All Washington graduates must fulfill the following four requirements:
Meet class credit requirements
Students must earn 22 credits - 3.0 English, 2.0 math, 2.0 science (including one lab), 3.0 social studies, 2.0 health and fitness, 1.0 visual or performing arts, 1.0 occupational education and electives to equal 22 total.
Earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement
Students must meet standard on the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) or Washington's High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) in reading, writing and math or math equivalent.
Complete a Culminating Project
This integrated learning project helps students understand the connection between school and the real world by studying a topic they like and presenting their findings to teachers, community members and other students.
Complete a High School and Beyond Plan (in Homeroom)
Students must detail their plan for meeting the high school graduation requirements and what they expect to do the year after graduation.
- Read more at the Office of Superintendant of Public Instruction Web Site
Earning Credits for Minimum Graduation and for Four-Year College
Subject Olympia School District Minimum requirements Recommended courses for Minimum Requirements for public four-year colleges highly selective colleges and universities
English 3 credits 4 years 4 years
Math 2 credits 3 years 3-4 years
Science 2 credits 2 years 3-4 years
Social Studies 3 credits 3 years 3 years
Health & Fitness 2 credits
Occupational Ed 1 credit
Arts 1 credit 1 year 1-2 years
World Language 0 2 years 2-4 years
Electives 7.5 credits
TOTAL 22.0 CREDITS
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW & FAQS
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to assist students, staff, parents, community members, and others involved in students’ lives to understand what is expected prior to graduation in the Olympia School District. Washington state graduation requirements have recently changed and, as a result, so will those for students in Olympia.
GRADUATION AND OTHER RELATED POLICIES:
ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMENCEMENT (Walk Policy): “In order to participate in the commencement ceremony in June, seniors must be enrolled in the proper number and type of courses by April 1 of their senior year, and must maintain satisfactory progress in classes and other mandated activities (WASL, HSPE, Culminating Project, High School & Beyond Plan), which will satisfy all graduation requirements. Summer school credits for seniors may not be planned to establish a student's eligibility to walk in the graduation ceremony.”
HONOR GRAD ELIGIBILITY: In order to be considered an Honor Grad, a student must have a 3.5 overall G.P.A. through the 7th semester and be enrolled in classes necessary to complete all OHS courses required for graduation.
DIPLOMA POLICY: Beginning with the Class of 1995, the Olympia High School diploma issued to each student will reflect the school year in which the student completed all requirements for graduation. For example, a student receiving a 2010 OHS diploma must complete all course work by September 1, 2010. Credits completed after September 1, 2010, would result in a 2011 diploma.
SENIOR STATUS LETTER: At the beginning of the senior year, students in grade 12 receive a Senior Status Letter. It must be signed and returned to the Counseling Center. This notification fulfills two functions: confirms the student’s graduation status including possible credit deficiencies from student and parent and indicates correct spelling of student’s name for diploma.
STUDENT GRADUATION REPORT: Annually each student will be given a academic history report indicating progress student is making toward meeting high school graduation requirements as a part of the High School and Beyond Plan.
TRANSCRIPTS: Students may request transcripts at a cost of $2.00 each payable to the Registrar. Transcripts take 48-hours to process.
ELIGIBILITY TO EARN OHS DIPLOMA: A senior needing less than one semester's worth of credit (i.e. usually 3.0 credits) to graduate, but who must transfer to another school, may still receive an OHS diploma provided all remaining requirements are met at the new school.
1. What is Homeroom?
In a student's 1st period class or Homeroom, activities that encompass the overall district effort to strategically organize the elements needed to meet the new state graduation requirements will be completed. Evidence of each student’s progress will be collected throughout the 4-year high-school experience and become a part of the High School and Beyond Plan.
2. The Goal of Homeroom:
By connecting interests, abilities, and academic preparation to their continuing educational and career plans, Olympia School District students will assume responsibility as contributing members of a democratic society.
3. What are the new Washington state graduation requirements (in addition to current credit requirements)?
• Completion of 22 credits
• Completion of a Culminating Project
• Written High School and Beyond Plan
• Certificate of Academic Achievement – based on current Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and/or High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
4. What are the current minimum credit requirements for students in the Olympia School District and Washington State?
English 3.0
Mathematics 2.0
Social Studies 3.0 plus Washington State History
Science 2.0
Occupational Education 1.0
Health and Fitness 2.0
Arts 1.0
Electives
TOTAL MINIMUM: 22 credits
5. How will graduation requirements be fulfilled in Olympia?
• Culminating Project
The current Olympia High School Culminating Project is an integrated learning project that helps students understand the connection between school and the real world by studying a topic they like and presenting their findings to teachers, community members and other students. Additional details about the current project requirements can be found on the OHS website at olympia.osd.wednet.edu under the Graduation Requirements link.
