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Graduation Requirements

We do things differently!

At Career Academy, scholars don't earn credits, they demonstrate competencies. What is a competency? It is a skill or concept that we use in real life. For example, reading to understand something is a competency. We strive to teach each scholar to be competent in reading for understanding. We know this is an essential skill for participation in all aspects of life as a graduate.

We are always growing and developing to become more competent, until we are masters of a craft or a skill. Even masters (think Michael Jordan or Julia Child) keep learning to get better at what they do. Continuous learning and growth is what we want for every CA scholar!

There are 4 levels of competency development:

Emerging: Scholar is just starting to develop this competency and needs to continue learning this skill/concept.
Discovering: Scholar is actively working to develop this competency and has shown some evidence to demonstrate their learning.
Engaged: Scholar meets the criteria for being competent in this skill/concept for their grade level/age.*
Empowered: Scholar is competent and continues to deepen their skills/knowledge beyond what is expected for their grade level or age.*

 

* Scholars must be at the Engaged or Empowered level in competency development to be marked as MEETING the competency. Meeting the competencies is required to graduate at Career Academy.

These are 4 requirements to graduate in the state of Washington:

  1. Competency completion - all scholars must MEET the Big Picture Learning Competencies at the Engaged or Empowered level.
  2. Graduation Pathway - this means scholars have taken and passed English and Math state tests such as the SBA or the SAT, have taken and met a minimum score on the ASVAB test, or have completed 2 years of Career and Technical Education (CTE).
  3. High School and Beyond Plan
  4. Washington State History

Learning Goals

As a Big Picture Learning school, there are 5 Learning Goals we focus on. All competencies fall into one of these 5 learning goals:

Personal Qualities

Social Emotional Learning

The goal is to strive to be the best person you can be. To demonstrate respect and empathy for others, take responsibility, be self-aware and act with courage and compassion. To reflect on your achievements and progress. To strive for personal and civic improvement.

Quantitative Reasoning

Math

The goal is to learn to use the skills, concepts and logic of mathematics to understand and interpret situations, solve problems and take action in life, learning and work.

Empirical Reasoning

Science

The goal is to learn through experimentation. To use evidence based on observation, experience and logical process to understand, make decisions and to evaluate hypotheses.

Communication

Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening

The goal is to learn to be a great communicator: to understand your audience, to write, read, speak and listen well, to use technology and artistic expression (visual arts, music, dance and theater) to communicate. It includes, where possible, another language.

Social Reasoning

Citizenship

The goal is to learn to see diverse perspectives, to understand social issues, to explore ethics, to analyze and understand social systems and to look at issues historically and culturally. It includes learning to take responsible action to address inequity.