With the end of the school year rapidly closing in and current seniors making plans for their post-high school endeavors, students may be wondering about what is really required of them in order to graduate successfully. Though many are aware of the classes and credits necessary to fulfill one specific portion of graduation requirements, there are other components of demonstrating educational mastery that are lesser known but still play a significant role in graduation. There are three categories that must be fulfilled in order to graduate: basics, competency, and readiness.
The “basics” section of graduation requirements come from credit units. Class credits must come to a total of 20 with at least 4 units each from mathematics and English Language Arts, 3 each from both social studies and sciences, 5 units from electives (language classes included), and 1 credit from health and physical education classes.
In addition to academic credit requirements, students must also demonstrate competency in several skill areas. “The easiest way to demonstrate competency is with the English II and Math I state tests,” explains Ms. Abbot, a WKHS counselor. “If you get a competent score, then you get your credit in that section.” For those who do not achieve competency scores on those tests, there are other opportunities to show subject mastery: “There are two seals that, if you get them in conjunction with one another, will meet competency,” said Ms. Abbott.
Seals are another essential part of graduation requirements, filling in the “readiness” category. Seals are divided into local seals and state seals, with various requirements for each one. There are plenty of seals that can be earned, but the state requires that you receive at least one state seal.. Seals can be earned from tests and activities, but are primarily procured through standardized testing. “Some of the state seals are based on state testing,” states Ms. Abbott, “so your science seal comes from your biology state test, and your citizenship seal comes from your U.S. history and government tests.” Students must receive a competent score on said state tests in order to receive the state seal. Along the same vein, there are several local seals that are skill based, such as the student engagement seal, which can be achieved by participating in two seasons of a sport, the community service seal, and the biliteracy seal, which is awarded to students who speak, read, and write another language fluently.
Though graduating seems like a daunting endeavor, its requirements don’t have to be intimidating. For more information on graduation requirements, visit the WKHS counselors website here or reach out to your counselor for personal information regarding credits or transcript information. Let’s finish the school year strong, Wolves!
