Graduation Requirements and High School Course Catalog

The High School and Beyond Plan is a state graduation requirement. Each student must have a High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) to guide the student’s high school experience and prepare the student for postsecondary education or training and career. Students start their plan in eighth grade and then continue to revise them throughout high school to accommodate changing interests or educational and career goals. Using the plan as a guide, students, counselors, teachers, and families can work together to connect students’ education today to their future career choices.

Required elements of the plan include: 

• 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 and aligns 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.

The High School and Beyond Plan may provide students with the opportunity to explore their own skills and interests and discover potential career and educational options. This personalized plan helps to connect career interests with courses and courses with career pathways or college majors. The plan helps students identify the steps needed to reach postsecondary goals. Students should be encouraged to take ownership over their high school experience and choose coursework and activities that are relevant to their goals. The High School and Beyond Plan also provides a means of tracking requirements for graduation from high school and entry into postsecondary programs and careers. Bellingham Public Schools uses Xello as our High School and Beyond Plan platform. Xello activities include:

Assessments that Build Self-Knowledge
Students complete interactive career, personality, and learning style assessments to help them better understand their unique interests, skills, and strengths. Each engaging assessment encourages reflection, helping students connect who they are with relevant career options.

Personalized Student Portfolios
Students personalize their Xello experience by creating a shareable, online portfolio that showcases their interests, skills, and abilities. Profiles are easily updated as students gain new experiences, reflecting who they are every step of the way.

Vibrant Career and College Profiles
Students explore hundreds of career and college options that align with their assessment results. Engaging content written at a grade 6 level, rich photography, and real-world interviews provide an authentic glimpse into their future and the critical knowledge to make informed decisions and plans.

Interactive Planning Tools
Students translate their newfound knowledge into an actionable roadmap by piecing together their saved career and academic options to create a personalized plan. Plus, with integrated course planning, they’ll have a clear path to their future goals.

Building Skills Employers Value
With integrated lessons, students build essential skills and knowledge that can help them succeed in the real world. Personalized based on their work in Xello, lessons give students the chance to reflect, reassess, and build communication, problem solving, and teamwork skills to ensure smooth transitions between critical life stages.

Financial Information
This section of the HSBP is required to ensure all students know what support is available and how to access state and federal assistance after high school including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Washington Application for Financial Aid (WASFA) and College Bound scholarships.

Get started on Xello here.

Each semester, a student can earn four credits, with eight total credits possible per year. This means most students can earn 32 total credits over four years. 30 credits are required for graduation.

English 4.0 Required: English 101 and English 201, and other courses in reading, writing, and communication.

Math 3.0 Required: Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. Algebra II may be met by another third year math course based on student interest and High School and Beyond Plan including parent/guardian signature. See counselor for details.

World Language 2.0 Required: Two credits/consecutive years in the same language (e.g., two years of Spanish, two years of French, two years of German, etc.). Both credits may be a Personalized Pathway Requirement.

Science 3.0   Recommended sequence is Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Required: Two credits of lab science are required. The third credit is based on student interests and the High School and Beyond Plan. See counselor for details.

Social Studies 3.0 Required: Contemporary World History, US History; 0.5 credits of Civics; 0.5 credits of Social Studies elective. Note: Washington State History is required for graduation. District students fulfill this state requirement in grade 7 social studies. Transfer students may need to complete this requirement prior to graduation. See counselor for details.

Physical Education 2.0 Required: Health (0.5 credit) and PE (1.5 credits).

Arts 2.0 1.0 credit may be a Personalized Pathway Requirement, which are related courses leading to a specific career or educational path, chosen by the student based on interest. See counselor for details.

Career and Technical Education 1.5 Required: 0.5 Technical Literacy
A CTE graduation pathway may be met with 2.0 credits within a single program area: Business and Marketing, Family and Consumer Science, STEM, Skilled and Technical, Health Science, or Agriculture.

Electives 9.5

30 Required High School Credits

Guided by the their High School and Beyond Plan, students choose and complete graduation pathways that will help them find success with their post high school goals. To earn their high school diploma, students complete one of many options for a graduation pathway in English language arts and mathematics.

Scheduling for students who receive support through an individualized education plan (IEP) is determined individually by the IEP team. The student receives services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). If you have questions regarding scheduling, please contact your school counselor or IEP case manager.

Pathways include:

1. Demonstrate College & Career Readiness in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. The first pathway option is to meet certain cut scores on state tests, namely the Smarter Balanced (SBA) in ELA and Math. Students take the tests in grade 10 with retakes available in grades 11 and 12.  For additional ways to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and Math, please see your counselor, or page 7 of the course catalog.
2. Demonstrate Career Readiness with CTE Course Sequence.** Students can meet pathway requirements by earning two credits in designated CTE course sequences that must align with their High School and Beyond Plan.  (See page 20 in the course catalog for this sequencing.)
3. Demonstrate Armed Services Readiness with ASVAB test scores.**  Students whose High School and Beyond Plan includes an interest in enlisting in the military can meet pathway requirements with the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score that is set by Washington state.

