Out of District Credit

Important Considerations

General Information

Year-long Commitment:

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.

Math & Science Warning

The JHS Math and Science departments strongly recommend that students take math and science courses at Juanita to prepare them for upper-level classes. Course work 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.

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).

District Guidance

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.

Important Update: Changes to Out of District Credit Policy

Important Update: Changes to Out of District Credit Policy

Important Update: Changes to Outside-of-District Credit Policy

After careful consideration and input from stakeholders, we have updated the guidelines for how outside-of-district (OOD) credits will be recorded on student transcripts. This policy update brings our practices in alignment with those of other school districts in our region, while staying true to the policy's intent: to allow students to pursue enrichment opportunities outside our district that may not be offered in our schools. By maintaining a balance between flexibility and transcript integrity, we aim to provide meaningful avenues for student growth while respecting the academic framework of our district.

7 Outside Credits on Transcript: High School students are allowed to earn up to 7 credits from outside-of-district courses beginning the summer before entering the 9th grade. This provides greater flexibility for students to explore enrichment opportunities. Students submitting the Appendix C form, must be enrolled in six (6) courses at their high school with the exception of seniors who have an early dismissal or late arrival.
Credit Limits for Grade Improvement: Out of the 7 outside credits, a maximum of 3 credits can be used to improve grades in courses taken previously. These courses will be awarded both a grade and credit.
Courses Taken for Initial Credit: Any initial coursework will be recorded as "P" (Pass) and will only show credit, not a grade, to maintain the integrity of the student's academic record. Students can send the outside transcript as a separate document in college applications.

*Please note: The district does not verify whether outside courses meet specific college or NCAA requirements or qualify for scholarships. Parents and students are responsible for ensuring courses meet their needs.

Implementation:

Class of 2025 and 2026 (current seniors and rising seniors) will follow the previous policy and procedures of the district. Any approved initial coursework may be posted for credit on the transcript with a letter grade.

Class of 2027 and beyond will follow the updated policy and procedure of the LWSD. Any approved initial coursework may be posted for credit on the transcript without a grade. You can find more information about these opportunities here: More Ways to Graduation - Lake Washington School District

For Current JHS Students Applying for Approval

Choose the applicable graduation year for your application process.

Please remember that completed paperwork and appendices need to be submitted in person to the MAIN OFFICE. We do not take digital submissions.

Note about Approval Notification

You will not receive notification that your paperwork has been approved. Once the signed appendix is uploaded to Skyward that indicates the application has been approved and students can start their course. Students are NOT to start before the course until the paperwork is uploaded to Skyward.

Submission of incomplete or incorrect paperwork will be denied and students will not be notified.

Class of 2026

Step 1:

Select an approved online school from the OSPI Approved Provider list

Step 2:

Fill out both the JHS Out of District Pre Approval Form AND Appendix C: Request for Acceptance of Out of District Credit

Step 3:

Return all paperwork to the MAIN OFFICE no later than June 1st, anything submitted after will be denied.

Step 4:

Once approved, Appendix C will be uploaded to your Portfolio Tab. Then you may start the course, but NOT before it is uploaded (starting the course before approval could jeopardize receiving credit)

Step 5:

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 & 2028

Step 1:

Select an approved online school from the OSPI Approved Provider list

Step 2:

Fill out both the JHS Out of District Pre Approval Form AND Appendix C: Request for Acceptance of Out of District Credit

Step 3:

Return all paperwork to the MAIN OFFICE no later than June 1st, anything submitted after will be denied.

Step 4:

Once approved, Appendix C will be uploaded to your Portfolio Tab. Then you may start the course, but NOT before it is uploaded (starting the course before approval could jeopardize receiving credit)

Step 5:

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

Class of 2029- Incoming 9th graders

Step 1:

Select an approved online school from the OSPI Approved Provider list

Step 2:

Fill out both the JHS Out of District Pre Approval Form AND Appendix C: Request for Acceptance of Out of District Credit

Step 3:

Return all paperwork to your CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Step 4:

Once approved, Appendix C will be uploaded to your Portfolio Tab. Then you may start the course, but NOT before it is uploaded (starting the course before approval could jeopardize receiving credit)

Step 5:

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