Graduation Requirements: First Time Ninth Graders in 2013-14 through 2015-16

Graduation Requirements for Students Who Enter the Ninth Grade for the First Time in 2013-14 through 2015-16

For more information, please visit the graduation requirements and course planning page, which includes more detailed information and tutorials about diploma types and graduation requirements.

STANDARD DIPLOMA

22 CREDIT DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

The requirements for a student to earn a diploma shall be those in effect when the student enters the 9th grade for the first time.

The following applies to students who enter 9th grade in 2013-2014 through 2015-16.

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.  In 2013, the Virginia Board of Education voted to amend the graduation requirements for students with disabilities.  The changes in graduation requirements provide eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to use credit accommodations to earn a Standard Diploma.  Students must be found eligible for these accommodations.  Consult your school counselor for specific information.

Students receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken and passed 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 the following year, prior to the end of the first nine weeks.  See current version of FCPS Regulation 2408.

Standard Diploma Course Requirements (8 VAC 20-131-50)

Subject Area

Standard Credits

Verified Credits

English

4

2

Mathematics 1

3

1

Laboratory Science 2, 6

3

1

History and Social Sciences 3, 6

3

1

Health and Physical Education

2

 

World Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Ed 7

2

 

Economics & Personal Finance

1

 

Electives 4

2

 

Student Selected Test 5

 

1

Career and Technical Education Credential 8

   

Total Credits 9

22

6

NOTES:

  1. Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two different course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra II. The Board of Education (Board) shall approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
  2. Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least two different science disciplines: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics; or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The Board shall approve 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 either World History/Geography I or 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 as required by the Standards of Quality.
  5. A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career and technical education, economics, 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 from 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 (i) the student selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and 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 as an additional test to verify student achievement.
  7. Pursuant to Section 22.1-253.13:4, Code of Virginia, credits earned for this requirement shall include one credit in fine or performing arts or career and technical education.
  8. Students shall earn a career and technical education credential approved by the Board that could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia Workplace Readiness Assessment.
  9. Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course or elective credit bearing course that is offered online.

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA

26 CREDIT DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

The requirements for a student to earn a diploma shall be those in effect when the student enters the 9th grade for the first time.

The following applies to students who enter 9th grade in 2013-2014 through 2015-2016.

To graduate from high school with an Advanced Studies Diploma, students shall meet the minimum requirements as outlined below which include 26 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 receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken and passed 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 the following year prior to the end of the first nine weeks. See current version of FCPS Regulation 2408.

Advanced Studies Diploma Course Requirements (8 VAC 20-131-50)

Subject Area

Standard Credits

Verified Credits

English

4

2

Mathematics 1

4

2

Laboratory Science 2

4

2

History and Social Sciences 3

4

2

World Language 4

3

 

Health and Physical Education

2

 

Fine Arts or Career and Technical Ed

1

 

Economics & Personal Finance

1

 

Electives

3

 

Student Selected Test 5

 

1

Total Credits 6

26

9

NOTES:

  1. Courses completed to satisfy this requirement 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 of Education (Board) shall approve 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 shall approve 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 World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II.
  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, economics, or other areas as prescribed by the Board in 8 VAC 20-131-110.
  6. Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Applied Studies Diploma

Students with disabilities who complete the requirements for his/her IEP and do not meet the requirements for other diplomas shall be awarded an Applied Studies Diploma. Access additional information on the Applied Studies Diploma on Virginia's Department of Education website.

Contact the Office of Special Education Instruction at 571-423-4190 or the Office of Career and Transition Services at 571-423-4150 for additional information.

Special Education Graduation Requirements

Special Education Graduation Requirements/Diploma Credit Accommodations