School Profile
Principal: Julie Shultz-Bartlett
Counselor: Alison Von Stein
COMMUNITY
Challenger High School was formed in 1974 as the Alternative High School for the Bethel School District. After several location changes and transformations of the program, Challenger High School’s campus now houses 14 portables at its current location. It is one of four high schools in the Bethel School District, and Challenger serves 300 students. Challenger High School is located in Spanaway, in Pierce County, south of Tacoma, Washington. For more information visit: www.bethelsd.org/chs.
SCHOOL FACTS
Type of School: Challenger is an Accredited, Public, 4-year high school, organized into four quarters of nine weeks each. Challenger is the Alternative High School for the Bethel School District.
Total Enrollment: 300 students, grades 9 – 12
Percent Free/Reduced Lunch: 71.1%
COURSE SCHEDULE:
A total of four courses plus an Advisory period are offered, with an AM or PM session for a full-time student each quarter.
RUNNING START:
Running Start is a Washington State early college entrance program that provides an opportunity for juniors and seniors to take community or technical college classes, earning high school and college credit simultaneously. Challenger High School students may take advantage of this program either full or part time.
PIERCE COUNTY SKILLS CENTER:
Challenger students may attend the PCSC during the opposite session of their school schedule. Students attending the Skills Center can earn an additional 4.5 high school credits each year, while learning a trade. Programs descriptions are online on the Pierce County Skills Center website. For more information please visit: www.bethelsd.org/pcsc
CLASS RANK: Based on unweighted cumulative GPA.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE:
A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0
A- = 3.7 B - = 2.7 C- = 1.7 F = 0.0
B+ = 3.3 C+ = 2.3 D+ = 1.3 P = not used in calculating GPA
CREDIT SYSTEM
0.5 credit is awarded per class per quarter for a grade of A, B, C, D, or P. No credit is given for an F or NC.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – for the class of 2020 and beyond (grades 9-12)
4 credits of English Language Arts 3 credits of Social Studies 2 credits of Fine Arts
3 credits of Science 1.5 credits of Physical Education 0.5 credits of Health
3 credits of Mathematics 1 credit Career and Tech. Ed. 2 credits of World Language
4 credits of Electives
Total of 24 credits needed to graduate
In addition to passing the academic requirements, students must also pass the Smarter Balanced Assessment in English Language Arts and in Math. Students can also use minimum scores on alternative assessments to meet this requirement: SAT, ACT, ASVAB.