HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students must have successfully completed the courses required by the board for graduation. Students who receive a passing grade in a semester course receive one "credit". A minimum of 54 academic credits and 40 community service hours will be required for graduation.
Academic credits granted for the successful completion of the following courses shall be required to be included in the minimum graduation requirements:
* Four units (8 credits) of English.
* Four units (8 credits) of Social Sciences to include two units (4 credits) of American History, and one half unit (1 credit) of government.
* Three units (6 credits) of science.
* Three units (6 credits) of math.
* One half unit (1 credit) of world of work/life skills
* Two units (4 credits) of physical education.
Classification By Credits - Students will be classified by earned academic credits.
Classification Normal Progress
Entering Senior: at least 40 credits 42 - 48 credits
Entering Junior: at least 25 credits 28 - 32 credits
Entering Soph: at least 12 credits 14 - 16 credits
GAINING CREDITS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES - A student may wish to take high school courses not offered by our school, or may wish to make up failed subjects in order to graduation with his/her graduating class. All such courses must be scheduled through the guidance department and approved by the principal.
Graduation requirements for special eduction students will be in accordance with the prescribed course of study as described in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each student's IEP will include a statement of the projected date of graduation at least 18 months in advance of the projected date and the criteria to be used in determining whether graduation will occur. Prior to the special education student's graduation, the IEP team will determine whether the graduation criteria have been met.
ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL - Students must earn the following credits to complete the graduation requirements for the alternative high school:
English - 7 credits
Mathematics - 4 credits
Science - 4 credits
US History - 2 credits
Government - 1 credit
Elective classes - 18 credits
EARLY GRADUATION
Students who have completed all of the requirements for graduation may elect early graduation, and if so electing, will receive their diploma at that time. Early graduates may elect to participate in the graduation ceremonies at the conclusion of the regular school year after which they normally would have graduated. Students electing early graduation will not be eligible to participate in any extracurricular activities after their early graduation.
(Notes: The educational standards and requirements set by law and the Iowa Department of Education will be strictly observed. There is a need to differentiate between and define “Unit” and “Credit”. A Unit is granted for a course that is taught for at least 200 minutes per week for 36 weeks, or for a course that is taught for the equivalent of 120 hours of instruction, or is taught as a part of an innovative program filled as prescribed in subrule 12.1(6). One-half Unit is equivalent of one Credit.)
LEGAL REFS.: Iowa Code 256.11, 279.8, 280.3
670 Iowa Admin. Code 3.2, 3.3(12)
670 Iowa Admin. Code 4.2, 4.3(7), 4.5 (new standards)
Adopted: Nov. 11, 1985
Reviewed: March 11, 1996
March 20, 2000
November 21, 2005
May 16, 2011
June 13, 2016
Revised: Feb. 10, 1997
July 27, 2015