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Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements—High School Diploma

  1. A minimum of 25 credits must be earned in order to graduate. 

  2. Graduating students must complete the State Standardized Assessment (or alternate exam as authorized by IEP).

  3. 4 credits of English must be successfully completed. Required classes are: English 9, English 10, English 11 and English 12 or one (1) elective English.

  4. 3 credits of Science must be successfully completed—2 of which must include biology, and chemistry or physics.

  5. 4 credits of Mathematics must be successfully completed. These must include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. One math course must be completed during the student’s senior year.

  6. 3 credits of Social Studies must be successfully completed. These shall include World History, U.S. History, Government, and Economics.

  7. ½ credit of Physical Education and ½ credit of Health must be successfully completed.

  8. 1 credit of Visual, Performing and Applied Arts must be successfully completed.

  9. Two credits of World Language must be successfully completed in the same world language. A pupil may partially or fully fulfill one credit of this requirement by completing a Department-approved formal Career and Technical Education (CTE) program or curriculum or by completing visual or performing arts instruction that is in addition to the requirement stated in #8.

  10. Students may develop a modified personal curriculum allowing the replacement of the Visual, Applied, or Performing Arts with an additional World Language, English, Math, or Science credit. This curriculum requires approval of the principal, counselor, and teacher.

  11. Only 5th year seniors who have met all requirements may graduate in January.

  12. Students may take a cumulative examination in core content areas to earn the high school credit for graduation. Students must pass the test with a score of 80% or better to earn such credit; no letter grade would be applied to the student's grade point average. Students will have a “TO” (tested out) recorded on their transcript for credit. It is the student’s responsibility to inquire and register for said tests.

  13. Students must be less than 20 years of age on September 1 of the current school year and not have earned a G.E.D. certificate or high school diploma to enroll in high school.

 

Graduation Requirements—High School Certificate

An alternative to the high school diploma

  1. A minimum of 25 credits must be earned in order to graduate.

  2. Students must complete the State Standardized Assessment (or alternate exam as authorized by an IEP).

  3. 4 credits of English must be successfully completed.

  4. 3 credits of Science must be successfully completed.

  5. 4 credits of Mathematics must be successfully completed. One math course must be taken during the senior year.

  6. 2 ½ credits of Social Studies must be successfully completed.

  7. ½ credit of Physical Education and ½ credit of Health must be successfully completed.

  8. 1 credit of World Language or Visual, Performing and Applied Arts must be successfully completed.

  9. Only 5th year seniors who have met all requirements may graduate in January.

  10. Students must be less than 20 years of age on September 1 of the current school year and not have earned a G.E.D. certificate or high school diploma to enroll in high school.

  11. Students may take a cumulative examination in core content areas to earn the high school credit for graduation. Students must pass the test with a score of 80% or better to earn such credit; no letter grade would be applied to the student's grade point average. Students will have a “TO” (tested out) recorded on their transcript for credit. It is the student’s responsibility to inquire and register for said tests.


Credit Application

All classes satisfactorily completed earn ½ credit per hour per semester.


Grade Classification – High School

Students will be classified as follows:
 

Grade 9 (0 to 4 credits)

Grade 10 (4.5 to 11 credits)

Grade 11 (11.5 to 18 credits)

Grade 12 (18.5 + credits)
 

  • Students may appeal for a higher grade classification by submitting a written request to the principal within the first week of the school year. A committee will meet with the parent/guardian and the student to determine if the appeal will be granted. The decision of the committee will be final. Exceptions may be made for students that can graduate with their cohort their final year.

 

Note: Students can earn outside credits after completion of one semester at Whittemore-Prescott High School, with prior written approval of the principal. These credits will be accepted as credit only and counted only as Credit/No Credit - no grade point average will be carried over into the high school. These credits may be used to recover lost credits in core academic areas only after the student has tried and failed to earn credit in the traditional classroom setting.