BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
The high school courses authorized by the DeKalb County Board of Education shall be
scheduled in each high school whenever students register in sufficient numbers and the allotment
of personnel makes it possible to teach the courses efficiently.
When pupils in a school do not register in sufficient numbers to justify the scheduling of a
course, a student may request to take the course at a school where it is available. The
Superintendent shall be authorized to approve such a request after it has been reviewed and
recommended by the counselor and principal.
Eighth-Grade Requirements
Eighth-grade students must complete satisfactorily 15 quarter hours (or the equivalent) each in
English and mathematics before taking ninth-grade courses in these areas. Further, eighth-grade
students are expected to take science, social science, one quarter of health, and two quarters of
physical education. Electives may be taken in art, music, foreign language, industrial arts, and
other exploratory subjects.
Students who successfully complete a minimum of nine quarter courses in the three quarters of
eighth grade shall be promoted to ninth grade. Courses taken and grades earned in the eighth
grade will be recorded on the permanent history. The 21 Carnegie units required for graduation
must be earned in grades 9-12.
Students enrolled in the ninth grade prior to the 1986-87 school year will graduate under the
requirements that were in effect the year they entered the ninth grade. Those students who
qualify may receive the Georgia Seal of Endorsement for the completion of a recommended
college preparatory program (the Academic Diploma requirements or the Advanced Academic
Diploma with Excellence). Additional programs of study are the Advanced Fine Arts
Diploma with Excellence, the Advanced Practical Arts Diploma with Excellence, and the
Vocational Education Program of Studies. Special education students who complete the
requirements of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may receive a Special Education
Diploma.
Requirements for Graduation
(For students entering the ninth grade in the 1986-87 school year through the 1992-93 school
year)
A minimum of 315 hours, 21 Carnegie units, in grades 9-12 must be completed satisfactorily in
order to meet the requirements for graduation. Credit toward graduation is granted only for work
completed in grades 9-12.
Remedial unit credits earned must be included among the elective unit credits. State-required
unit credits must be awarded for courses which include skills and concepts generally considered
to be secondary school education levels of performance. Developmental special education
courses are not considered remedial.
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
Students who wish to receive the Vocational Education Seal of Endorsement must earn at least
four vocational units, three of which must be concentrated in one of the occupational or related
program areas listed below. One of the four units may include the Coordinated Vocational
Academic Education (CVAE) or Related Vocational Instruction (RVI).
A. Vocational Agriculture E. Health Occupations
B. Business Education F. Marketing Education
C. Home Economics (Occupational) G. Industrial Arts
D. Comprehensive Home Economics H. Trade and Industrial Ed.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PREPARATORY PROGRAM OF STUDY
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SEAL OF ENDORSEMENT
(21 UNITS)
English 4 units
Mathematics 2 units
Science 2 units
Social Studies 3 units
American History/Government 1 unit
*Economics 1/3 unit
*Citizenship 1/3 unit
*Social Science Electives 1/3 unit
World Studies 1 unit
Health and Safety 1/3 unit
Physical Education 2/3 unit
Computer Technology, Fine Arts 1 unit
or Vocational Education _____
STATE REQUIRED 13 units
Required Vocational Units 4 units
State Elective Units 4 units
TOTAL 21 units
*This pattern can be used as long as DeKalb schools are on the quarter system.
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
DIPLOMA (21 UNITS)
(GENERAL PROGRAM OF STUDY)
English 4 units
Mathematics 2 units
Science 2 units
Social Studies 3 units
American History/Government 1 unit
*Economics 1/3 unit
*Citizenship/Government 1/3 unit
*Social Science Elective 1/3 unit
World Studies 1 unit
Health and Safety 1/3 unit
Physical Education 2/3 unit
Computer Technology, Fine Arts
or Vocational Education 1 unit
State Required 13 units
Electives 8 units
TOTAL 21 units
*This pattern can be used as long as the DeKalb County schools are on the quarter system.
Students working toward a general diploma should concentrate their electives in areas that
pertain to their postsecondary school plans.
