Grad Pathway

In Washington State, students must complete a Graduation Pathway as part of the graduation requirements. To meet this requirement, students must show competency in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. As part of their High School and Beyond Plan, students will designate and complete a pathway that will help prepare them for opportunities after high school. 

 

Here are the ways that LWSD students can choose to meet a graduation pathway:

 

1. State Assessment: All students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in 10th grade.  Students receiving a score above the designated cutoff can use these assessments to complete their graduation pathway.  Students can take these assessments multiple times.
2. 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).
3. Advanced Placement (AP): For both ELA and math, earn a 3 or higher on certain Advanced Placement (AP) exams or pass the course(s) with at least a C+. 
4. SAT/ACT: SAT scores required to pass: ELA 410/MATH 430; ACT (with Writing) scores required to pass: ELA 14/MATH 16
5. 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.
6. Combination: Meet any combination of at least one ELA and one math option of those options listed in 1-5.
7. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB): A score of 31 or higher fulfills the graduation pathway requirement. Students do not need to have an interest in pursuing the military to take this exam. *
8. CTE Sequence: Complete a sequence of Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. *
9. Performance Based Pathway

For more information, visit the OSPI Graduation Pathways site (OSPI Graduation Pathways) or reach out to your student's school counselor.

 

*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.