Credit Alternatives

Guidelines & Updates

Appropriate Requests

Appropriate situations when an out-of-district course may be requested:  

Grade Improvement: Student would like to retake a course out-of-district for grade improvement.
- The initial grade earned for the course will not be removed from the LWSD transcript. The initial earned credit will be zeroed out and only the new grade will be calculated into the GPA. Out-of-district courses taken for grade improvement must be the SAME course title, level, and semester as the original course taken (e.g. Biology vs. Honors Biology).
- Students may take a maximum of 3 credits out-of-district for grade improvement.
- Out-of-district courses identified as “credit recovery” are not appropriate for grade improvement.  
Course Advancement/Initial Credit: Student would like to take a course for the first time out-of-district to accelerate in a non-grade specific level subject area (Math, World Language).
- The LWSD transcript will reflect the course title and credit, but the grade earned will not be reflected in the student LWSD grade point average. Transcript will reflect a Pass or “P” grade.
- Out-of-district courses taken for advancement/acceleration will only be approved one at a time. Students may not take two out of district courses at the same time for acceleration. Please see the Math & Science Advancement warning and Registration Disclaimer.
Credit Recovery: Student would like to retake a course that they did not pass/earn credit in out-of-district.
- The LWSD transcript will reflect the course title and credit and the letter grade earned in the course.
Course cannot be taken at JHS because of a scheduling conflict, or the class is not offered*

*Use of this reasoning cannot be used until the start of the school year to verify the scheduling conflict

Inappropriate Requests

Inappropriate situations when an out-of-district course will NOT be approved:  

The course fits into the student’s home high school schedule and is offered at their home high school.  
- High school student schedules prioritize and include core subject areas (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) and specific graduation requirements to keep the student on track for high school graduation and to align with their post high school plans.  
  - 2025-2026 JHS Course Catalog: LWSD Course Catalog
  - LWSD graduation credit requirements: High School Guide - Lake Washington School District 
Students may only accelerate in courses that do not have a particular grade level attached to the course sequence.
- For example, students are expected to take specific English and Social Studies courses each year of high school. Requesting to take these courses out-of-district is not appropriate.   
Students that would like to drop a class from their JHS schedule and instead take the class through an out-of-district provider.
- Students may not drop a class mid-year to take it through an out-of-district provider, per updated Appendix C guidelines.
- Students are required to be enrolled in a full-time schedule at JHS to access out of district credits (6/6 classes for grades 9-11, 5/6 classes for grade 12).

Important Considerations

Registration at JHS is a year-long commitment and students will not be allowed to switch classes because their grade doesn't meet their expectations. Additional online classes will not advance/change their schedule mid-year. Taking an out-of-district course during the school year would be in addition to the 6 JHS classes.

NCAA Requirements:

If you plan to play a sport at a Division I or II college/university, it is your responsibility to check with the NCAA to see if the Out of District course you chose is approved. You can check here: eligibilitycenter.org.

Multiple out-of-district courses: If a student plans to take more than one course, they will need to submit the preapproval request form and Appendix C for each course.

Maximum out-of-district credits:

Students are allowed to take up to 7.0 total credits outside of LWSD, with a maximum of 3.0 credits for grade improvement. Courses taken through the WANIC or Running Start programs do not count against this credit maximum.

JHS Registration Disclaimer

During course registration for the next/upcoming school year, students MUST register for the next course in the sequence, even if they plan to take an out-of-district course for advancement. After we receive the out-of-district transcript no later than 7 days before the first day of school the student’s schedule/placement will be adjusted if space allows. Please note that course requests are not guaranteed.

Science and Math Warnings

The JHS Math and Science departments strongly recommend that students take math and science courses at Juanita to prepare them for upper-level classes. Coursework and sequences are designed to prepare students for the rigor and pace of advanced courses, and taking an online math or science course will not fully prepare you for the following course.

Online math and science courses do not fully align their standards to the standards covered in LWSD, do not reach the same level of depth of concepts, and often do not prepare students with the appropriate expectations. This causes students to have gaps in their conceptual understanding.

College Messaging

How do colleges view OOD & online courses?

Colleges may evaluate online courses differently from traditional in-person classes, depending on the program's reputation and accreditation. It's important to research whether such coursework is recognized equally in admissions. Generally, universities do not expect students to retake classes just to improve a grade—especially if the original grade was a B or higher. However, retaking a course may be advisable if the student earned a C or lower, as it shows commitment to mastering the material. Overall, rather than focusing solely on GPA perfection, students are encouraged to pursue activities that are meaningful and promote personal growth.

How do colleges view P grades?

While most colleges accept Pass (P) grades, they generally prefer students to complete core courses at their home high school and receive letter grades when possible. P grades in core academic subjects may raise questions during the college admissions process. We recommend checking directly with individual colleges for their specific policies and preferences. Students can submit out-of-district (OOD) transcripts (that reflect the letter grade earned) separately as part of college applications.

FAQ's

How does Grade Replacement work?

Grades will still show on transcripts. Once a new grade and higher grade has been posted to the transcript, the lower grade will then no longer be calculated into the total GPA, but the new higher one will be.

With that said, the focus of this should be to improve knowledge of the subject and not just to get a better grade on a transcript and have a better GPA.

How do I know if my Appendix has been approved?

Students will need to check their Student Access page in Skyward. Under the Portfolio you will see if the Appendix has been uploaded. Once it is there that means it has been approved. Students will not receive additional notification of approval.

Please note: this could take up to 3 weeks to be processed.

Why do rising 9th graders submit their paperwork to their middle school?

