Under state graduation requirements, students choose between two options, the Recommended High School Plan and the Distinguished Academic Achievement Program. Each of these options has different requirements for graduation.
Graduates of each high school are awarded the same type of diploma. The academic achievement record (transcript), rather than the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements, and courses completed and displays appropriate graduation seals.
The following chart shows the state requirements for graduation; however, each independent school district has the right to increase graduation requirements. A minimum of 24 credits is required for graduation. For example, some high schools require four years of math for both recommended and distinguished. Please check with your school district to verify high school graduation requirements.
| Curriculum Subject Area |
Recommended Program |
Distinguished Program |
| English Language Arts |
4 |
4 |
| Mathematics |
3 |
3 |
| Science |
3 |
3 |
| Social Studies |
3 ½ |
3 ½ |
| Economics |
½ |
½ |
| Other Languages |
2 |
3 |
| Physical Education |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
| Health Education |
½ |
½ |
| Speech |
½ |
½ |
| Technology |
1 |
1 |
| Fine Arts |
1 |
1 |
| Electives |
3 ½ |
2 ½ |
| Advanced Measures |
|
4 |
For additional details click on the follwing link: State Guidelines
Recommended High School Plan:
1) English Language Arts – credits must consist of English I, II, III, IV
2) Mathematics – credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
3) Science – one credit must be Biology. Students must choose the remaining two credits from Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Chemistry, or Physics
4) Social studies – credits must consist of World History Studies, World Geography, United States History since Reconstruction, and United States Government
5) Economics – credit must consist of Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits
6) Other Languages – credits must consist of Level I and Level II in the same language
7) Physical Education – substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
8) Health Education – may be satisfied with Health 1, Advanced Health, or Health Science Technology
9) Speech – credit must consist of Communication Applications
10) Technology - substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
11) Fine Arts - substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
12) Electives– All students who wish to complete the Recommended Plan are encouraged to study each of the four foundation curriculum areas (English, mathematics, science, and social studies) every year in high school
Distinguished Program:
1) English Language Arts – credits must consist of English I, II, III, IV
2) Mathematics – credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
3) Science – one credit must be Biology. Students must choose the remaining two credits from Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Chemistry, or Physics
4) Social studies – credits must consist of World History Studies, World Geography, United States History since Reconstruction, and United States Government
5) Economics – credit must consist of Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits
6) Other Languages - credits must consist of Level I, Level II, Level III in the same language
7) Physical Education – substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
8) Health Education – may be satisfied with Health 1, Advanced Health, or Health Science Technology
9) Speech – credit must consist of Communication Applications
10) Technology - substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
11) Fine Arts - substitutions allowed, check with individual school district
12) Electives – All students who wish to complete the Distinguished Program are encouraged to study each of the four foundation curriculum areas (English, mathematics, science, and social studies) every year in high school.
13) Advanced Measures – A student must achieve any combination of four advanced measures. Students may choose 1) original research/projects, 2) test data where a student receives a score of three or above on the advanced placement examination, a score of four or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination, or a score on PSAT that qualifies the student for National Merit Scholarship Corporation, National Hispanic Scholar Program, or National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students or 3) college academic courses and tech-prep articulated course with a grade of 3.0 or higher.
The following chart shows the state requirements for graduation for student entering grade 9 in 2007-2008.A minimum of 26 credits is required for graduation in the Recommended and Distinguished Programs.
| Curriculum Subject Area |
Recommended Program |
Distinguished Program |
| English Language Arts |
4 |
4 |
| Mathematics |
4 |
4 |
| Science |
4 |
4 |
| Social Studies |
3 ½ |
3 ½ |
| Economics |
½ |
½ |
| Other Languages |
2 |
3 |
| Physical Education |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
| Health Education |
½ |
½ |
| Speech |
½ |
½ |
| Technology |
1 |
1 |
| Fine Arts |
1 |
1 |
| Electives |
3 ½ |
2 ½ |
| Advanced Measures |
|
4 |
For additional details click on the following link: State Guidelines
