The diploma you choose matters! Virginia offers the Advanced Studies and Standard Diploma. All college bound students should pursue the Advanced Studies option.
ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA
The requirements for a student to earn a diploma shall be those in effect when the student enters the 9th grade for the first time. The following applies to students who enter 9th grade 2018-2019 and beyond.
To graduate from high school with an Advanced Studies Diploma, students shall meet the minimum requirements as outlined below which include 28 credits, 5 of which must be verified credits. A standard credit is earned when a student passes a course. A verified credit is earned when a student passes a course and either the associated end-of-course SOL test or an authentic performance assessment in the areas of history and social sciences and English (writing). In some cases, students may utilize substitute tests, certifications, or the appeal process to earn verified credits. State guidelines prescribe the number of verified credits required for graduation for students entering a Virginia public high school for the first time during the tenth grade or after. Consult your school counselor for specific information.
Students receive credit toward graduation for high school courses taken and passed in middle school. These courses count toward credits in the required sequences as well as toward the total number of credits required for graduation and calculation of the grade point average (GPA).
Advanced Studies Diploma Course Requirements (8 VAC 20-131-50)
|
Subject
|
Standard Credits
|
Verified Credits
|
|
English *For this requirement AP English counts as one standard credit per year
|
5
|
2
|
|
Mathematics1
|
4
|
1
|
|
Science
|
4
|
1
|
|
History & Social Sciences3
|
4
|
1
|
|
Health and PE (includes CPR/AED training)
|
2
|
|
|
World Language4
|
3
|
|
|
Economics Personal Finance (includes virtual course)
|
1
|
|
|
Fine Arts or CTE
|
1
|
|
|
Electives5 (must include a sequential elective)
|
4
|
|
|
Completion of an AP/Honors class OR a CTE credential
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
5
|
1 Courses 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 of Education (Board) shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
2 Courses 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 and shall include interdisciplinary courses which incorporate SOL content from multiple academic areas. The Board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
3 Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II.
4 Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include three years of one language or two years of two languages.
5 Students shall either complete an Advanced Placement, honors, or International Baccalaureate course, or earn a career and technical education credential approved by the Board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.
Standard Diploma Course Requirements (8 VAC 20-131-51)
|
Subject
|
Standard Credits
|
Verified Credits
|
|
English
|
4
|
2
|
|
Mathematics1
|
3
|
1
|
|
Science2, 5
|
3
|
1
|
|
History & Social Sciences3, 5
|
3
|
1
|
|
Health and PE (includes required CPR/AED)
|
2
|
|
|
World Language, Fine Arts or CTE6
|
2
|
|
|
Economics Personal Finance (includes required virtual course)
|
1
|
|
|
Electives 4, 7 (includes sequential elective)
|
4
|
|
|
Completion of an AP/Honors class OR a CTE credential
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
5
|
1 include at least two different course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses as approved by the Board. The Board of Education (Board) shall approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement.
2 Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least two different science disciplines: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics; or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma and shall include interdisciplinary courses which incorporate SOL content from multiple academic areas. The Board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement.
3 Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and either World History/Geography I or World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II.
4 Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives as required by the Standards of Quality.
5 Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association, or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the Board as an additional test to verify student achievement.
6 Pursuant to Section 22.1-253.13:4, Code of Virginia, credits earned for this requirement shall include one credit in fine or performing arts or career and technical education.
7 Students shall either complete an Advanced Placement, honors, or International Baccalaureate course, or earn a career and technical education credential approved by the Board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the standard diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.