Rising 9th graders are still middle school students. As middle school students, their current counselors and teachers know them the best. It is not appropriate for JHS counselors to advise students they do not know.

Credit Alternatives

General Info

All Appendices are now only available and submittable through Skyward.

Students choosing to use a PPR or Appendix E:
Please note that if you have had—or plan to have—a Peer Tutor placement, a TA position, or a late arrival/early dismissal in your schedule, you will not qualify for the PPR or Appendix E option. Using a PPR or Appendix E indicates that a required course could not fit into your schedule, which is not accurate if you have available openings created by these choices.

Specific to Appendix E:
Please remember PE is a graduation requirement. Students should attempt to get their graduation requirements done prior to opting for electives or appendices.

Please see the corresponding tabs for more information.

Appendix	Title	Special Notes/Considerations
Appendix A	Request to Waive Electives
Appendix B	Request for Credit for Equivalency Course of Study
Appendix C	Request for Acceptance of Out-of-District Credit	Please see the Out-of-District credit tab and info.
Appendix D	Request to Remove Credit for High School Courses Taken Before High School	Appendix submission must be made on or before the last day of the student’s junior year.
Appendix E	Request for Excuse from Physical Education	Not available for use/submission until the 4th quarter of 11th-grade year. Please see tab for more info.
Appendix F	Third Credit of High School Math
Appendix G	Alternatives to World Language Courses
Appendix H	Alternative to Art Course	One (1) of the Art credits may be replaced with a Personalized Pathway course replacement. Cannot be submitted until the first 1.0 Art credit is complete.

World Language Proficiency Test

LWSD is part of a statewide initiative to recognize our students' diverse language competencies. High school students can earn up to a maximum of four credits and the Seal of Biliteracy through this program. Students are assessed in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

In addition to American Sign Language (ASL), French, Japanese and Spanish high school courses, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) also offers World Language Credit by Proficiency for any language.

High school students can earn up to a maximum of four credits and the Seal of Biliteracy through this program. Students are assessed in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

World Language Credit by Proficiency Info

Students can also participate in the LWSD Spanish for Heritage Speakers Program. Learn More here- Heritage Speaking Program

Out of District Credit

If you are interested in taking an out of district or online course, please thoroughly read the information below. Students may take up to 7 total out-of-district credits, and 3 of those credits may be for grade improvement. Students must apply for pre-approval prior to starting an out of district/online course.

Students electing to take an out-of-district course are responsible for researching their course options and completing the request approval process listed below. If approved, the student is responsible for registering for the course through the out-of-district provider. Any course-related questions should be directed to the Provider.

For Grade/GPA Replacement/Enhancement:

If your student is wanting to increase their understanding of a class or subject and subsequently improve their grade/GPA, there are options. With that said the focus of this should be to improved knowledge of the subject and not just to get a better grade on a transcript and have a better GPA. Please see the FAQ below for details.

Please be advised that some universities see grade/GPA replacement as padding ones GPA.

Please understand that JHS staff does NOT advise on alternative and out of district credit options, unless it is for credit retrieval.

There have been changes to the Out of District course guidelines, effective 5/1/2025.

Class of 2026
Class of 2027 +

Class of 2026

Step 1:

Select an approved online school from the OSPI Approved Provider list

Step 2:

Fill out both Appendix C via Skyward no later than June 1st

Step 3:

Once approval shows on Skyward, you can start your course. DO NOT start before receiving approval.

Step 4:

Upon completion of the course, request an official transcript be sent to*:

Juanita High School Data Processor, 10601 NE 132nd Street, Kirkland Wa 98034 or email to hthai@lwsd.org

* Must be received 7 days before the start of school for use of course placement.

If you are senior completing an Out of District course for a class needed for graduation, your final official transcript from the Out of District provider must be received by Juanita High School no later than May 15^th.

Class of 2027 +

Step 1:

Select an approved online school from the OSPI Approved Provider list

Step 2:

Fill out Appendix C via Skyward and submit before June 1st.

Step 3:

Once approved, you can start your course. DO NOT start your course before receiving approval.

Step 4

Upon completion of the course, request an official transcript be sent to*:

Juanita High School Data Processor, 10601 NE 132nd Street, Kirkland Wa 98034 or email to hthai@lwsd.org

* Must be received 7 days before the start of school for use of course placement

PE Credit Options

To earn a high school diploma, students must earn 0.5 credits of Health (usually taken in 9th grade) and 1.5 credits of PE. We encourage all students to fulfill their graduation requirements here at school in person.

However, there may be circumstances where a student needs an alternate option in order to fulfill the 1.5 credit of PE. This alternative option requires the student to demonstrate competency/mastery of the knowledge portion of PE and engagement in physical activity by successfully completing district-administered Fitness Assessments (2 assessments that each waive 0.5 credit PE) and the Athletic/Activity Log (waives the remaining 0.5 PE credit).

Students who use this alternate PE option will not be eligible to be a TA or have a late start or early release.

Students may apply for approval during the second semester of 11th grade. Fitness assessments are administered during 12th grade only.

Due to this, students are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to complete their PE requirement throughout their 4 years at JHS and not rely on this option.

Remaining PE Credit to Excuse	Student Must Complete:
0.5 Credit	Fitness Assessment 1
1.0 Credit	Fitness Assessment 1 & 2
1.5 Credit	Fitness Assessment 1 &2 + Athletic/Activity Log

Despite the option for an Activity/Athletic Log, this option is only available after the 2 Fitness assessments have been successfully passed.

Once your Appendix E has been approved, it is the student's responsibility to sign up for the assessment.