Summit Sierra Electives and Graduation Requirements
Summit Sierra High School
Electives*
- Arts & Design
- Spanish 1-3
Expeditions Offerings Fall 2024-25
* The Electives are subject to change dependent on student interest.
** Indicates off campus experience
High School Graduation Credit Requirements
| Subject | WA Requirements | Summit Requirements | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 | English 9 English 10 AP Language and Composition AP Literature |
| Mathematics | 3 (Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1; Geometry or Integrated Math 2; and a third credit of Math) |
4 | Math 1 Math 2 Math 3 Choose 1 from 12th grade Math options (Atlas – Choose either AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB) |
| Science | 3 (Completion of at least two (2) lab sciences and a third credit of science) |
4 | Biology Physics Chemistry AP Environmental Science |
| Social Studies | 3 | 4 | Modern World 1 Modern World 2 AP US History AP Government *(includes civics) |
| World Language | 2 (Note: Student can apply one or both credits to their Personalized Pathway Requirement) |
2 | At least 2 years of HS Language Summit offers: Spanish 1 Spanish 2 Spanish 3 AP Spanish |
| Arts | 2 (Performing or visual arts; Student may apply one credit to their Personalized Pathway Requirement) |
2 | Choose 2 from Arts electives options |
| Health and Fitness/PE | 2 (Includes 1.5 Credits of Fitness and 0.5 Credits of Health; Note: Students must earn credit for physical education unless excused pursuant to RCW 28A.230.050) |
1.5 Fitness and 0.5 Health | 0.5 health + choose 2 from Fitness electives |
| Career and Technical Education | 1 (May be an occupational education course that meets the definition of an exploratory course as described in the CTE program standards) |
1 | No credits are required because AP Environmental studies fulfills this requirement |
| Additional Electives | 4 | 4 | |
| Personalized Pathway Requirement | 3 (Student may apply a PPR course for 1 or 2 of the required Arts Credits and may apply a PPR course for up to 2 of the required World Language credits) |
||
| Total = | 24 | 24+ | Most students earn between 24-28 total credits at Summit |
- The State Board of Education advises that “the third credit of science and the third credit of math are chosen by the student based on the student’s interest and High School and Beyond Plan, and approved by the parent or guardian, or if the parent or guardian is unavailable or does not indicate a preference, the school counselor or principal (WAC 180-51-068).”
- The State Board of Education advises that the Personalized Pathway Requirement are related courses that lead to a specific post high school career or educational outcome chosen by the student based on the student’s interests and High School and Beyond Plan, that may include Career and Technical Education, and are intended to provide a focus for the student’s learning.
(Updated October, 2022)
Graduation Pathway Options
| Pathway | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Smarter Balanced Assessments | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Meeting or exceeding the graduation scores in the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Smarter Balanced Assessment
|
See the Table entitled “Smarter Balanced Graduation Pathway” below. |
| 2. Dual Credit | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Earning at least one (1) high school credit in ELA and at least one (1) high school credit in Mathematics in Dual Credit Courses. |
Students do not have to pay fees or claim college credit to meet this Pathway, but they must be eligible for college credit at the level of 100 or higher, by meeting the program criteria established by SPS and the applicable higher education entity.
Students can get Dual Credit (PDF) by:
|
| 3. AP/IB/Cambridge | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Earning a 3 or higher on the AP exam associated with the listed courses (or earning a C+ (2.3) grade or higher each term in the listed courses) for ELA and Math. |
The AP courses that meet this option in English Language Arts are: English Language and Composition; English Literature and Composition; Macroeconomics; Microeconomics; Psychology; United States History; World History; United States Government and Politics; Comparative Government and Politics.
