Academics

The State of Washington requires students to earn 24 credits in order to graduate.  The State of Washington and Edmonds School District has outlined the following required credits that must be met to graduate:

Subject	Required Credits	Notes
English	4.0
Math	3.0	Algebra 1 Geometry A 3rd credit of Math*
Science	3.0	At least two labs A 3rd credit of Science*
Social Studies	3.5	1.5 World History 1.0 US History 1.0 Civics/CWP
Art	1.0
CTE	1.5
Personal Finance	0.5
Health	0.5
PE	1.5
Electives*	5.5
TOTAL	24**

*Elective credits can be credits from ANY subject area.  For example, if a student takes a 4th year of Math and/or Science, those are considered elective credits.
**Students can apply to waive up to 2.0 elective credits by submitting Form P-50.

Colleges and Universities may have additional requirements.  Students are strongly encouraged to consult college admissions departments for additional requirements.  Example: University of Washington

World Language Credits are NOT required for graduation but may be required for college admissions. 

Volunteer Hours are NOT required for graduation. 

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.

Additional Information

Edmonds School District Graduation Pathway page

Washington State OSPI Graduation Pathway page

Students in the Edmonds School District must complete their High School and Beyond Plan in Naviance.  

Information about the required tasks can be found on the College and Career Center page.

OSPI High School and Beyond FAQ

Advanced Placement courses follow a set curriculum taught at the college level. Colleges may award college credit based upon successful completion (as determined by the individual college or university) of Advanced Placement (AP) exams.  9th graders interested in preparing for AP courses should take Honors classes Freshman year.

College in the High School (CHS) is a program which allows students to receive college credit through college-level courses taken at their high school. These courses offer college credit at a significantly reduced tuition rate, and provide students with a college transcript reflecting these courses upon graduation from high school.  You should contact the colleges you are interested in to verify that College in the High School credits will be accepted.

For information about College in the High School, please contact your course teacher.  Scholarships may be available directly from the college.  

CTE Dual Credit is a partnership between high schools and community colleges to provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credit in addition to high school credit in qualifying Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses provided at their high school. Tech Prep college credits earned in CTE courses can be applied directly to college certificate and technical degree programs. A grade of a "B" or better is required to earn college credit.

Information on registering for CTE Dual Credit Programs

There is a $50 fee if you want to earn college credit each year that you take CTE Dual Courses.  If scholarships are needed, please contact Tribecca in the Career Center.  

For more information about Career and Technical Education programs and courses, visit https://cte.edmonds.wednet.edu/cte-dual-credit

The Running Start Program in Washington State provides the opportunity for eligible high school juniors and seniors to attend college level classes, tuition free. Students will be responsible for purchasing books and supplies, assessment and technology fees, and transportation.

Upon successful completion of college level courses taken through Running Start, students will earn credit at the college level which will also apply toward high school graduation. 

For more information, please view our Running Start page.