Standard Diploma

Students awarded a Standard Diploma shall earn 22 standard units of credit and the following number of verified units of credit: two English, one mathematics, one laboratory science, one history/social science, and one verified unit of credit of the student’s choice. All students will fulfill a sequential vocational program meeting state requirements for a marketable skill or will take a program of studies preparing them for further education.

Requirements for the Standard Diploma
 

ºCourses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be at or above the level of Algebra and shall include at least two course selections from among Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II. If Algebra I is taken in parts, both parts must be completed but will count as one math unit. If Geometry is also taken in parts, both parts must be completed but only one will count as a math unit. The other will count as an elective unit.

¹Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least two different science disciplines: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

²Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and one of either World History I (to 1500 AD), World History II (from 1500 AD), or World Geography.

³Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.

Discipline Area	Standard Units of Credit Required	Verified Units of Credit Required*
English	4	2
Mathematicsº	3	1
Laboratory Science¹	3	1
History and Social Science²	3	1
Health and Physical Education	2	0
Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or CTE	2	0
Economics and Personal Finance	1	0
Electives³	4
		1 of student's choice
Total	22	6

Advanced Studies Diploma

Students awarded an Advanced Studies Diploma shall earn 28 standard units of credit and the following number of verified units of credit: two English, two mathematics, two laboratory science, two history/social science, and one verified unit of credit of the student’s choice.

Requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma for students entering 9th grade in 2011-2012 and beyond
 

ºCourses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be at or above the level of Algebra and 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.

 ¹Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least three different science disciplines from among Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

²Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and two of either World History I (to 1500 AD), World History II (from 1500 AD), or World Geography.

 ³Courses completed to satisfy the foreign language requirement shall include three credits of one language or two credits each of two languages.

 *Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include a Fine Arts or Career/Technical Education unit.

Discipline Area	Standard Units of Credit Required	Verified Units of Credit Required*
English	5	2
Mathematicsº	5	2
Laboratory Science¹	4	2
History and Social Science²	4	2
Foreign Language³	3	0
Health and Physical Education	2	0
Electives*	5	1 of student's choice
Total	28	9

Modified Standard Diploma

The Modified Standard Diploma is intended for certain students at the secondary level who have a disability and are unlikely to meet the credit requirements for a Standard Diploma. Eligibility and participation in the Modified Standard Diploma program shall be determined by the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team and the student, where appropriate, at any point after the student’s eighth grade year. The school must secure the written consent of the parent/guardian and the student to choose this diploma program after review of the student’s academic history and the full disclosure of the student’s options. The student who has chosen to pursue a Modified Standard Diploma shall also be allowed to pursue the Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma at any time throughout that student’s high school career. The student must not be excluded from courses and tests required to earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma. Beginning with the ninth grade class of 2000-01, students pursuing the Modified Standard Diploma must pass the Grade 8 English: Literacy/ Language SOL and the Grade 8 Math SOL as prescribed by the State Board of Education. Students in a Modified Standard Diploma program who are enrolled in a course that requires an end-of-course SOL test must take the test, but they do not have to pass the SOL test to satisfy the requirement for this diploma.

              Requirements for the Modified Standard Diploma
 

Discipline Area	Standard Units of Credit Required	Grade 8 SOL Tests Required*
English	4	English: Literacy & Language
Mathematicsº	3	Math
Laboratory Science¹	2	0
History and Social Science²	2	0
Health and Physical Education	2	0
Electives³	7	0
Total	20	2

ºCourses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include content from among applications of Algebra, Geometry, and Personal Living and Finance. Provisions in the Modified Standard Diploma program allow students to earn one of the standard units of credit needed in a particular content area by successfully completing the Part I course. For example, students who successfully complete the Geometry, Part I course do not have to take and pass the Geometry, Part II course to earn credit towards satisfying the three mathematics requirements.

¹Courses completed shall include content from at least two of the following: applications of Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

²Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia History and one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia Government.

³Beginning with the graduating class of 2003, courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.