State Requirements for the Class of 2021

Completion of Washington state’s minimum graduation requirements, as established by the state legislature, signifies that a student is prepared for a meaningful next step in life. In 2019, the legislature approved multiple Graduation Pathways that provide students with more options to prepare and demonstrate their readiness for their first step after high school.

Students must fulfill the graduation requirements that are in place when they first enter 9th grade. For students who need more than four years to graduate, they will still need to meet the graduation requirements of their original graduation year.

Students who entered 9th grade during the 2017–18 school year (Class of 2021) must meet all state and local requirements related to building a High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP), earning minimum credit requirements, and completing at least one Graduation Pathway aligned with their post-high school goal(s).

     One-Page Information Sheet on Graduation Pathways for the Class of 2021 (PDF)

     Hoja de información de una página sobre las vías de graduación para la promoción de 2021 (PDF)

Develop a High School and Beyond Plan

To graduate from high school, all students must develop a HSBP that illustrates how they will meet high school graduation requirements and what they will do following high school. A student's HSBP, which starts no later than 8th grade, is revised throughout high school. See RCW 28A.230.090, WAC 180-51-220, and pages 3–7 in this toolkit for detailed information.

Complete a Graduation Pathway

Students will complete a graduation pathway to demonstrate their readiness for a meaningful first step after high school; which could include obtaining a job, starting an apprenticeship, attending college, or joining the military. The Graduation Pathway(s) used by a student must be aligned with their HSBP, as designated in House Bill (HB)1599, RCW 28A.655.250 and WAC 180-51-230. See pages 9–16 in this toolkit for detailed information.

Earn Required High School Credits

All students must meet specific course requirements, including any Personalized Pathway Requirement courses, and other credit requirements established by their local districts. See WAC 180-51-210 and pages 17–18 in this toolkit for detailed information.

State and Local Graduation Requirements

School districts may have additional locally determined graduation requirements; such as additional credits, community service, or a senior project. While schools are expected to communicate all graduation requirements and regularly share information regarding all students’ progress toward graduation, students and their families should be made aware of all state and local graduation requirements when they begin high school.

School districts are strongly encouraged to involve parents and guardians in the process of developing and updating the HSBP as a way to increase awareness of academic progress and track completion of all graduation requirements.

Parents should direct questions about graduation requirements to their student(s) or Counselor Julie Larson at 509-365-2211, extension 126, and the school office at 509-365-2211, extension 120.