Washington public high school students take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) for English Language Arts (ELA) and math in grade 10. Grade 11 students take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). Results from these assessments provide meaningful feedback and data that teachers and other educators can use to help students succeed. In addition, the results provide data to help evaluate school-level and district-wide instructional strategies, initiatives and other programs.
The ELA and math assessments are one of the ways a student can meet a state-required “graduation pathway.”

In 2019, the Washington State Legislature provided students in the class of 2020 and beyond with multiple pathways to graduation by passing House Bill (HB) 1599. For most students, meeting standard on the state assessment will be the first pathway option available in high school. All students, regardless of which graduation pathway they intend to use, are expected to take the statewide ELA and math assessments during 10th grade and to incorporate their results in their High School and Beyond Plan.

For these reasons, we recommend that students initially plan to use the state assessment to meet the graduation pathway option requirement and take advantage of additional pathway options that are aligned with their High School and Beyond Plan as appropriate.

Additional information about graduation requirements can be found on the High School Course Guide on our website: https://www.lwsd.org/schools/high-school/high-school-guide.