To graduate with an Advanced Diploma, students must earn 26 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 2018-2019 or later: English-two; math-one; science-one; history/social science-one.
Credits Required for Graduation for an Advanced Diploma
| 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 | 4 | 1 |
| Laboratory Science2 | 4 | 1 |
| History and Social Sciences3 | 4 | 1 |
| Foreign Language4 | 3 |
|
| Health and Physical Education | 2 |
|
| Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education | 1 |
|
| Economics and Personal Finance | 1 |
|
| Electives | 3 |
|
| Student Selected Test5 |
|
|
| Total | 26 | 5 |
1Courses 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 shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
2Courses 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 additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
3Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and two courses in either world history or geography or both. The board shall approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
4For the 2010-2011 academic year only: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include three years of one language or two years of two languages.
5A 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 VAC20-131-110.