diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index ea60aa9..bd15306 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ Change Log
 Unreleased
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 
+[4.5.0] - 2024-02-26
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Ignore optional blocks in non-optional verticals
+
 [4.4.1] - 2023-10-27
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 * Fix RemovedInDjango41Warning by removing `django_app_config`
diff --git a/completion/__init__.py b/completion/__init__.py
index 8050a70..142bd91 100644
--- a/completion/__init__.py
+++ b/completion/__init__.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 """
 
 
-__version__ = '4.4.1'
+__version__ = '4.5.0'
diff --git a/completion/services.py b/completion/services.py
index 14174e2..b5fbd7d 100644
--- a/completion/services.py
+++ b/completion/services.py
@@ -117,8 +117,14 @@ def vertical_is_complete(self, item):
         if not self.completion_tracking_enabled():
             return None
 
+        optional_vertical = getattr(item, "optional_content", False)
+
         # this is temporary local logic and will be removed when the whole course tree is included in completion
-        child_locations = [child.scope_ids.usage_id for child in self.get_completable_children(item)]
+        child_locations = [
+            child.scope_ids.usage_id for child in self.get_completable_children(item)
+            # for non-optional verticals, only include non-optional children
+            if optional_vertical or not getattr(child, "optional_content", False)
+        ]
         completions = self.get_completions(child_locations)
         for child_location in child_locations:
             if completions[child_location] < 1.0: