Graduation Pathways
Graduation Pathways
Every student in the state of Washington must meet a Graduation Pathway in order to graduate. Previously this requirement was met by passing the Smarter Balance exam. However, now there are a number of ways to meet it. Talk to your counselor about which pathway you want to pursue.
Below are some of the most common ways students meet it while at Mountlake Terrace High School.
Smarter Balance Assessment
Students meeting this graduation pathway need to earn at least the following scores on the high school English Language Arts (ELA) and math Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) of:
- Score on ELA - 2548
- Score on math - 2595
CTE Course Sequence
There are a variety of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways and classes available to you in high school. CTE Pathways and classes help students prepare for life after high school graduation while exploring careers and developing skills in areas closely connected to their interests. In addition, recent changes to state graduation requirements provide students the option to meet state Graduation Pathway requirements by completing 2.0 credits within an approved CTE Pathway.
Read more about CTE Pathways and classes here: CTE Pathways and Classes
College Admission and AP Exams
Students may use scores on college admissions (ACT, ACT with Writing, SAT, SAT with Essay) and specified Advanced Placement (AP) tests to show they possess the knowledge and skills expected of high school graduates.
Dual Credit Courses (Running Start)
A student who completes a dual credit course in English language arts and mathematics in which the student can earn college credit may use passage of the class as a graduation pathway.
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
For a student who takes the ASVAB while in high school and earns at least the minimum score (31) on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) portion of the test, the ASVAB may be used to meet the graduation pathway.