bridge to College focuses on college readiness and successful academic transitions, not on earning college credit. Courses are supported by aligned curriculum and sustained professional learning for teachers to ensure consistent, high-quality instruction statewide. 

Bridge to College is intended for:

• High school seniors
• High school juniors (English course only)

Bridge to College courses:

• Strengthen reading, writing, and quantitative reasoning skills
• Emphasize college-level expectations in a supportive high school environment
• Support on-time graduation and postsecondary readiness 

Bridge to College English

Bridge to College English is a transition course that prepares students for the reading, writing, and critical thinking demands of college-level English.

The course emphasizes:

• Critical reading of complex texts
• Evidence based academic writing 
• Academic discussion and inquiry 
• Research and information literacy
• Habits of mind such as persistence, independence, and metacognition

The focus is on preparation and readiness, not acceleration or earning college credit.

Who Takes Bridge to College English?

• Seniors planning to enroll directly in college-level English after graduation.
• Juniors preparing for College in the High School, AP, or other college-level English courses as seniors.

Some schools also offer Bridge to College English Prep, a yearlong course for 10th and 11th grade students who benefit from additional scaffolding in Bridge to College English.

Additional Course Information:

• Students who earn a B or higher in one semester qualify for placement into English 101 at Washington community and technical colleges and at Eastern Washington University.
• Recognized statewide as a senior English credit.
• Fulfills the Transition Course Graduation Pathway for English Language arts.
• Juniors completing the course may qualify for dual a credit College Composition course as seniors.

Instructional delivery: In person or online.

Bridge to College Mathematics

Bridge to College Mathematics is a senior year transition course that follows Algebra II and focuses on strengthening the mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and quantitative skills needed for college-level math pathways.

Rather than repeating Algebra II, the course:

• Reinforces and applies prior learning.
• Emphasizes modeling, reasoning, and data analysis.
• Builds confidence and persistence with college-level math expectations.

Who is Bridge to College Math For?

• Seniors who have had exposure to Algebra II.
• Students planning to pursue noncalculus college math pathways, such as Math in Society or Statistics.

Important for Counselors:

To Qualify for college placement, Bridge to College Math must be taken as semesters in order in one year. Placement and graduation pathway eligibility do not apply when the course is taken by juniors. 

Benefits

• Students earning a B or higher in the second semester to qualify for placement into MATH 107 (Math in Society) or MATH 146 (Statistics).
• Recognized statewide as a senior year quantitative course meeting CADRs.
• Fulfills the Transition Course Graduation Pathway for Mathematics.

Instructional delivery: Bridge to College Math must be taught at least 50% face-to-face and is not designed or suited for a fully online environment.

 

Course Implementation

Bridge to College is designed for students who plan to attend college and would benefit from structured preparation before entering college-level coursework.

Bridge to College courses are supported by a comprehensive professional learning model designed to strengthen instruction and promote student success. Districts are encouraged to register by June 2 even if teacher assignments are not yet finalized. For more information, fill out the SBCTC 26-27 registration form. 

As part of registration, districts affirm their support as outlined in the District Assurance for Bridge to College Implementation.

Higher Education Placement Agreements

• WA Community and Technical Colleges
• WA Baccalaureate Institutions