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Click on your year to see the state graduation requirements. Students are assigned an expected graduation year at the time they enter ninth grade (WAC 180-51-035). They are held to the graduation requirements of that graduation year regardless of the year they actually complete high school. [Back to Graduation Requirements]
A printable or downloadable PDF of the 2016 graduation requirements is available here.
State Requirements for the Class of 2016
Cohort: Students entering 9th grade from July 2012 through June 2013
2016 Graduation Requirements
Credits: 20
Non-Credits: High School & Beyond Plan, Washington State History
Assessments: 2 or 3
Districts may have local requirements. Students and parents should check with school counselors for additional requirements for graduation. The requirements for the Class of 2016 are described in WAC 180-51-067.
An automatic 2-year extension for implementing the additional Social Studies and English credits required for the Class of 2016 was available to districts that applied. For these districts, the credit requirements for the Class of 2015 are extended through the Class of 2018. View a list of districts with extensions.
Total number of credits: 20
Subject |
Number of Credits |
Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | |
| Math | 3 | Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1 Geometry or Integrated Math 2 Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3, or a 3rd credit of math* |
| Science | 2 | At least one lab |
| Social Studies | 3 | U.S. History and Government Contemporary World History, Geography, and Problems .5 credits of Civics (civics content may be embedded in another social studies course) .5 credits of Social Studies Elective |
| Arts | 1 | Performing or visual arts |
| Health and Fitness | 2 | .5 credits of Health 1.5 credits of Fitness Students must earn credit for physical education unless excused per RCW 28A.230.050 |
| Occupational Education | 1 | A CTE course, or a course that meets the definition of an exploratory course as described in the CTE program standards |
| Electives | 4 |
*A student may elect to pursue a 3rd credit of math other than algebra 2 or integrated math 3 if the elective choice is based on a career oriented program of study identified in the student’s High School and Beyond Plan, and the student, parent or guardian, and a school representative meet, discuss the plan, and sign a form (WAC 180-51-067).
Non-Credit Requirements
- Washington State History
Assessments
(See OSPI testing webpage. For more information on state-approved alternative assessments see OSPI graduation alternatives webpage.)
- Reading High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) and Writing High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) or high school English language arts Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC)* (or state-approved alternative)
-
One math End-of-Course Exam (EOC) in Algebra 1/Integrated Math 1 or Geometry/Integrated Math 2
(or state-approved alternative)
* Students need to meet a graduation score, set by the State Board of Education in August 2015, to meet graduation requirements. The graduation score is different from the college- and career-ready score (Level 3 on the Smarter Balanced assessments).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Alternative Assessments / Certificate of Academic Achievement
- Credits
- Culminating Project (eliminated as a state requirement for students who graduate after the 2013-2014 school year, may still be required by the school district)
- Diploma
- GED
- Graduation Requirements
- Home-Based Instruction
- World Language Proficiency