There are three diploma options for students attending Langley High School: Standard, Advanced and Modified. The type of diploma selected by a student determines the requirements for graduation.

Standard Diploma:

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.

To graduate from high school, students shall meet the minimum requirements for the standard diploma as outlined below including 22 standard credits, 6 of which must be verified credits. A standard credit is earned when a student passes a course. A verified credit is earned when a student passes a course and the associated end-of-course SOL test. In some cases, students may utilize substitute tests, certifications, or the appeal process to earn verified credits. State guidelines prescribe the number of verified credits required for graduation for students entering a Virginia public high school for the first time during the tenth grade or after. Consult your school counselor for specific information.

Students in grades 7-12 receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken in middle school. These courses count toward credits in the required sequences as well as toward the total number of credits required for graduation and calculation of the grade point average (GPA). Middle school parents may request that grades for any high school credit-bearing course taken in the middle school be removed from the student’s high school transcript, and therefore the student will not earn high school credit for the course. In addition, the student will not be eligible for a verified credit in any course which has been removed from the transcript. The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school the student will attend prior to the beginning of the next school year.

Standard Diploma: 22 Units of Credit

Notations:
1- 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.
2- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least three different science disciplines: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
3- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement are U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II.
4- Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.
5- A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career and technical education or other areas as prescribed by the Board in 8 VAC 20-131-110.
6- Students who complete a career and technical [education] program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential form a recognized industry, or trade or professional association or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (1) the student selected verified credit and (2) either a science or history or social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the Board of Education as an additional test to verify student achievement.

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Advanced Studies Diploma

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.

To graduate from high school, students shall meet the minimum requirements for the advanced studies diploma as outlined below which include 24 credits, 9 of which must be verified credits. A standard credit is earned when a student passes a course. A verified credit is earned when a student passes a course and the associated end-of-course SOL test. In some cases, students may utilize substitute tests or certifications to earn verified credits. State guidelines prescribe the number of verified credits required for graduation for students entering a Virginia public high school for the first time during tenth grade or after. Consult your school counselor for specific information.

Students in grades 7-12 receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken in middle school. These courses count toward credits in the required sequences as well as toward the total number of credits required for graduation and calculation of the grade point average (GPA). Middle school parents may request that grades for any high school credit-bearing course taken in the middle school be removed from the student’s high school transcript, and therefore the student will not earn high school credit for the course. In addition, the student will not be eligible for a verified credit in any course which has been removed from the transcript. The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school the student will attend prior to the beginning of the next school year.

Advanced Studies Diploma: 24 Units of Credit

Notations:
1- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be at or above the level of algebra and shall include at least three different course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra II. The Board may approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
2- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least three different science disciplines from among: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The Board may approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
3- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and two courses in either world history or geography or both. The Board may approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
4- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include three years of one language or two years of two languages.
5- A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career or technical education or other areas as prescribed by the Board in 8 VAC 20-131-110.

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Modified Standard Diploma

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.

The Modified Standard Diploma is intended for certain students who have a disability and are unlikely to meet the credit requirements for a Standard Diploma. Eligibility and participation in the Modified Standard Diploma program shall be determined by the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team anytime after the student’s eighth grade year. There are no verified credit requirements for the Modified Standard Diploma.

>Beginning with the 9th grade class of 2000-01, students pursuing the Modified Standard Diploma are required to meet literacy and numeracy requirements on the 8th grade English reading and mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Students may substitute a higher level high school SOL test for the 8th grade SOL tests in English reading and mathematics or other substitute tests approved by the Virginia Board of Education.

A student who has chosen to pursue a Modified Standard Diploma shall also be allowed to pursue the Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma at any time throughout the high school career. The student may not be excluded from courses and tests required to earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma.

Modified Standard Diploma: 20 Units of Credit

Notations:
1- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include content from among applications of algebra, geometry, personal finance, and statistics in courses that have been approved by the Board.
2- Courses completed shall include content from at least two of the following: applications of earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics in courses approved by the Board.
3- Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia History and one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia Government in courses approved by the Board.
4- Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include a least two sequential electives in the same manner required for the Standard Diploma.

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Declaration of Nondiscrimination

No student, employee, or applicant for employment in the Fairfax County Public Schools shall, on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, or disability, or age (under certain conditions), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Compliance is coordinated by the directors of the following: Office of Design and Construction Services (located at 10640 Page Avenue Suite 400, Fairfax Virginia 22030, 703-246-3632) regarding access to facilities; Office of Equity and Compliance (571-423-3050 or TTY 703-280-9833), regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment issues; Office of Monitoring and Compliance (571-423-4210), Department of Special Services, regarding programs and activities for students with disabilities. Correspondence may be addressed to the above offices and sent to 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.

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State Diploma Seals

Students who complete the requirements for a Standard Diploma with an average grade of A will receive a Board of Education Seal on the diploma.

Students who complete the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of B or better, and successfully complete at least one Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or college-level course for credit, will receive the Governor’s Seal on the diploma.

The Board of Education’s Career and Technical Education Seal will be awarded to students who earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma and complete a prescribed sequence of courses in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that they choose and maintain a B or better average in those courses; or (i) pass an examination in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that confers certification from a recognized industry, trade or professional association, or (ii) acquire a professional license in that career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Board of Education’s Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology will be awarded to students who earn either a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma and satisfy all of the mathematics requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma (4 units of credit including Algebra II; two verified units of credit) with a B average or better; and either (i) pass an examination in a career and technical education field that confers certification from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association; (ii) acquire a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia; or (iii) pass an examination approved by the Board that confers college-level credit in a technology or computer science.

The Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Civics Education will be awarded to students who earn either a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma, have good attendance and no disciplinary infractions, complete Virginia and United States History and Virginia and United States Government courses with a grade of B or higher and complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities. Any student who enlists in the United States military prior to graduation will be deemed to have met this community service requirement.

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