2017-2018 Student Handbook

Diploma Options and Requirements Standard Diploma 24 Credit Option The Standard (24-credit) diploma is designed for students who plan to seek further education at the community college level, or attend a technical/trade school or plan to seek immediate employment. A student pursuing a Standard Diploma and planning to seek employment after high school graduation must choose a program of study from among the variety of career and technical cluster offerings. A student who completes the courses listed in a specific career and technical cluster or completes three years of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) will receive a career and technical completer certificate. A student seeking the Standard Diploma, who plans to further his/her education at the community college level in one of the programs listed below, may choose a tech prep concentration that provides a seamless transition between the secondary program and the community college program: Automotive Service Technology Building Trades Business and Information Technology Computer Aided Drafting & Design Technology Computer Systems Technology Criminal Justice Early Childhood Education Electronics Technology Horticulture Licensed Practical Nursing Network Systems Specialization Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources A student receiving a Standard Diploma must also earn six verified credits as indicated for subjects listed below. A verified credit is awarded when a student successfully completes course requirements and achieves a passing score on an end-of- course SOL test. Any student who does not pass the Standards of Learning Test for a content area class may be required to take a review/intervention class that emphasizes the SOL area.

10 Program Requirements

Subject

Credit

Verified Credit Requirements

Requirements

Requirements

English

4 4 3 4 2 1

2 1 1 1

Mathematics 1

Laboratory Science 2 History & Social Science 3 Health & Physical Education Fine Arts or Practical Arts 4

Electives 5

5

Personal Finance and Economics 6

1

Student Selected Test 7

1 6

Total Credits

24

1) Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be selections from among Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra, Functions and Data Analysis, Algebra II or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra and Geometry. Only one (1) local mathematics credit can be awarded for Algebra I A or Geometry I A. Beginning with the 9 th grade class of 2010-2011 only one unit of credit each may be used to satisfy the mathematics graduation requirements by completing Algebra I or Geometry. 2) Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include earth science, biology, and one chosen from the areas of earth science, biology, chemistry or physics. Prior to enrolling in courses for a physics credit, students must have completed Algebra I and two other laboratory science courses as specified by the accrediting standards. 3) Courses completed to satisfy this requirement MUST include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government and two from World History I, World History II and World Geography. 4) Fine and Practical Arts courses MUST be selected from a list of courses approved for graduation by the Virginia State Board of Education.

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