Minimum College Admission Standards
An Overview for Students and Parents
For students entering a college or university
Washington College Admissions Distribution Requirements website: https://wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/CADRs-CollegeAcademicDistributionRequirements.pdf
Students are encouraged to take a minimum of three credits CADR courses each year of high school, including senior year.
Students who take college-level coursework and complete 5-quarter credits or 3 semester credits will have earned the equivalent of one CADR credit. In addition, pre-college courses in English and math may be equivalent to CADR courses, provided they are designed to meet the same learning outcomes as the high school courses for which they substitute.
Students may meet high school requirements with courses taken in middle school, provided the courses are part of a sequence which is successfully continued in high school, or the courses are included on the high school transcript as high school-level courses.
The Yakima School District prepares our graduates to be career and college ready with the graduation requirements set forth in this course book. Colleges and universities have different general requirements unique to each institution. However, there are some common requirements for each type of college or university. Although specific requirements may vary among institutions, the following minimum guidelines exist:
English – Four (4) credits, including three (3) credits of college preparatory composition or literature, including Bridge to College English. One credit may be satisfied by elective English courses in drama as literature, public speaking, debate, journalistic writing, English as a Second Language, and business English. Passing the state-mandated high school assessment in Reading is equivalent to earning the first two (2) CADR credits of high school English.
Mathematics – Three (3) credits: Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II (intermediate algebra), or Integrated Math 1, 2, and 3. Passing the state-mandated high school assessment in math is equivalent to earning the first two (2) CADR credits of high school math (Algebra 1 and Geometry or Integrated Math 1 and 2). Successful completion of math through pre-calculus meets the requirement for three (3) credits of math and the senior year math requirement (below).
Senior year math-based quantitative course – One (1) credit of study is required in a math-based quantitative course during the senior year.
This requirement may be met in many ways:
- If the third year of the minimum mathematics CADR is being completed in the senior year, such as intermediate algebra (Algebra II)
- By completing an advanced-level math course (pre-calculus, math analysis, calculus, advanced level of applied math, or math-based career and technical courses)
- By completing a math-based quantitative course (statistics)
- By completing an algebra-based science course (chemistry, physics)
- By completing an AP Computer Science course
- Bridge to College Mathematics
- Any college-level math-based quantitative course or pre-college math course that would prepare a student for college algebra
Science - A minimum of three (3) credits in science is required. At least two of those credits must be lab-based. One credit must be in biology, chemistry, or physics. Students typically take this full credit course in two successive high school semesters. Additionally, at least one of the two (2) credits of laboratory science must be an algebra-based science course. The principles of technology may apply to the laboratory science requirement. The third credit does not need to be lab-based. Some courses may fulfill more than one science requirement, and if taken in the senior year, may also fulfill the senior year math-based quantitative requirement (any algebra-based science course).
NOTE: Western Washington University specifies that one credit must be an algebra-based chemistry or physics course.
World Languages – Two (2) credits must be earned in the same World Language, Native American language, or American Sign Language. Schools may award credit based on a district-approved competency assessment consistent with the State Board of Education policy and American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. A World Language course taken in middle school may satisfy one credit of the requirement if the second-year level course is completed in high school grade 9-12.
Social Sciences – Three (3) credits of history or other social science (e.g., anthropology, contemporary world problems, economics, government, geography, ethnic studies, sociology, political science, psychology).
Arts – One (1) credit of fine, visual, or performing arts—or one (1) additional credit in other academic subject areas as defined above. Acceptable coursework in the fine, visual, or performing arts includes art appreciation, band, ceramics, choir, dance, dramatics performance and production, drawing, fiber arts, graphic arts, metal design, music appreciation, music theory, orchestra, painting, photography, print making, or sculpture.
NOTE: The University of Washington and Western Washington University specify one-half credit in fine, visual, or performing arts. The other half may be in the arts or an academic elective.
Students should consult with their high school counselor to obtain complete information about minimum college admission standards, and to be aware of which courses at their high school meet CADR guidelines, as determined by our school district.