Earn High School Credit
Washington requires public high school students to complete a minimum number
of credits to graduate. Many local school districts, however, require students
to earn credits beyond the state minimum. Students must fulfill all requirements
of their local district to be eligible to graduate.
The chart below shows the state-required minimum number of credits students
need, by year of expected graduation (also known as “Class.”) A student’s Class
is determined by the year he or she entered 9th grade. For example, a student
who entered 9th grade in the fall of 2015 is the “Class of 2019.”
Please visit the State Board website for more details on the requirements listed below.
Washington State Minimum Credit Requirements
| CLASSES |
REQUIRED CREDITS |
|
Class of 2015 |
Classes of 2016-2018 |
Class of 2019 and Beyond |
| English | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Science | 2 | 2 |
3 |
| Social Studies** | 2.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Arts | 1 |
1 |
2 |
| Health and Fitness | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Career and Technical Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electives | 5.5 | 4 |
4 |
World Language or Personalized Pathway Requirement | 0 | 0 |
2 |
| Total Required Credits | 20 | 20 | 24
(Up to 2 credits can be waived locally
based on a student's unusual circumstances.) |
Shading indicates a change from the previous requirements
|