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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Beyond the average graduation requirements listed below, in order to attend a University of California University you must meet the following A-G REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements must be met by students in order to graduate during the 2008-09 school year.
California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)
  • CAHSEE is aligned to the standards in English/Language Arts through grade 10 and Mathematics through Algebra 1-2.
  • All California public school students must pass the CAHSEE to receive a diploma. The CAHSEE has two parts:
    • Reading/writing section with both multiple-choice questions and a writing task, and
    • Mathematics section with multiple-choice questions.

Beginning with the class of 2006, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) to receive a diploma in the State of California. The examination is based on the California State Content Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. All the tenth-graders are required to take the exam in the spring. If either or both of the English Language Arts and Mathematics portions of the test are not passed, the student will continue to retake the parts not passed during grades 11 and 12 until both parts have been passed.
Credit Requirements

Forty-four semester credits are required for graduation. Students are expected to meet the California State Standards in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, visual, performing, and practical arts, and physical education. Students who are short in credits/credit deficient will not be permitted to participate in commencement or other senior activities.

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS BY SUBJECT

ENGLISH: 8 SEMESTER CREDITS
Grade 9: Two credits; Grade 10: Two credits; Grades 11 and 12: Four credits, including 1 credit in a course that emphasizes American literature and three credits from a prescribed list of English courses. English credit will not be granted for high school graduation for drama, public speaking, or journalism. Drama qualifies for visual and performing arts credit and journalism qualifies for practical arts credit. English as a Second Language (ESL) may be used to fulfill the eight-semester English requirement.

MATHEMATICS: 6 SEMESTER CREDITS
All students are required to pass six semester credits of mathematics including Algebra 1-2, Algebra Exploration 9th 1-2, or Interactive Mathematics Year 1*; Geometry 1-2 or Interactive Mathematics Year 2*; and one of the following: Intermediate Algebra, Unifying Algebra and Geometry 1-2, or Interactive Mathematics Year 3*.

(*Available at approved sites.)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: 4 SEMESTER CREDITS
Students must be enrolled in a physical education course in grade 9 and must earn four credits in grades 9-12.

SCIENCE: 6 SEMESTER CREDITS
One year of life science (biology or other University of California [UC]-approved laboratory science course in the ‘d’ subject area), one year of physical science (physics, chemistry, or other UC-approved laboratory science course in the ‘d’ subject area), and one additional year of UC-approved science coursework in the ‘d’ (laboratory science) or ‘g’ (elective) subject areas.

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE: 6 SEMESTER CREDITS
Grade 9 or 10: Two credits in world history and geography; grade 11: Two credits in U.S. history and geography or advanced alternative; grade 12: One credit in government and one credit in economics, or two credits in an advanced alternative.

WORLD LANGUAGES AND VISUAL, PERFORMING OR PRACTICAL ARTS: 3 SEMESTER CREDITS IN AN AVAILABLE OPTION

  • Option A: Two semesters of a foreign language (a one-year course) and one semester of visual, performing, or practical arts.
  • Option B: Two semesters of visual and/or performing arts and one semester of practical arts. Visual and performing arts includes courses in art, music, and drama/theater arts. Practical arts includes courses in business education, consumer and family studies, industrial education, vocational and occupational programs, instructional television, journalism, and yearbook

ELECTIVES:
Additional credits needed to reach a total of 44 credits may be earned by completing additional courses in the above areas and/or elective courses. Courses using languages other than English as the medium of instruction for students not fluent in English may be substituted to fulfill specific subject area requirements.
Senior Exhibition
All graduating seniors are required to present a Senior Exhibition as part of their graduation requirements. Information about exhibitions is available on the student portion of the website.
Computer Literacy
Students can fulfill this requirement in one of two ways: completion of a computer education course or completion of an approved course that incorporates computer education and computer applications. A test may be used for grades 9-12 when a course is not accessible or possible.
Attendance
All students must attend 8 semesters in grades 9-12 for six periods daily unless the best interests of a student require a different plan. The principal and parent or guardian must approve an alternative student enrollment plan involving an accelerated program or a shortened-day schedule, planned for a student with the advice of a counselor. If a student's program is changed to fewer than six periods per day during the year, prior notification of a parent or guardian must be made.
Conduct
Each student must maintain a record of responsible citizenship. To participate in graduation ceremonies, students must meet a minimum standard of a 2.0 grade-point average in citizenship during the senior year. Seniors will be denied participation in graduation exercises and other senior activities for zero tolerance violations or activities resulting in a five-day suspension as seniors. A senior with a citizenship grade below 2.0 or a suspension of fewer than five days must appeal to the school site appeal board to determine level of participation in senior activities. The citizenship GPA is computed on a scale of E=4, G=3, S=2, N=1, U=0.
Grade-Point Average (GPA)

A grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in scholarship, computed on the basis of A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0, is required. A grade-point average for graduation is computed on courses completed in grades 9-12. (Students should consult their school counselors for information about computing grade-point averages for repeated courses.) For advanced placement (AP), certain International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and designated honors course, the grade-point average is computed on a five-point scale: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=1, F=0. Students must take the College Board AP or IB exam in order to receive weighted credit. Information on which courses are weighted on the five point scale is available at school sites. A 2.0 grade-point average on a four-point scale in both scholarship and citizenship is also required for participation in co-curricular activities, including interscholastic athletics. Parents or guardians shall be advised of the availability of state funds to augment the cost of advanced placement examination fees pursuant to Section 52244 (California Codes, Education Code, Section 48980). Please contact your child’s school for details.
The following are two honors that graduating seniors may attain:
Academic Distinction
Under Option 1 in District Procedure #4772, diploma-bound students with a cumulative scholastic standing of 3.50 or greater will receive a Diploma with Academic Distinction. Under Option 2, seniors completing a specific set of requirements (for more information see District Procedure #4772 3b.) will also receive a Diploma with Academic Distinction. (Note: This procedure does not apply to courses in the 7000 series).

Additionally, senior students who have received a five-day suspension or violated the district’s zero-tolerance policy resulting in a recommendation for expulsion are not eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony and other senior activities. Ineligible seniors may not attend any events as the “guest” of an eligible student.

If a senior student earns a citizenship grade point average (GPA) below 2.0 on a progress or semester report card, or receives a suspension for less than five days, that student must appear before the Senior Appeals Board for consideration to participate in graduation and other senior activities. The Senior Appeals Board will convene mid-May to hear individual cases. There will be no site-level appeal board for students receiving five-day suspensions or violating the district’s zero-tolerance policy. Please check the SCPA website for updated information regarding senior activities.
Calfornia Scholarship Foundation

CSF recognizes students who possess high standards in academic scholarship, community service and citizenship. Members of CSF are eligible for a variety of tuition scholarship available at California universities and colleges. Membership in CSF is not automatic. Students must take the initiative by applying for membership and paying federation dues. Watch for school bulletin announcements. Membership applications must be made each semester.