Smarter Balanced Assessment

English and Math Placement

Recent graduates and prospective Running Start students of Washington State school districts may be eligible to use their High School Smarter Balanced Assessment scores for placement in math and English courses as well as any course for which they meet the math and/or English prerequisites.

To utilize your Smarter Balanced Assessment scores for placement, please submit score reports to the Career and Advising Center or Running Start through our Secure Document Upload tool. Check your student email for a confirmation that your request has been processed.

Math Placement Eligibility

Students must enroll in the appropriate Math course by the Spring quarter of the academic year two years after their high school graduation. Graduates from 2021 can enroll in classes through Spring 2023. The sooner the student takes math at Green River, the better success the student is likely to have, since math skills tend to be forgotten over a period of time.

Please note: a high school transcript showing math courses completed after the SBA math test must be included with SBA scores for placement determination.

Test ScoreAdditional High School CourseworkCourse Placement
3 or 4 B or better in pre-calculus or higher course Math &107, 108, &141, &146, 147, &171; PHIL&120*
3 or 4

B or better in Algebra 2** plus a passing grade in any math course as a Junior or Senior^

OR

B or better in a designated Bridge to College Math course as a Senior

Math &107, 108, &146, PHIL&120*
1 or 2 Use another placement method

*PHIL&120 fulfills the Quantitative Skills/Symbolic Reasoning requirement for the Associate in Arts (AA-DTA) degree.

**For districts that offer Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, the final grade in Algebra 2 is used to determine placement. For districts that offer Algebra 1/2 and Algebra 3/4, the final grade in Algebra 3/4 or Algebra 4 is used to determine placement.

^Students enrolling in Running Start or College in the High School as Juniors can use an SBA score of 3 or 4 plus a B or better in Algebra 2 to be eligible for Math &107, 108, &146, PHIL&120*

English Placement Eligibility

Students must enroll in the appropriate English course by the spring quarter of the academic year two years after their high school graduation.

Test ScoreAdditional High School CourseworkCourse Placement
3 or 4 No additional coursework required ENGL& 101
1 or 2  B or better in designated Bridge to College English as a senior        ENGL& 101

Math Placement Eligibility

Students must enroll in the appropriate math course by the spring quarter of the academic year two years after their high school graduation. The sooner a student takes math, the better success they are likely to have, as math skills tend to be forgotten over a period of time.

Note: a high school transcript showing math courses completed after the SBA math test must be included with SBA scores for placement determination.

Test ScoreAdditional High School CourseworkCourse Placement
3 or 4  B or better in pre-calculus or higher course Math& 107, 141, 146, 171; Math 108 or 147; Phil& 120*
3 or 4  B or better in Algebra 2** plus a passing grade in any math course as a Junior or Senior^ 

OR

B or better in a designated Bridge to College Math course as a Senior
Math& 107 or 146; Math 108, Phil& 120* 
1 or 2  Use another placement method  

*Phil& 120 fulfills the Quantitative Skills/Symbolic Reasoning requirement for the Associate in Arts (AA-DTA) degree.

**For districts that offer Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, the final grade in Algebra 2 is used to determine placement. For districts that offer Algebra 1/2 and Algebra 3/4, the final grade in Algebra 3/4 or Algebra 4 is used to determine placement.

^Students enrolling in Running Start or College in the High School as Juniors can use a SBA score of 3 or 4 plus a B or better in Algebra 2 taken during Sophomore year.