6.22.2011

High School Diploma Requirements

These are basic requirements for high school diplomas. It can vary from State to State, so you need to check with your Dept. of Education to be certain you have all you need to graduate your homeschooled child. Also, be sure to check with your college admissions. Please note that most of the time, the required credit hours are the minimum expected.  Also, please note that when choosing elective courses, colleges prefer an educational benefit over a life skill. Find out from your state what translates to 1 credit. In our State, 140 hours is equal to 1 credit and 70 hours is equal to 1/2 credit.


 General High School Diploma (not college-bound)

4 English Credits
  • Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism (Courses should stress grammar, vocab and analyzing literature.)
3 Math Credits
  • Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, General Math, Consumer Math, Business Math, Accounting
2-3 History Credits
  • World History, American History, American Government
2-3 Science Credits
  • Physical Science, General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
2-3 Foreign Language Credits
  • French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc..2 years same language preferred
1-2 P.E. credits
  • Physical Education - many options available
1-2 Fine Arts Credits
  • Art, Music, Drama, Photography etc..
5 Electives
  • Bible, Practical Arts, Life Skills, Computer Skills etc...
Total Credits Needed: 20-22

General Diploma (College Bound)

4 English Credits
  • Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism, Debate (also consider AP courses)
4+ Math Credits
  • Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trig, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus
3-4 History Credits
  • Essentials: World History, American History, American Government
  • Consider: Economics, Geography, Constitutional Law, and AP courses
3-4 Science Credits
  • Physical Science, General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, consider AP courses
2-4 Foreign Language Credits
  • French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc..2 years same language preferred
1-2 P.E. credits
  • Physical Education - many options available
1-2 Fine Arts Credits
  • Art, Music, Drama, Photography etc..
5 Electives
  • Bible, Church History, Practical Arts, Life Skills, Computer Skills etc...
Total Credits Needed: 24-28 credits

Advanced Diploma for Highly Selective Colleges/Universities

4+ English Credits
  • Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism, Debate ( AP courses strongly recommended)
4+ Math Credits
  • Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trig, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus
  • Consider: Statistics, Accounting etc...
4+ History Credits
  • Essentials: World History, American History, American Government
  • Consider: Economics, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Constitutional Law, and AP courses strongly recommended
4+ Science Credits
  • Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Microbiology, AP courses strongly recommended
3-4 Foreign Language Credits
  • French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc..2 years same language preferred
1-2 P.E. credits
  • Physical Education - many options available
1-2 Fine Arts Credits
  • Art, Music, Drama, Photography etc..
5 Electives
  • Bible, Church History, Practical Arts, Life Skills, Computer Skills (proficiency important)
Total Credits Needed: 26-30

If you have information about your state that varies from this, please leave it in the comment section to help everyone else out. For example, in Alabama, you must have 1/2 Health credit, 1/2 Computer credit, and 1/2 Arts credit and only 1 PE credit. It varies a bit from above. Thank you for adding your information.

*This list does not include the requirement for ACT/SAT testing. Please check with your college admin to see how valuable that is to them for college admission.

List sourced by HSLDA





3 comments:

  1. MeJune 25, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    Hi Turkana :) I love this list, I'm going to print it out and show it to my teen so she has an idea of what is standard for a high school career. She'll better be able to make decisions based on that.

    In PA we don't have very specific graduation requirements they are as follows:
    “(d) The following minimum courses in grades nine through twelve are established
    as a requirement for graduation in a home education program:
    (1) Four years of English
    (2) Three years of mathematics.
    (3) Three years of science.
    (4) Three years of social studies
    (5) Two years of arts and humanities.”

    However, because so many in PA are compelled to use a diploma program there are additional requirements for those programs. The program we are using requires 120 hours for a credit. Other credit options include - 120 logged entries, 3/4 of a textbook, or a 10 page paper on the subject.

    Thank-you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TammyJune 28, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Thank you for adding this helpful information! I appreciate that. I am glad this list could help. Once my daughter saw it, she was able to set her goal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deb ChitwoodJune 28, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    What a helpful list! I had attended one of Inge Cannon's Transcript Boot Camps before we planned our high school courses, so that's what I used. But I love the way this list is divided into three separate tracks! Thanks for sharing it! Deb @ LivingMontessoriNow.com

    ReplyDelete

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