To graduate with a Standard Diploma, students must earn 22 standard units of credit described in the table below, and of the standard units of credit earned, students will earn the following number of verified units of credit:
Students entering the 9th grade for the first time in 2018-2019 or later: English-two; math-one; science-one; history/social science-one.
- Credits Required for Graduation with a Standard Diploma
- Earn a board-approved career and technical education credential. The credential could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, state license exam, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment.
- Successfully complete one virtual course, which may be non-credit bearing.
Beginning with students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2018-2019, a student must also:- Complete an Advanced Placement, honors, or International Baccalaureate course or earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to earn credit. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment.
- Successfully complete one virtual course, which may be non-credit bearing.
| Discipline Area | Units of Credit Beginning with 9th Graders entering 2011-2012 and beyond | Number of Credits Required to be Verified with 9th Graders 2018-2019 and beyond |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 2 |
| Mathematics1 | 3 | 1 |
| Laboratory Science2, 6 | 3 | 1 |
| History and Social Sciences3, 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Health and Physical Education | 2 |
|
| Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education7 | 2 |
|
| Economics and Personal Finance | 1 |
|
| Electives4 | 4 |
|
| Student Selected Test5 |
|
|
| Total | 22 | 5 |
1Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two different course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra, Functions, and Data Analysis, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra II. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
2Courses 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.
3Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and one course in either world history or geography or both. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
4For the 2011-2012 academic year and beyond: Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives as required by the Standards of Quality.
5A 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 8VAC20-131-110.
6For the 2011-2012 academic year and beyond: 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 of Education as an additional test to verify student achievement.
7For the 2011-2012 academic year and beyond: Pursuant to ยง 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, credits earned for this requirement shall include one credit in fine or performing arts or career and technical education.