The AP courses that meet this option in Math are: Statistics; Computer Science A; Computer Science Principles; Calculus |
| Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Earning a 4 or higher on the IB exam associated with the listed courses (or earning a C+ (2.3) or higher each term in the listed courses) for ELA and Math. |
The IB courses that meet this option in English Language Arts are courses in Individuals and Societies
Any IB course in mathematics would meet this option for Math. Students must earn a C+ (2.3) grade or higher each term in one of these courses, or score a 4 or higher on the exam associated with these courses. |
|
| Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Earning an “E” or higher on the Cambridge International exam associated with the listed courses (or earning a C+ (2.3) or higher in each term in the listed courses) for ELA and Math. |
Cambridge International courses that meet this option in English language arts are Cambridge Advanced or Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary courses in: Courses in Individuals and Societies; English language; Literature and English; English General Paper; Psychology; History; Sociology; Global Perspectives and Research; Law
Cambridge International courses that meet this option in Math are any of the Cambridge Advanced or Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary courses in Math or further Math. |
|
| 4. SAT/ACT | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Meeting or exceeding the graduation scores set by the State Board of Education in the ELA and Math portions of the SAT or ACT. |
For Class of 2020 and beyond
English Math |
| 5. Transition Course | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Passing a Transition Course in ELA and Math which allows a student to place directly into a credit-bearing college level course. |
For example – a Bridge to College course, which is a senior course for students who earned a Level 2 on the SBA
This Pathway includes Transition Courses identified through agreements between institutions of higher education and school districts. |
| 6. Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) Assessment | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
The WA-AIM is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. |
Score on ELA – 104
Score on math – 103 |
| 7. Combination | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Meeting any combination of at least one ELA and one Math option of those options listed in Pathway Options #1, #2, #3, #4 and/or #5. |
Example: A student may meet the English graduation pathway option using the State assessment, and the Math graduation pathway option using a Transition Course. |
| 8. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Meeting or exceeding the minimum score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test which certifies that applicant is eligible to serve in a branch of the armed services at the time the student takes the test. |
This Pathway option will satisfy the requirements for both English and Mathematics.
Current AFQT minimum score: 31 |
| 9. CTE Sequence | Student can achieve this Pathway by:
Completing a sequence of Career and Technical Education (“CTE”) courses: |
This Pathway requires the student to earn two (2) or more high school credits of CTE courses in a progression tailored to the Student’s goals and relevant to the postsecondary pathway(s) outlined in the Student’s High School and Beyond Plan. The sequence may be comprised of courses within the same CTE program area or courses within more than one CTE program area. |
(Updated October, 2022)
Smarter Balanced Graduation Pathway
Students seeking to satisfy the Graduation Pathway through the Smarter Balanced assessment must satisfy the requirements in the following table.
| Graduation Year | Testing Requirements |
|---|---|
| Class of 2021 and Beyond | Meet the graduation cutoff score on the Smarter Balanced ELA Test Meet the graduation cutoff score on the Smarter Balanced Math Test Meet the graduation cutoff score on the 11th grade WCAS Science test |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is required for PE? How can a student waive PE requirements?
Students are required to take 1.5 PE/Fitness credits. Students can satisfy this requirement by (A) taking 2 PE electives at Summit or (B) receiving a waiver from taking a PE course.
The State standards are excerpted here: State Standards for High School PE (PDF)
Pursuant to State law, a student can apply for a waiver due to:
- Physical Disability: Student has a physical disability.
- Employment: Student must work to assist family or Student is currently self-supporting. Student must present a signed waiver confirming that participation is not possible due to employment.
- Directed Athletics: Student must present a signed waiver confirming that they participate or participated in directed athletics (e.g. afterschool sports/fitness program). Each semester of directed athletics equals 0.5 credits.
- Religious Belief: Student must present a signed waiver confirming that Student cannot participate due to religious reasons.
- Military Science: Student must present a signed waiver confirming that they participate in a military science and tactics program (e.g. ROTC). Each semester of military science equals 0.5 credits.
What is required for health? How will students have Summit complete the health requirements?
Students are required to complete 0.5 health credit. The sexual health education is required to be The Healthy Youth Act requires that when teaching sexual health education, schools must assure that the instruction:
- Is medically and scientifically accurate.
- Is age-appropriate.
- Is appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, or sexual orientation.
- Includes information about abstinence and other methods of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, neither to the exclusion of the other.
- Is consistent with the 2005 Guidelines for Sexual Health Information and Disease Prevention (PDF).
Students in 2019 and 2020 graduating class with earn this 0.5 health credit by completing 5 health playlists during mentor PLT and attending a Sex Ed workshop and a CPR training in school during the 2018-2019 school year.
Students in the 2012 graduating class and onward are required to take 1 semester of Health, which will cover sexual health education, as one of their electives. Students will earn a full health credit for this course.
What is required for foreign language?
State law requires students to complete 2 credits of world language. Student can apply one or both credits to their Personalized Pathway Requirement.
All Summit Students are required to complete 2 years of high school level foreign language or to complete up through a level 2 language course. Summit encourages students to take 3 or 4 years of a foreign language (or up through a level 3 or 4 course) in order to best acquire the language and to be competitive as they apply to college.
Can some Middle School courses count as High School credits?
Pursuant to RCW 28A.230.090(4), middle School courses (Including language courses) do not count for high-school credit or go on a student’s transcript unless:
(A) (i) the course was taken with high school students, (ii) the academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes, and (iii) the student has successfully passed by completing the same course requirements and examinations as the high school students enrolled in the class; OR
(B) (i) the academic level of the course exceeds the requirements for seventh and eighth grade classes and (ii) the course would qualify for high school credit, because the course is similar or equivalent to a course offered at a high school in the district as determined by the school district board of directors.
