High School Graduation Requirements

WSSB Graduation Requirements 

Students attending WSSB are required to meet standards for program completion to earn a diploma. This includes a minimum of credits in selected courses and/or evidence the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) has satisfactorily met the student’s needs and credit requirements.  The student's IEP transition course of study may substitute some requirements when appropriate.  

Updated information can be found on OSPI’s Graduation Requirements webpage.

* The 3 Math Credits consist of:

• Algebra
• Geometry
• Algebra 2

OR 

• A student may elect to pursue a 3rd credit of math other than algebra 2 if the elective is based on a career-oriented program of study identified in the student’s High School and Beyond Plan.

** Personalized Pathway Requirements are related courses that lead to a specific post-high school career or educational outcome chosen by the student based on the student’s interests and High School and Beyond Plan, which may include Career and Technical Education, and are intended to provide a focus for the student’s learning.

*** Up to 2 elective credits may be waived locally for students who have attempted 24 credits.

Non-Credit Requirements

• Washington State History (typically taken in middle school)
• High School and Beyond Plan

Graduation Pathway Requirements 

Beginning with the Class of 2020, students must meet at least one of these pathway options to graduate: 

• State Assessment: Meet or exceed the graduation scores in the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics or in WA-AIM (Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement).  Students can meet this requirement through annual state assessments starting in 10th grade.  
• Dual Credit: Earn at least one high school credit in ELA and at least one high school credit in math in dual credit courses (Running Start, College in the High School, and/or Career and Technical Education dual credit courses).
• AP/IB/Cambridge: For both ELA and math, earn a 3 or higher on certain Advanced Placement (AP) exams or a 4 or higher on certain International Baccalaureate (IB) exams or an E on certain Cambridge International exams, or pass the course with at least a C+. 
• SAT/ACT: Meet or exceed the graduation scores set by SBE in the math and ELA portions of the SAT or ACT.
• Transition Course: Pass a transition course in ELA and math (for example, a Bridge to College course) which allows a student to place directly into a credit-bearing college level course.
• Combination: Meet any combination of at least one ELA and one math option of those options listed in 1-5.
• ASVAB: Meet standard on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) by scoring at least the minimum established by the military for eligibility to serve in a branch of the armed services.*
• CTE Sequence: Complete a sequence of Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses.*
• Performance Based Pathway: The Performance-based Pathway allows students to show what they know and can do in real-world, hands-on ways that align with their individual goals for life after high school.  Students can meet this requirement through their WSSB Legacy Project.

*Note: Students who pursue these pathways (ASVAB or CTE) do not need to meet English and math requirements separately. English and math content are embedded in both pathways—and a student who meets either the ASVAB standard or the CTE pathway requirements has met the graduation pathway requirement.

Kevin’s Law:

Each year as graduation approaches it is questioned whether a student who is in 12th grade, but is planning on continuing through age 22 should take part in senior activities and the graduation ceremony. Kevin’s Law allows for the student to walk with their graduating class and continue on with their education.