College Preparatory
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Offering over 35 college credits, our college advising program prepares students to pursue their unique calling.
The selection of a college has significant, long-term economic and personal consequences. It is typically the second largest expense for families behind their mortgage, and the education and reputation of the college will stay with students for the rest of their lives. At Covenant High School, we begin preparing students for college during their freshmen year.
Unique Calling and Process
Students are carefully advised on their electives and co-curricular activities at Covenant beginning freshmen year. As students enter their junior year, a formal college advising class helps them evaluate their goals, talents, and calling, while personal college advising appointments are available for families. Our goal is to help students have a short list of schools before entering their senior year.

College Ready
Covenant’s challenging curriculum and college credit classes prepare students to succeed once they are at college. Covenant exceeds state graduation credit requirements while teaching important study skills and research methods. While many students struggle to write college essays and papers, Covenant students thrive and enjoy academia in college. “CHS provided the academic rigor I was hungering for and prepared me well for further study.” – Autumn Darms Parkinson, Class of 2004 (B.A. in History from Pacific Lutheran University and M.A. in History from the University of Washington).
Ready to Test
Scholarships and Awards
These are some of the scholarships and awards Covenant graduates have received since 2016. Their accomplishments are for the glory of God.
Full-Tuition Scholarships
- Full Tuition Scholarship from Barclay College
- Presidential Scholarship from Northwest University
- Maclellan Scholarship from Covenant College
Partial, Notable Scholarships
- Multiple merit scholarships from the University of Washington
- Multiple West Sound Optimist Scholarships
- Multiple Airforce ROTC Scholarships
- Dean’s Scholarship from St. Martin’s University
- Leadership Scholarship, Civil/Mechanical Engineering Scholarship, Graphic Design Scholarship, multiple Stevens Academic Merit Scholarships, and multiple Presidential Scholarships from George Fox University
- Presidential Scholarship, Speech and Debate Scholarship, and multiple academic scholarships from Pacific Lutheran University
- Multiple Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarships
- Multiple Mind and Heart Academic Scholarships from Whitworth University
- Merit and Opportunity Pathway Scholarship from Western Washington University
- Washington State Opportunity Grant
- Multiple Women’s Western Golf Foundation Scholarships
- AWANA Citation Scholarship
- Multiple Presidential Merit Scholarships from Central Washington University
- Multiple music scholarships
- Multiple Covenant Trustees’ Scholarships from Covenant College
- Union Trustees’ Scholarship from Union University
- Faculty Scholarship from Northwest University
- Trustee’s Scholarship from Point Loma Nazarene University
- President’s Finalist Scholarship and Founders Donor Scholarship from The Master’s University
- Reagan Foundation Scholarship
- Burger King Scholarship
- Leadership, Legacy, Presidential Scholarships from King’s College
- Presidential Scholarship from Covenant College
- Founder’s Scholarship from LeTourneau University
- Optimist International District Oratorical Scholarship
- Deans Achievement Scholarship from Biola University
- Dean’s Excellence Scholarship from Cedarville University
- Athletic Scholarship from Corban University
- Honors College Scholarship, Scholars Weekend Recognition Scholarship, and Trustee’s Scholarship from Regent University
- A. J. Drexel Scholarship from Drexel University
Awards
- Multiple Our Own Expressions Award Winners in Poetry, Short Story Writing, and Drawing
- National Society of High School Scholars Honor
- Multiple National Merit Finalists and Scholars
- Duke Scholar Award and multiple William Penn Honors Awards from George Fox University
- President’s Scholar Award and Multiple Trustee’s Scholar Awards from Seattle Pacific University
- Artistic Achievement Award from Pacific Lutheran University
- National Hispanic Recognition Award
- Distinguished Award from The Master’s University
- Honors College admission at Montana State University
- Scholars of Excellence Award from Union University
- William O. Douglas Honors College admission High School Test Score Scholar recognition at Central Washington University
- Distinguished Award from The Master’s University
- Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar
- A Gold Medal on the 2019 National Latin Exam
Established and Reputable
Founded as a high school in 1992 with over 600 alumni, Covenant has gained a national reputation amongst colleges around the country. This is a sample of colleges and universities where Covenant graduates have been accepted:
Out of State
- Amherst College – MA
- Abilene Christian University – TX
- Azusa Pacific University – CA
- Barclay College – KS
- Biola University – CA
- Boston College – MA
- California Baptist University – CA
- Calvin College – MI
- Cedarville University – OH
- Claremont-McKenna College – CA
- College of William & Mary – VA
- Concordia Lutheran University – OR
- Corban College – OR
- Covenant College – GA
- George Fox University – OR
- Covenant College – GA
- Dordt College – IA
- Drexel University – PA
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University – AZ
- Eastern Nazarene College – MA
- El Camino College – CA
- Franciscan University of Steubenville – OH
- George Fox University – OR
- George Washington University – WA DC
- Hillsdale College – MI
- Humbolt State University – CA
- Knox College – IL
- LeTourneau University – TX
- Montana State University – MT
- Moody Bible College – OR
- Multnomah Bible College – OR
- New Saint Andrews College – ID
- Pensacola Christian College – FL
- Pepperdine University – CA
- Point Loma Nazarene University – CA
- Quincy College – MA
- Regent University – VA
- Simpson University – CA
- Smith College – MA
- St. Olaf College – MN
- Sweet Briar College – VA
- The Master’s University – CA
- Texas Christian University – TX
- The King’s College – NY
- The Master’s College – CA
- Toccoa Falls College – GA
- U.S. Military Academy, West Point – NY
- U.S. Airforce Academy – CO
- UCLA School of Engineering – CA
- Union University – TN
- University of Oregon – OR
- University of Illinois – IL
- University of Iowa – IA
- Vanguard University – CA
- Westminster Seminary – CA
- Wheaton College – IL
Washington State Institutions
- Central Washington Univ.
- DigiPen Institute
- Eastern Washington Univ.
- Gonzaga Univ.
- Northwest Univ.
- Pacific Lutheran Univ.
- Saint Martin’s Univ.
- Seattle Art Institute
- Seattle Pacific Univ.
- Seattle Univ.
- Univ. of Puget Sound
- Univ. of Washington
- Foster School of Business and College of Engineering
- Western Washington Univ.
- Washington State Univ.
- Whitworth Univ.
International Institutions
- Academy of Fine Arts – Italy
- Fredly Fokehogskole – Norway
- St. Andrew’s University – Scotland
- Trinity Western University – Canada
- Univeristé Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III – France
- University of Victoria – Canada
- Vancouver Film School – Canada
More information
For more information on college advising at Covenant High School, please contact Mrs. Rachael Shelden at 253-759-9570 or rshelden@chstacoma.org.