In pursuit of its mission to ensure that all students are college and career prepared, the Board of Education recognizes that high school shall be generally considered as a four-year course of study. Therefore, graduation requirements are based on units of credit earned in grades nine through twelve, in addition to a demonstration of college and career preparedness in the areas of Mathematics and English. A unit of credit is defined as the amount of credit awarded for the successful completion of a course, which meets the required hours of instruction as defined in state law.
In order to prepare students for a successful post-secondary educational and work experience, the Board of Education strongly encourages students to participate in a rigorous academic core curriculum consisting of four years of English, four years of Mathematics, four years of Science, four years of Social Studies, and at least one year of a World Language.
I. Minimum Units of Credit Needed to Graduate
A minimum of 22 units of credit shall be necessary for high school graduation. Of the 22 total units of credits needed to graduate, 16.5 units are required academic units, while the remaining 5.5 units shall be considered electives, and may be selected from the entire curriculum offering.
Minimum credit requirements in various areas shall be as follows:
*Academic core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and World Languages. All students, including Seniors, will be expected to enroll in a minimum of four academic core units per year.
** Student athletes who have completed a season of athletics may be granted a one-time waiver of .5 of the required 1.5 units of physical education. This waiver does not reduce the total number of units required for graduation. Academic/Physical Education Waiver Requests must be submitted on form IKF-2-E.
II. College and Career Prepared Demonstration of Competency Needed to Graduate
Beginning with the class of 2022, all graduates will also be required to demonstrate college and career preparedness via one or more of the approved options outlined in Board Exhibit IKF-E.
III. Credit from Other Institutions and Home-Based Education Programs
All students entering from outside the District must meet the District graduation requirements. The principal or administrative designee shall determine whether credit toward graduation requirements shall be granted for courses taken outside the District. Students who are currently enrolled in the District and wish to obtain credit from outside institutions or through "on-line" programs, must have prior approval from the principal or administrative designee. Credits will be accepted from accredited institutions or as evaluated by principal or administrative designee.
The District shall accept the transcripts from a home-based educational program. In order to determine whether the courses and grades earned are consistent with District requirements and district academic standards, the District shall require submission of the student's work or other proof of academic performance for each course for which credit toward graduation is sought. All students from home-based programs must demonstrate proficiency in the District-adopted academic standards at their appropriate placement level before being placed in that particular grade. The District may test the student to determine placement.
IV. Independent Study
Independent study, work experience, and experienced-based programs approved in advance by the principal or administrative designee may be taken for high school credit. Students must submit a request for approval that includes a summary of the educational objectives to be achieved and monitored by a faculty member.
V. State and District Academic Standards
The Board of Education recognizes that high expectations and high standards for student achievement are necessary so that students will be well prepared for continuing education and entry into the work force. Therefore, in addition to earning the required number of credits, graduating students will be required to meet State and District academic standards.
These performance requirements may be waived by the building principal or administrative designee for a special education student, a gifted student, and/or a student who is an English learner, but only if consideration of the student's plan (i.e. an individualized educational plan and/or advanced learning plan) or the student's level of language proficiency suggests that a waiver is necessary. Other circumstances which require special consideration such as learning needs, health situations, emergencies, and conditions which are beyond the student's ability to control, may also be the basis for granting a waiver by the principal or administrative designee, or the creation of an individualized learning plan for the student.
Credit shall be conferred by the Board of Education through its administrative personnel. Each building principal or administrative designee shall exercise professional judgment to meet the individual needs of students.
Adoption Date: April 10, 2006
Last Revised: November 09, 2020
Prior Revised Dates: June 11, 2018, June 13, 2016
| Subject Requirement | Credit Requirement | |
| Academic Core Subjects* English* | 4.0 units | |
| Mathematics* | 3.0 units | |
| Science* | 3.0 units | |
| Social Studies* | 3.0 units | (including 1.0 unit of American History and .5 unit of Civics/Government) |
| Physical Education** | 2.0 units | (including 0.5 unit in health) |
| Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education | 1.5 units | |
| Minimum Total of Required Units | 16.5 units | |
| Minimum Total of Elective Units | 5.5 units | |
| MINIMUM TOTAL | 22 units | |
| Cross References: | IHCDA - Postsecondary Enrollment Options |
| AE - Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment | |
| IHBG - Home Schooling | |