You are here

505.5 Graduation Requirements

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 receives 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:
a.  Four units (8 credits) of English.
b.  Four units (8 credits) of social sciences to  include two units (four credits) of American History, and one semester (one credit) of government.
c.  Three Units (six credits) of science.
d.  Three units (six credits) of math.
e.  One-half unit (one credit) of world of work/life skills.
f.  Two units (four credits) of physical education. 
 
Classification By Credits - Student 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 graduate with his/her graduating class.  All such courses must be scheduled through the guidance department and approved by the principal.
 
Graduation requirements for special education 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                                                                                                         
 
(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 filed as prescribed in sub-rule 12.1 (6).  One-half Unit is equivalent to one Credit.)
 
 
Legal Reference:      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)
 
Previously Code No. 605.4
 
Adopted:  November 11, 1985              
 
Reviewed:  November 14, 1988       
April, 2006     
September 2006  
December 17, 2012                                          
 
Revised: January 9, 1989
February 17, 2003
April 24, 2006
March 19, 2007
January 28, 2008
July 27, 2015