Requirements for Graduation

To graduate from high school, students shall meet the minimum requirements for the 22-credit diploma as outlined below for grades 9-12. The requirements for a student to earn a diploma shall be those in effect when the student enters the ninth grade for the first time.

Students in grades 7-12 receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken in grades 7 and 8 in foreign language, algebra, and geometry. These courses count toward credits in the foreign language and mathematics sequences as well as toward the total number of credits required for graduation and calculation of the grade point average (GPA). Beginning with students in grades 7 and 8 in school year 1997-98, middle school parents may request that grades for any high school credit-bearing course taken in the middle school be omitted from the student's transcript, and the student will not earn high school credit for the course. This request must be made in writing to the school prior to the beginning of the next school year. The course title will appear on the high school transcript with a "no mark" designation.

Units of Credit

English 4
Mathematics* 3
Laboratory Science** 3
History and Social Sciences*** 4
Health and Physical Education 2
Fine Arts or Practical Arts 1
Electives 5

Total 22

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*Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be at or above the level of algebra and shall include at least two course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of algebra and geometry.

**Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least three different science disciplines: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

***Courses completed to satisfy this requirement are U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Goverment, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II.

****Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 1999-2000 (Class of 2003) and beyond, courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.