South Kitsap School District’s summer-school program continues to evolve.

Shannon Thompson, the district’s director of teaching and learning, said SKSD has entered into a partnership with West Sound Technical Skills Center to offer students from ninth through 12th grade an opportunity to take career technical education courses during the summer.

Five classes — tech foundations-remotely operated vehicle, tech foundations-robotics, wood shop, gourmet food on a budget and game design — will be offered from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 14-31, at South Kitsap High School.

“It’s providing opportunity and it’s also introducing students at an earlier age to some of the various STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] pathways,” said Thompson, adding that SKSD career and technical education director Sara Hatfield spearheaded the partnership. “If they find interest in that, they have more exposure to it during the summer and can continue on with that coursework during the school year.”

Most classes are offered only online to high-school students to recover credits in world history, U.S. history, social studies and ninth- and 10th-grade science and health. Classes in English, algebra and algebra II, geometry and Washington state history are offered both at the high school and online.

Classes run from 8 to 11 a.m. July 14 to Aug. 1 at the high school. Each costs $185.

Eric Canton, former summer-school dean, said the majority of students enroll in summer school to “recover” credits, but he said there are a small number that also want to repeat a course to earn a better grade. For example, a student who earns a “B” in physical education, biology and English, but a “D” in geometry, would finish that term with a 2.5 grade-point average. But repeating geometry and replacing that “D” with a “B” would boost the student’s GPA to a 3.0.

Swimming is one course that only runs at the high school.

Thompson said that class is different from the others because students usually sign up for it to avoid taking it during the normal school year. She said many students like to take the class during the summer, which allows them to sign up for another elective during the school year.

There are three timeframes — June 16 to July 4, July 7-25 and July 28 to Aug. 15 — to enroll in swim. Participants have the option to sign up for a morning or afternoon class during those periods.

Students from eighth through 12th grade also have the opportunity to take algebra and geometry. Those full-credit classes cost $320. Thompson said those classes potentially will enable students to fulfill their math requirement ahead of schedule and advance to higher-level courses, such as algebra II or pre-calculus, or take more electives during the school year.

“We’re adding some course acceleration, so that a student could earn credits during the summer … to achieve all of the graduation requirements,” she said. “We’re trying to provide more flexibility and opportunity for the kids with their schedules.”

Students can register for summer school online at www.skitsap.wednet.edu or at the district office at 2689 Hoover Ave SE in Port Orchard.