Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science

What is the WCAS?

From OSPI: The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) measures the level of proficiency that Washington students have achieved based on the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards, which are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All students are assessed on their knowledge of the standards through the WCAS in grades 5, 8, and 11. The tests fulfill the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirement that students be tested in science once at each level: elementary, middle, and high school. House Bill 1599 (2019) removed the high school science assessment graduation requirement.

Do Students Need to Take the Assessment to Graduate? 

Students in grade 11 only are required to take the WCAS . House Bill 1599 removed the high school science assessment graduation requirement, however students are still required to take the WCAS in grade 11 for state and federal accountability purposes.