High school graduation is the finish line for K-12 public schools. It is our goal. Here is what the Board of Directors says is the mission of the Lake Washington School District:

• Each student will graduate prepared to lead a rewarding, responsible life as a contributing member of our community and greater society.

If a graduate is to be prepared for the rest of life, they need to show that they did learn basic skills in school. Thus, this district uses performance-based graduation requirements that go beyond time spent in class. Certainly, there are state-mandated credit requirements and it is important for students to take a balanced mix of classes. However, they should also be able to show by the end of high school that they can do research, draw reasonable conclusions, persuade others through written work, and make presentations of what they know.

Keep in mind that the state of Washington has specific requirements that must be met. The Lake Washington School District asks for additional performance-based requirements. A one-page document is available that shows the graduation requirements for the classes of 2011-2014. A Spanish version is also available.

22 credits required, spread across subjects

The credit requirements, as shown in the box, cover a range of subjects. Four years of English (Language Arts) are required from grades nine through 12. That is a state requirement and it helps meet the district’s communication requirements. Core English courses beyond four credits can be counted as electives, as can English courses designated as electives. Note that the State Board of Education is expected to increase the number of math credits must earn from two to three credits, beginning with the class of 2009.

State requires WASL/HSPE or alternative
State law requires that high school students beginning with the class of 2008 get one of two specific certificates to graduate. Students can demonstrate they have met high school standards and get the “Certificate of Academic Achievement” (CAA) by:

• Meeting the standards as measured by the state high school assessment  in reading, writing and math (the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, known as the WASL, administered through 2009, or the new High School Proficienct Exam, known as the HSPE, administered beginning in spring 2010) or
• If a student has not met a standard after taking the WASL/HSPE twice, through an alternative method. Three alternative methods were passed by the Washington legislature: students who have taken the WASL or HSPE twice and not met the standard will receive detailed information on these alternatives.
• Students can graduate without meeting the math WASL/HSPE standard if,
• For the classes of 2011-2012, they successfully earn two math credits after 10th grade and continue to take the WASL/HSPE each year

For much more detail on the state tests and the CAA, go to the graduation information website from the Office for the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For special education students, the following assessments are also available:

• HSPE/MSP - Basic - a student's IEP team establishes a proficient score at Level 2, or Basic, on the state's annual assessment.
• WAAS-DAPE (formerly WAAS-DAW) – The Washington Alternative Assessment System Developmentally Appropriate Proficiency Exams can be used by 11th and 12th grade students for the purposes of meeting state graduation requirements.
• Locally-Determined Assessment (LDA) - The local school can select from a series of state-prescribed assessments available in the content areas of reading, writing and mathematics. The LDA can only be used by 11th and 12th grade students for the purpose of meeting state graduation requirements.
• Awareness Level Waiver - for students with disabilities at extreme low levels of cognitive interaction. IEP teams and their district can pusue a waiver from state testing and the state graduation requirements linked to state tests.

Students answer: what’s next for them?
Every student also has to create his or her own plan for life after high school. In eighth grade, students create an electronic High School & Beyond planning portfolio. They take various interest surveys, which help guide their school course selection and exploration of potential careers. Every year, they update the portfolio with more information.

• Eighth grade – career interest area activity
• Ninth grade – Interest Profiler plus developing a resume
• 10th grade – Work Importance Locator and a related occupations activity
• 11th grade – skills activity and a college search/comparison
• 12th grade – update resume and complete the components of a 13th year plan

District requires essays, culminating project, more
To graduate, students must demonstrate that they are proficient in writing as well as quantitative and scientific reasoning. Students meet the communication standard by demonstrating what they know and can do in writing, completing three specific writing assignments. Students will complete a formal lab report to show what they know and can do in science. Later classes have additional requirements in quantitative and scientific reasoning. Students also must complete a problem solving and reasoning requirement in mathematics.

Students in all classes also have to complete a culminating project, which is required both by the district and the state. This project includes an in-depth study of a topic of interest and a presentation on that topic.