Graduation Requirements

*Each whole credit number represents a year length course. For example, 3 math credits represents 3 years of study.

• Personalized Pathway Requirements
• English (4 credits)
• Mathematics (3 Credits)
• Science (3 Credits)
• Social Studies (3 Credits)
• Health & Fitness (2 Credits)
• Career & Technical Education (1 Credit)
• Arts (2 Credits)
• World Language (2 Credits)
• Flexible Credits (4 Credits)
• Outside Credit Limit

Personalized Pathway Requirements

Personalized Pathway Requirements are courses that lead to a specific post-high school career outcome chosen by the student, based on the student’s High School & Beyond Plan. Personalized Pathway Requirements could be an extra credit of art, two credits of world language, or credits in another subject area focused in the student’s area of interest.

English (4 credits)

4.0 credits English/Language Arts

Mathematics (3 Credits)

• 1.0 Credit: Algebra 1
• 1.0 Credit: Geometry
• 1.0 Credit: Student Choice*

*This credit is chosen by the student and is based on their interest and High School & Beyond Plan.

Science (3 Credits)

• 2.0 Credits: Laboratory Science
• 1.0 Credit: Student Choice*

*This credit is chosen by the student and is based on their interest and High School & Beyond Plan.

Social Studies (3 Credits)

• 1.0 Credit: World History
• 1.0 Credit: US History
• .50 Credit: Contemporary World Issues
• .50 Credit: Civics
• One semester in Washington State History and Constitution must be met in 7th grade as a non-credit bearing high school course.

Health & Fitness (2 Credits)

• 1.0 Credit: Physical Education
• 0.5 Credit in Life/Fitness
• 0.5 Credit in Health

Career & Technical Education (1 Credit)

• 1.0 credit that meets CTE exploratory requirements or higher.

Students who earn a graduation requirement credit through a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course determined (by the Instructional Support Department) to be equivalent to a non-CTE course shall not be required to earn a second credit in the non-CTE graduation requirement course. The single CTE course would meet two diploma requirements. Similarly, students who earn a graduation requirement credit through a non-CTE course determined (by the Instructional Support Department) to be equivalent to a CTE course shall not be required to earn a second credit in the CTE graduation requirement course. However, in either case only one credit would be awarded. The student would then be required to earn an additional elective credit, as total credits for graduation will not change.

Arts (2 Credits)

• 1.0 Credit: Visual and/or Performing Arts
• 1.0 Credit: Additional art course OR course in the student's Personalized Pathway

World Language (2 Credits)

• 2.0 Credits: Word Language* OR course in the student's Personalized Pathway

*World Language is required at most universities. Please check with your college of choice to determine if world language credit is a requirement for admission.

Flexible Credits (4 Credits)

• 4.0 credits chosen by the student

Outside Credit Limit

To preserve the integrity of the Northshore comprehensive high school diploma, 85% of the required credits for graduation shall be earned through the student's comprehensive high school course offerings. No more than 50% of the graduation requirements in any discipline may be obtained from approved accredited sources outside the Northshore School District. Students who earn more than 15% of the total required credits or more than 50% of the required credits in any discipline from outside sources, and who complete all district requirements for graduation, shall receive a generic Northshore School District diploma.

For more information, please visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction(OSPI) for state information and links to additional resources.