**Success in either the CTE course sequence or the ASVAB option will satisfy both the ELA and Math pathways for high school graduation.

NOTE: The Washington State Board of Education adopted rules to enact a new graduation pathway option, the performance-based pathway. Bellingham Public Schools is currently developing policies and supports to provide this as an additional pathway option for our students.

The high school course catalog provides information on courses offered by Bellingham Public Schools. It provides course titles, codes, credits, prerequisites and descriptions. Please note that not all courses listed may be offered during the upcoming school year. Your high school will share the course available at your school.

We hope this catalog will help answer your questions as you decide which high school courses to register for next year. Courses in this guide will only be run if enough students register to fill a class.

It is very important that you think carefully about your choices. Once course schedules are established and the master schedule is created, students may not change or drop a class. Any schedule changes will be considered only under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by an administrator.

You are required to select alternate course choices for each elective. If you do not choose an alternate and cannot get into your first choice class, your counselor will choose courses for you.

All ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students take eight credit-earning classes per semester. The principal may make rare exceptions when they determine it is in the best interest of a particular student to have a reduced schedule. In order to establish and maintain a college preparatory high school schedule, all twelfth grade students are encouraged to take eight credit earning classes per semester.

Once a student has registered for classes and the student-driven master schedule is created, students will be held to their commitment. We hire teachers and staff in the spring based on student course selection and we are bound to that commitment. Only under extenuating circumstances will a schedule change/correction be considered by the principal or principal-designee, and this must occur within the first 10 school days of the semester. If after 10 school days a student stops attending a class, the counselor will work with the student, teacher and administrator to determine if a final grade will be included on the transcript.

All academic classes result in a letter grade mark that is converted to a four-point scale for grade point average (GPA) calculation. Students who do not earn credit in a class required for graduation must repeat/retrieve the class. Grades and marks that are allowable by state rules and that will be available for high school grading are listed below, along with their grade point value and credit status.

Grade Points Credit
A 4.0 Yes
A- 3.7 Yes
B+ 3.3 Yes
B 3.0 Yes
B- 2.7 Yes
C+ 2.3 Yes
C 2.0 Yes
C- 1.7 Yes
D+ 1.3 Yes
D 1.0 Yes

Non-Calculating Marks* Credit
P Pass Yes
I Incomplete No
NC No Credit No
W Withdrawal No

*Non-numerical marks are not included in grade point average calculations.

Bellingham Public Schools does not calculate for class rank. For more complete information, please see policy and procedure 2420.

The Personalized Pathway Requirement relates to courses that lead to a specific post high school career or educational outcome chosen by the student based on student interests and their High School and Beyond Plan. These may include Career and Technical Education courses, and are intended to provide a focus for the student’s learning. Students may substitute 1 Art Credit or both (2 credits) of World Language to use as a personalized pathway towards graduation. Personalized Pathways are designed by students and counselors using programs of study from 16 different career clusters such as Business, Information Technology, Transportation, Manufacturing and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). See counselor for more details.

In Bellingham, it is very unusual for students in grades 6-8 to take high school credit bearing courses. If a middle school student has taken either Compacted 8/Algebra 1 or Geometry, please contact your student’s counselor if you do not want the course applied to your student’s transcript.

Any high school courses taken and passed by students in grades 7 and 8 will be awarded high school credit and placed on the high school transcript. The credits can be removed if requested by the student or parent/guardian prior to the end of the student’s grade 11 school year.

See policy and procedure 2410 for more information or speak with your school counselor.

Bellingham Public Schools has several opportunities for students to earn dual credit while in high school. Dual credit is when students earn high school and college credit at the same time.

Programs available are:

• Advanced Placement (AP) classes
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit
• Running Start
• College in the High School

Please click on the name of each program below for more information.

It is a goal of Bellingham Public Schools to challenge and stretch every student in a rigorous set of classes each year. Although not necessarily offered at every high school, as a district we are able to offer more than 25 different Advanced Placement courses. AP classes are rigorous, college level courses offered in a high school setting that include a final examination or AP Test. Students who take AP courses may earn college credit depending on how well they do on the national Advanced Placement test. You can speak with your counselor about AP classes and the associated academic work-load so you can maintain a positive life balance.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are designed for students to explore career pathways based on their interest areas. A sequence of CTE courses in a focused content area can also be used as a graduation pathway. See page 20 or contact your counselor for more details. Classes marked with *T are CTE dual credit courses where students may earn both high school and college credits. Availability varies from site to site, please check with your instructor.

Although not available at all of our high schools, students may be able to participate in College in the High School (CHS) courses. Working with local community colleges, technical colleges and universities, students in grades 10 through 12 may be able to earn college credit for some classes (dual credit). Your high school will share with you which classes, if any, at your school are CHS courses.

There is no longer a fee for students to enroll in a CHS or co-delivered dual credit course to earn high school credit.