• High School and Beyond Plan
These plans will be part of the Homeroom program and will be updated annually or as needed. Students will have the opportunity to identify areas of interest and explore different post-high school options.
Beginning with the Class of 2011, post-high school plans will be discussed annually with freshmen and sophomore parents during Student-Led Conferences in the spring. Students can enhance the benefit and experience of their SLC by including a discussion of the following:
Yearly goals
Learning Style
Attendance
Best works (optional)
Achievements both in and out of school
Other items that reflect upon current progress and future plans
• Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA)
This certificate will be earned based upon performance on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and/or High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE - the revised WASL exam, beginning with the Class of 2010).
For the Classes of 2008-2012, the CAA includes passing the Reading and Writing portions of the WASL. In addition, students will be asked to demonstrate or continue developing math proficiency by doing one of the following:
1. Meet standard on math WASL/HSPE.
2. Take and pass two credits of math beyond the sophomore year if exam is not passed. Students can choose to take the Math WASL/HSPE each year until either the math WASL/HSPE standard is met or the student graduates with the additional two credits of math.
3. Pass another standardized test (see Question #7).
6. What are the alternatives to passing the Certificate of Academic Achievement (state-approved alternatives to the WASL/HSPE)?
Students who have the skills but are unable to pass the WASL/HSPE may use the Certificate of Academic Achievement Options. Students may access the options after taking the WASL/HSPE once.
Certificate of Academic Achievement Options
Students who have the skills and knowledge but can’t demonstrate those skills on state tests can use state-approved alternatives to meet graduation requirements in reading, writing and math. The alternatives involve making at least ONE attempt at the WASL/HSPE in reading, writing and math, and successfully complete ONE of the following requirements per subject area:
- Collection of Evidence:
Students compile a set of classroom work samples in reading or writing with the help of teachers. Samples must meet state guidelines and state panel review, and demonstrate proficiency in that topic comparable to the proficiency tested on the WASL. Scores are released 60 days after submittal deadlines, which are early February and June in 2010. (Seniors who submit in June will not be eligible to graduate in June.) Note: This option for math was eliminated by the Legislature in spring 2009. The math COE will return in 2011-2012 school year when math becomes a graduation requirement for the Class of 2013. A WASL-Grades Comparison (must be in 12th grade): To be eligible for this alternative, 12th grade students must have an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher. A student’s grades in math courses and/or English courses are compared with the grades of students who took the same courses AND passed the WASL/HSPE. This option is not considered an assessment.
- Passing scores on one or more of the comparable national tests: Minimum acceptable scores are:
Reading SAT: 350 ACT: 13
Writing SAT: 380 ACT: 15
Math SAT: 470 ACT: 19
- A score of 3 or higher on Advanced Placement tests:
Those tests are:Reading English literature and composition, macroeconomics, microeconomics, psychology, U.S history, world history, U.S. government and politics, comparative government and politics Writing English language and composition Math Calculus or statistics.
- Students may use the WASL/HSPE or any alternative to meet graduation requirements for each content area – reading, writing and math – and earn their Certificate of Academic Achievement and their high school diploma. Example: A student can use a successful WASL/HSPE in reading, a successful an approved Collection of Evidence in writing and an AP test in math.
- Students who transferred into Washington schools having already passed the previous state’s graduation tests and requirements do not have to fulfill Washington testing requirements. To learn more, visit: http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WaiverAppeals/TransferWaiver.aspx.
7. How will students be supported as they complete the additional requirements?
Part of the purpose of Homeroom is to provide students with another adult mentor here at school. Homeroom Teachers will occasionally, as part of the lesson plan, “check in” with students on their academic progress. The Student-Led Conferences (SLC) for freshmen and sophomores each spring are also an important component of the effort to support students. Each SLC will provide encouragement and support for students as they share accomplishments, interests, challenges and goals with their Homeroom Teacher and parents or other adult mentor.
Other support structures are in place to ensure students have every opportunity to be successful in completing these requirements, including the availability of optional weekly tutoring. There is also an Intervention Specialist on campus, Jill Nelson, who is working with those students who have not yet passed the WASL/HSPE.
8. How will students benefit from these new requirements?
The Homeroom High School and Beyond plan and yearly Student-Led Conferences will help students to:
• Set academic and/or personal goals.
• Make plans for the future, both in and out of high school.
• Focus on their education and life plans.
• Identify their own areas of strength and interest.
• Self-reflect on their work.
• Document and connect learning experiences.
• Connect planning in high school to coursework and selected activities and experiences.
• Lead conferences with parents regarding strengths, areas of opportunity, and plans.
• Use elements of the portfolio outside of school for further education and employment opportunities.
• Seek out and effectively communicate with adults outside the home and/or school system.