SPS Middle School Students Taking High School Courses

To Middle School Families,

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is committed to providing every student with equitable access to advanced coursework. To support this, SPS course pathways in middle school allow students to earn high school credit for high-school level courses taken at any SPS middle school. These accelerated pathways are carefully designed to support students while ensuring alignment with Washington State learning standards, SPS curriculum, and expectations for high school coursework.

In accordance with Washington State law, high school credit is automatically awarded for high school-level courses offered within SPS’ middle schools. The earned credits are transcribed on a student’s high school transcript with a Pass/No Pass (P/N) grade designation. If you do not wish for high-school course(s) taken in middle school to appear on your student’s high school transcript, you must notify your school before the end of your student’s 11th grade year by completing the Middle School Students Taking Out-of-District High School Courses form.

While SPS does not recommend taking a summer or out-of-district course for the purpose of faster course acceleration or to earn additional high school credit beyond what is offered through accelerated middle school pathways, SPS understands that some students may choose this option to meet individual academic goals. If a student decides to pursue this option by enrolling in an out-of-district course for high school credit, the steps outlined below must be followed. Please note that acceleration beyond what SPS offers is contingent upon both timely notice provided to the school and the availability of the next course at the school site. As a result, advancement to the next course in the sequence cannot be guaranteed.

Before Enrolling in the course:

1. Ensure the course meets all the following criteria:
   • Is a part of an appropriate academic sequence (e.g. students should not take Geometry without first completing Algebra 1);
   • Is substantially equivalent to a comparable SPS high school course;
   • Aligns with SPS and Washington State high school learning standards; and
   • Is taught by an OSPI-approved online provider or a provider accredited in the State of Washington.
2. Complete and submit the Middle School Students Taking Out-of-District High School Courses form to the registrar at the school where you will be enrolled in the fall before enrolling in the course. This form must be received no later than May 1 of the year in which you intend to enroll.

After Submitting the Form:

1. Register for the exact course that was approved.
2. Complete the course.
3. After completion, request an official transcript from the provider to be sent directly to your school’s registrar.
4. Once verified, the course and credit will be added to your SPS high school transcript.

Submitting the Middle School Students Taking Out-of-District High School Courses form prior to enrollment and completing all required steps ensures the district can evaluate the course for credit eligibility and make informed decisions regarding the student’s future course placement. For rising 9th graders, this form must be submitted no later than May 1 to guarantee proper placement in high school.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact:

Caleb Perkins
Executive Director of College and Career Readiness
cbperkins@seattleschools.org