Graduation Requirements
Students must successfully complete the courses required by the board and Iowa Department of Education in order to graduate.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete the required total credits prior to graduation. The following credits will be required:
Tiered Graduation Pathways
|
Courses |
Distinguished Diploma |
Achievement Diploma |
Core Diploma |
Requirements |
|
English Language Arts |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Language Arts 9 and Language Arts 10 |
|
Mathematics |
6 |
6 |
6 |
Algebra I and Geometry: Student seeking a “Distinguished” Diploma must also complete Algebra II |
|
Science |
8 |
6 |
6 |
Biology and Physical Science: Effective 2026, students seeking a “Distinguished” Diploma must also complete Chemistry or Physics |
|
Social Studies |
6 |
6 |
6 |
U.S. History I & II and Government |
|
Physical Education* |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Required each semester unless exempted in accordance with Iowa law.* |
|
World Language |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Effective in 2026, Students seeking a “Distinguished Diploma” must complete Spanish I and Spanish II |
|
Career Technical Education/ Work-Based Learning |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
|
Personal Finance |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Fine Arts |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Electives |
9 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
Total |
52 |
47 |
42 |
|
*Students shall be excused by the principal of the school if their parent or guardian requests in writing they be excused from the physical education requirement. A student who wishes to be excused from the physical education requirement must:
- be seeking to do so in order to enroll in academic courses not otherwise available to the student;
- be enrolled in a work-based learning program or other educational program authorized by the school which requires the student to leave the school premises for specified periods of time during the school day; or
- participate in a school sponsored extracurricular activity which requires at least as much physical activity per week as one-eight unit of physical education.
To be granted a waiver, parents must indicate the activities students will participate in to complete at least 120 minutes of physical activity each week, as required by the Healthy Kids Act.
Graduation requirements for special education students will be in accordance with state-required standards and the prescribed course of study as described in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP). In order to obtain a diploma, the student must meet current state-required standards including; four units (years) of English, three units (years) of math, three units (years) of social studies, and three units (years) of science (4-3-3-3). An IEP team cannot excuse or waive the state’s graduation requirements. An IEP team may waive local district graduation requirements based on the student’s needs and abilities. An IEP team must demonstrate reasonable cause for waiving local district graduation requirements.
An entitled student who is not able to meet the requirements for a regular high school diploma will be granted a certificate of completion if they fulfill the course requirements and expectations outlined in their IEP.
All students must complete a CPR course provided by the school.
Students who complete a regular session in the Legislative Page Program of the general assembly at the state capitol will be credited ½ credit of social studies.
Prior to graduation, the district will advise students on how to successfully complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA).
The Board shall have complete discretion to determine extraordinary circumstances that may permit variances from the above.
The required courses of study will be reviewed by the Board as needed.
Approved August 27, 2018
Reviewed December 13, 2023
Revised October 14, 2024
