OHS COURSE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS WORKSHEET
This is a worksheet for students to use each semester to plan their classes. Additional copies of
these sheets are in the Counseling Center on green paper.
Credit Requirements for High School Graduation
At the top of the sheet refer to the following requirements:
 Twenty-two (22) year long credits are required to graduate
 Each semester is worth .5. Students should earn 6 credits per year.
 These are minimum high school requirements. Students planning to attend 2-year or 4year colleges or universities have additional requirements.
 Starting with the Class of 2008 (9th graders) students will be required to have these
additional requirements:
o Art – 2 semesters
o High School and Beyond Plan completed in Advisory and Occupational
Educational classes
o Culminating Project
o Passage of WASL
Course Requirements for High School Graduation - Courses are listed on left with check offs on
the right. These are the minimum requirements needed for a high school diploma in Washington
State.
 English - All students must take 9th, 10th, and 11th grade English. There are no
exceptions. Students who are in special programs during their junior year such as
Running Start are required to take 11th grade English at OHS, because there is not an
approved course equivalent at the college. Students who fail a 9th, 10th, or 11th grade
English must take a 12th grade English for make up.
 Math - Two years of math are required. Students take math at their own level and
progress in a sequence, which can be found in the course catalog. Most students take
an additional year or two, because math skills will be needed in everyone’s future.
 Physical Education- Two years of physical education are required, with one semester
being health taken in 9th grade. After the freshman year students can choose to take
physical education the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades. Classes are also offered in summer
school, in Running Start, or as a 0-hour weights class at OHS. Students who have a
rigorous academic schedule who may not have room for PE may apply for a home school
PE through their counselor after arena of their senior year.
 Science - Two years of science is required. Freshman take physical science,
sophomores take biology. Most students take additional science classes, which can be
found in the course catalog.
 Social Studies – Three years of social studies is required to graduate. World History in
10th Grade, US History in 11th Grade, and two semesters of Senior Social Studies in 12th
grade. Any two of the following can be taken: psychology, sociology, economics, or
current world problems. In addition one semester of Washington State History is
required. Students usually take Washington State History in middle school to meet the
high school requirement. If new students enrolled after middle school another state
history will satisfy the requirement. Our registrar, Mrs. Ames can help students who have
a question about their Washington State History requirement.
 Occupational Education- One year of an occupational education is required. Classes
include, but are not limited to courses in Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology
Education, Business Education, and other courses listed in the course catalog.
 Art – One year of art is required for the Class of 2008, which can include performing,
visual, or fine arts.
Suggested Placement of Required Classes is listed on the bottom of the page for students to plan
their four years of classes. At this time all students should take a few minutes to write in the
classes you have already taken and/or plan to take next year.
We will update this sheet every year, so we want to keep this sheet in our folder.
High School and Beyond Information Page
Four-Year College Admission Requirements –
Refer students to the handout “Freshman Admission to Public Baccalaureate Colleges
and Universities in the State of Washington”
Students can access more information at http://www.washingtoncouncil.org. Out of state colleges
and universities may have additional requirements. Students can access the “College Handbook”
in the Counseling Center.
As a general rule all four-year colleges and universities have the following requirements:
 4 years of English – The minimum graduation requirement is 3 years of English that
include 9th, 10th, and 11th grade English. There are many 12th grade English offerings that
are usually semester classes. Students who fail English during 9th, 10th, or 11th grade
would need to take a 12th grade English, not repeat 9th, 10th, or 11th English.
 3 years of Social Studies – As a part of getting a high school diploma 3 years of Social
Studies is required that include 10th World History, 11th US History, 12th Senior Social
Studies (2 semesters of either psychology, sociology, economics, and current world
problems). In addition the Washington State History Requirement must be met, which is
usually taken care of in middle school.
 3 years of Math that includes Algebra 2 – Students are expected to have had Algebra 1,
Geometry, and Algebra 2. More advanced math courses are highly recommended.
Algebra or above taken in 8th grade can be added to the transcript by asking our registrar
to do so.
 2 years of Lab Science – College bound students are expected to have taken physical
science, biology, and chemistry for admission. Applied or essential courses are not
considered four-year college prep courses. Students planning to major in science or math
related fields should complete at least 3 years of science, but 4 years is encouraged.
 2 years of a single Foreign Language – Foreign Language is not required for graduation,
but is a core requirement for admission to four-year colleges. Three or fours years of a
language are encouraged, but only two years are required.
 1 year of Fine/ Visual, Performing Arts – One year of fine, visual, or performing arts OR
an additional year in any of the academic areas defined above is required. The arts
courses include performing arts such as band, orchestra, choir, ceramics, art, drawing,
photography, drama, or dance. Note that UW and WWU further specify students MUST
have at least .5 in fine, visual, or performing arts and the other .5 in either arts or an
academic area.
Tech Prep Courses - College credit can be awarded in the following courses taken at OHS if
offered:
Accounting, Computer Skills/Keyboarding, Technical Communication/Advanced
Keyboarding, Business Procedures, Applied Business, Technology, Oly Bear Preschool,
Drafting or Architecture.
Career Pathways – A Career Pathway is a designed to give students a focus of which courses to
take each year in high school that best fit their area of interest, field of study, or planned college
major. A suggested list of courses that best fit the six pathways can be found in the Career
Pathways booklet available in the OHS Career Center. Students need to consider working with
people, working with data, working with ideas, or working with things. The six pathways we will
use at OHS are Arts, Business Contact, Technical, Social Science, Business Operations, and
Sciences.
Testing –
 WASL – Washington Assessment of Student Learning; Taken in 10th grade; beginning
with Class of 2008 passing the WASL will be a requirement for graduation; Scores are
given to students in fall of junior year and kept in student cumulative file; WASL scores



will be put on student transcript; Some colleges will use WASL scores for admission
and/or scholarships.
ASVAB- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery- Some seniors who are in
vocational classes are given the opportunity to take the ASVAB. Seniors who are
interested in a career in the military should take the ASVAB through the military
recruiters.
WOIS – Washington Occupational Interest Survey – Students can take a career interest
survey on line and get current information about jobs, salaries, and preparatory education
for a chosen field.
College Testing- College bound juniors should take the following tests:
o PSAT – Offered in mid-October on a Saturday. Juniors will be informed about the
test in from the counselors in their English classes.
o SAT – A test needed for college admission, that is give several times during the
year on Saturdays. This reasoning test measures language, writing, and math.
To register students should go on line to www.Collegeboard.org. It is highly
recommend that students take the SAT in the spring of their junior year.
o SAT II – Subject test that students can take. Only certain colleges require SAT
II. Registration and more information can be found on the College Board website
or with the counselors.
o ACT – Another college admission test that most college will accept for admission.
English, math, reading, and science are tested. More information and registration
can be found in the Career Center or at www.act.org.
Culminating Project – Required for Class of 2008. The project will consist of a proposal,
bibliography of research, journal, a product or end-result, presentation, and a reflective summary
paper. The project can be completed in designated junior and senior classes or as an
independent study.
Advanced Placement Courses – Classes admitted by application in the prior spring semester
designed to cover greater depth, more challenge, and critical thinking. By taking the AP exams in
May, students may receive college credit from a specific score.