Graduation Requirements
A high school diploma tells admission officers at colleges, universities, and career and technical schools that the bearer is ready for the rigors of post-secondary education. It also tells potential employers that the graduate possesses the reading, writing, and computational skills required for success in the workplace. In order to graduate from a public high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a student must meet the criteria established by the Virginia Department of Education.
The standard and advanced diploma options are the two most common options available for students. Other diploma types offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia include the Applied Studies Diploma; the Certificate of Program Completion; the General Achievement Diploma (GAD); and the General Education Development Certificate (GED).
Requirements for Students Entering Ninth Grade in in 2018-2019 School Year and Beyond
Discipline Area | Standard Diploma Course Credits | Standard Diploma Verified Credits (SOL) | Advanced Diploma Course Credits | Advanced Diploma Verified Credits (SOL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
English | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Mathematics | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Laboratory Science | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
History and Social Sciences | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Health and Physical Education | 2 | 2 | ||
Foreign Languages | Not Required | 3/4 | ||
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education | 2 | 1 | ||
Economics and Personal Finance | 1 | 1 | ||
Electives | 4 | 3 | ||
Total | 22 | 5 | 26 | 5 |
A verified credit is based on a course credit plus a passing score on the end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) test or state approved substitute test. End-of-course SOL tests are offered in World Geography; World History 1; World History 2; US History; Algebra 1; Algebra 2; Geometry; Earth Science; Biology; Chemistry; English Writing and English Reading. Students may earn one locally verified credit in any subject. Students transferring to FDHS from either a private or out-of-state school may have altered requirements for earning verified credits based on when the student transferred and the credits that the student has earned at a previous school.
All students must complete two sequential electives in order to satisfy the elective requirement.
Students pursuing the Standard Diploma may substitute a world language for one of the fine art or career/technical course requirements. Students pursuing the Advanced Studies diploma may complete the world language requirement by taking three years of one language or two years of two different languages.
Students pursuing the Standard OR Advanced Studies diploma shall either (i) complete an Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, honors, or International Baccalaureate course, or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience; or iii) earn a career and technical education credential.
Credit accommodations provide alternatives for students with disabilities in earning the standard and verified credits required to graduate with a Standard Diploma. Credit accommodations for students with disabilities may include:
Alternative courses to meet the standard credit requirements
Modifications to the requirements for locally awarded verified credits
Additional tests approved by the Board of Education for earning verified credits
Adjusted cut scores on tests for earning verified credits
Allowance of work-based learning experiences through career and technical education (CTE) courses
While credit accommodations provide alternate pathways and flexibility, students receiving accommodations must earn the 22 standard credits and five verified credits required to graduate with a Standard Diploma.