13th Year Promise Legacy Grants
Seattle Promise students from our four Legacy Schools who are attending South Seattle College are eligible for a stipend of up to $200 a quarter for books, fees, and supplies.
The 13th Year Promise Scholarship was conceived at a South Seattle College Foundation Board retreat in December 2006. The 13th Year Promise Scholarship was a local college-access program designed to make college more attainable for high school graduates, especially those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
This program funded a “13th year” of education (the first year of college) and was based on research that just one year of college can significantly improve job prospects and chances of finishing a degree.
Early fundraising was successful because it offered a clear, local solution—one year of college for Seattle students—backed by the trusted South Seattle College Foundation. Donors were drawn to its simple, high-impact model, focus on underserved communities, and the ability to make a direct difference in students’ lives.
The program enrolled its first students from Cleveland High School in Fall Quarter, 2008. In 2011, Chief Sealth International High School was added, followed by Rainier Beach High School in 2014. West Seattle High School was added in 2018. These four area high schools are now known as our “Legacy Schools.”
Educational and political leaders were inspired by South’s 13th Year Promise Scholarship and wanted to expand it city-wide. Today, the Seattle Promise program is jointly managed by the city of Seattle, Seattle Colleges, and Seattle Public Schools. These organizations are supported by Seattle’s Levy Oversight Committee. The Seattle Promise provides ALL graduating seniors from a Seattle public high school with up to two years (or 90 credits) of FREE in-state tuition and support services at Seattle Colleges: South, Central, and North.