(C) a parent or guardian requests that the course count for credit.
If a student completed and passed a foreign language course(s) in middle school with a C- or better, they may be placed into a language course higher than a Level 1. This placement would allow them to meet the high school foreign language requirement of reaching a Level 2 in a fewer number of years.
Now that Electives are happening 1 per semester, will students still be able to earn a full credit for each electives course?
Summit students will complete 180 minutes of in class electives course work per week. Because electives will still allow for the amount of time needed for students to master the content and skills for each elective credits, students will still earn 1 credit per elective course. Students can earn up to 2 electives credits each year, 1 per semester.
Are students required to take a CTE class? How is this fulfilled at Summit?
State law requires all high school students to complete 1 credit of Career & Technical Education among the 24 credits required for graduation.
All Summit Seniors take AP Environmental Science which fulfills the CTE requirement. AP Environmental Science is worth 1 credit, but completion will satisfy two requirements: Senior Science and CTE.
How will students at Summit fulfill the High School and beyond WA state credit requirement?
All HSBPs must include the following elements:
- an identification of career goals, aided by a skills and interest assessment;
- an identification of educational goals;
- a four-year plan for course-taking that fulfills state and local graduation requirements
- alignment with the student’s career and educational goals; and
- by the end of twelfth grade, a current resume or activity log that provides a written compilation of the student’s education, any work experience, and any community service and how the school district recognized the community service.
In addition the High School and Beyond Plan must also:
- Be revised as necessary for changing interests, goals, and needs of the student.
- Include a personalized pathway course plan that aligns with graduation requirements and post-high school plans.
- Identify available interventions and academic support, courses, or both, that enable students who have not met the high school graduation assessment standards to do so.
- Be advised for an 8th grade student who has not learned a Level 3 on middle school state assessment in math, the student must take a math course in both 9th and 10th grades.
- For a student who takes a CTE course that has been determined to be equivalent to an academic core course (a CTE course equivalency), include a record of a certificate of CTE course completion.
- Guide a student’s Personalized Pathway Requirement.
The PLP is Summit’s version of the High School and Beyond plan. Students will complete a portfolio of reflections during their senior year in Mentor Time to complete this requirement.
How will Summit Students fulfill the WA state history requirement?
Students may fulfil the Washington state history and government graduation requirement in the 7th grade or 8th grade, and the student may take 0.5 credits of an additional district-approved social studies course to meet the 2.5 credits total required in social studies.
Students enrolled at SPS for the 8th grade will take a combined US+WA state history course during the 8th grade.
Washington Residents: Students who join SPS after 8th grade will be required to complete three (3) Washington state history playlists on the PLP in addition to their 9th grade history coursework unless the student already completed Washington state history prior to enrolling at SPS.
Do Summit students have to complete community service hours?
No, Washington law does not require students to complete community service hours in order to graduation.
Please note:
- Although SPS highly encourages community services and believes it is an asset for college admissions, community service is not a graduation requirement at SPS.
- Each student’s High School and Beyond Plan is required to include, by the end of 12th grade, a current resume that includes, among other things, any community service and how the school district recognized the community service.
Do Summit Students receive credit for completing internships?
Summit Washington students have the opportunity to complete internships during their 12th grade year. These internships will be included on their transcript but do not count for course credit.
Does Summit weight GPA for AP classes?
In Washington State, all transcripts uniformly report unweighted GPAs. Students’ final grades are translated into letter grades for transcripts and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) for colleges. Note that different colleges may calculate GPAs differently based on college-specific policies which could include different calculations for Advanced Placement Courses but this is done during the admissions process by the college or university.
Can a student graduate without passing the ELA and Math SBAC exams?
Yes. All students are required to attempt the SBAC exams. A student who meets the high school graduation standard on the Smarter Balanced ELA assessment and the high school standard on the Smarter Balanced Mathematics assessment will earn a certificate of academic achievement (a “CAA”).
If a student does not pass after attempted, there are multiple pathways to work towards graduation (Dual Credit; AP/IB/Cambridge; SAT/ACT; Transition Course; Combination; Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; and the CTE Sequence). See the table entitled “Graduation Pathway Options” above for additional information. Such pathways include:
School districts must provide students who have not earned a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) before the beginning of eleventh grade with the opportunity to access interventions and academic supports, courses, or both, designed to the enable students to meet the high school graduation standard.
(Updated October, 2022)