• There is no fee to enroll for college credit at Washington’s public colleges and universities and Heritage University
• Enrollment for college credit starts a college transcript at the institution of higher education (IHE) offering the course regardless of the student’s performance and
• College credit may count as elective credit if transferred to another IHE (RCW 28A.600.287).
• Families can utilize the CiHS Course Equivalencies tool posted on the Council of Presidents’ Dual Credit webpage to explore how a specific college credit will transfer into the four-year public universities.

Students should speak with their high school counselor or school administrator for additional information regarding course options and associated fees required by the specific/sponsoring institution.

For information about Running Start, please visit the Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College websites. Financial aid may be available for any fees and/or books required by these classes.

• Eligible students may enroll in Running Start at any Washington community and technical college and participating state colleges and universities (Central and Eastern Washington Universities, Washington State University, Tri-Cities, and the Northwest Indian College)
• Eligible students may enroll in online college courses at participating institutions of higher education (IHEs)
• Summer term opportunities are available for eligible students (including rising juniors) with available annual average FTE (AAFTE) (see Bulletin 027-24)
• High school diplomas may be issued by colleges to high school seniors under the conditions set forth in RCW 28B.50.535 and
• Students are responsible for applying for admission to the IHE in which they intend to enroll (RCW 28A.600.320)

Occasionally, students take courses outside the district and receive credit on their high school transcripts. Before students enroll in any outside course for which they expect credit, an application and detailed explanation of the proposed program must be submitted for counselor and administrative approval. Applications are available in the counseling center. Once the application is approved, students must maintain a full schedule. Students must take responsibility to submit an official transcript documenting the completion of the course and earned credit to the high school registrar.

Students may also wish to take courses for outside credit, not approved by Bellingham Public Schools, and separately submit that transcript to colleges or universities.

Please see Policy 2415 for more information.

The Washington State Seal of Biliteracy (RCW 28A.300.575) recognizes public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. In Bellingham, graduating seniors can earn this distinction by meeting all ELA graduation requirements and demonstrating proficiency in another world language either by earning four credits through proficiency testing.

Entrance requirements or expectations for four-year colleges vary and may change annually. In addition to academic performance, colleges will consider factors such as whether a student has overcome personal or social adversity, challenged themselves academically, and developed leadership skills and extracurricular interests. A personal essay is often considered.

For the most current information, consult online resources at CollegeBoard.org, or a specific college catalog. These reference materials are in high school counseling/career centers.

The entrance requirements listed below are for general guidance. Please ask your counselor for help in checking the requirements for specific postsecondary institutions.

Washington Technical Colleges:
High school graduation or 18 years of age.

Washington Community Colleges: High school graduation or 18 years of age.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities: High school graduation; rigorous coursework; GPA, SAT and/or ACT** scores; four years of English; three years of social studies; two or three years of the same world language; three or four years of college preparatory math; two or three years of lab science; and at least two years of visual or performing arts.

**Confirm testing requirements with university or college.

The Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Philosophy of Scholarship states: “While the WIAA is aware of the important role that interscholastic athletics play in the development of students, the WIAA member schools are also committed to the philosophy that the primary purpose of our secondary schools should be to academically prepare students to become productive citizens upon graduation.”

According to WIAA regulations, in order for a student athlete to be (and remain) eligible to participate in athletics students must:
take at least 7 out of 8 classes; however, Bellingham Public Schools expects students to take eight classes,
take an equivalent full-time schedule if enrolled in Running Start,
live within the boundaries and designated attendance area of the school,
pass all classes,
agree to sign and follow the Bellingham Public Schools Athletic Code of Conduct.

Please speak with the school athletic coordinators for additional information or any unusual circumstances regarding eligibility.

College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADR Credit)
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WASC) sets minimum admission standards for public four-year baccalaureate institutions in Washington state. College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) reflect the minimum number of credits required in six subject areas that students must earn to be eligible for routine admission consideration by four-year public baccalaureate institutions.

CADRs guide students to take high school courses which will prepare them for college-level coursework. High school courses meeting CADRs are determined by the school district and are noted on student transcripts with a “B” designation. CADRs are not the same as high school graduation requirements, which are determined by the local school districts.
Students who plan to attend a four-year college or university should be aware of both their high school graduation requirements and the CADRs. Meeting the minimum college admission standards does not guarantee admission to a public baccalaureate institution. Therefore, students are encouraged to go beyond meeting minimum college admission standards to improve their chances for gaining entry to a public baccalaureate institution. If a student plans to attend an out-of-state or private 4-year college, the student should obtain admissions requirements and information from the institution they wish to attend.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. The NCAA does this by reviewing the student-athlete’s academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.

For more information regarding NCAA-approved courses and eligibility, please visit www.ncaa.org.

The Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP) guarantees admission to six public four-year universities in Washington for eligible students.

This initiative helps students secure a spot in college before applying, making the transition to higher education easier.

To qualify, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and complete all College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs). Meeting graduation requirements in Bellingham Public Schools plus a senior year of math will meet this requirement.

Participating universities are: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University and Western Washington University.

To learn more, visit wacollegeguarantee.org