Additional courses selected from the following are strongly recommended also:
Mathematics Computer Technology
Science Vocational Education
Foreign Language Traffic Safety Education
Fine Arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts) Social Studies
ACADEMIC DIPLOMA (21 UNITS)
(COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM OF STUDY)
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
College Preparatory Program of Study
Students who desire a rigorous academic experience should elect to follow this recommended
Academic Curriculum. A formal seal of endorsement from the Georgia Board of Education will
be awarded to those students who successfully complete the endorsed course of study.
Course Units Units Must be Selected From the Following:
English 4 Grammar and Usage
Literature (American, English, and World)
Advanced Composition Skills
Science 3 Biology I or Biology I Accelerated
Chemistry I or Chemistry I Accelerated
Earth Science I (Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology
(except survey courses)
Physics I or Physics I Accelerated (PSST)
Scientific Tools and Techniques (STT)
Second Year (II) Science Courses
Mathematics 3 Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Algebra and Trigonometry III
(For students planning to enter a college program requiring Advanced Mathematics, Algebra and
Trigonometry III, and/or Calculus are highly recommended.)
Course Units Units Must be Selected From the Following:
Social Studies 3 American History/Government 1 unit
*Citizenship 1/3 unit
*Economics 1/3 unit
*Social Science Elective 1/3 unit
World History 1 unit
Foreign Language 2 Beginning Foreign Language
Intermediate Foreign Language
(Must be in the same language)
(Students choosing Functional Language I and II in place of Beginning Foreign Language must
complete Intermediate Foreign Language to fulfill this requirement.)
* Health and Safety 1/3
* Physical Education 2/3
Computer Technology
Fine Arts or Vocational Education 1
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
Required Units 17
Electives 4
TOTAL 21
*This pattern can be used as long as the DeKalb County schools are on the quarter system.
ADVANCED ACADEMIC DIPLOMA WITH EXCELLENCE (23 UNITS)
(INCLUDES COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM OF STUDY)
Students who desire an academic experience beyond the Advanced Academic Curriculum may
elect to choose a course of study that will earn them an Advanced Academic Diploma with
Excellence. In addition to the requirements listed below, students earning this diploma must
maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.50. Students who complete all of the
requirements for this diploma will also receive a formal seal of endorsement from the Georgia
Board of Education.
Course Units Units Must be Selected From the Following:
English 4 Grammar and Usage
Literature(American, English, and World)
Advanced Composition Skills
Science 3 Biology I or Biology I Accelerated
Chemistry I or Chemistry I Accelerated
Earth Science I (Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology
(except survey courses)
Physics I or Physics I Accelerated (PSST)
Scientific Tools and Techniques (STT)
Second Year (II) Science Courses
Mathematics 3 Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
Algebra and Trigonometry III
(For students planning to enter a college program requiring advanced mathematics, Algebra and
Trigonometry III, and/or Calculus are highly recommended.)
Course Units Units Must be Selected From the Following:
Social Studies 3 American History/Government 1 unit
*Citizenship 1/3 unit
*Economics 1/3 unit
*Social Science Elective 1/3 unit
World History 1 unit
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
Foreign Language 2 Beginning Foreign Language
Intermediate Foreign Language
(Must be in the same language)
(Students choosing Functional Language I and II in place of Beginning Foreign Language must
complete Intermediate Foreign Language to fulfill this requirement.)
Health and Safety 1/3
Physical Education 2/3
Computer Technology,
Fine Arts or
Vocational Education 1
Specified Electives 2
Must be taken from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and/or a third year of
Foreign Language
Required Units 19
Electives 4
TOTAL 23
ADVANCED FINE ARTS OR PRACTICAL ARTS
DIPLOMA WITH EXCELLENCE (23 UNITS)
Students who desire an Advanced Fine Arts or a Practical Arts experience may elect to complete
a course of study for an Advanced Fine Arts or a Practical Arts Diploma with Excellence. In
addition to the course requirements listed below, students must maintain a Cumulative Grade
Point Average of 3.50. Students meeting these requirements, as well as those of the Advanced
Academic Curriculum, will receive a formal seal of endorsement from the Georgia Board of
Education.
Course Units
English 4
Mathematics 2
Science 2
Social Studies
American History/Government 1 unit
*Economics 1/3 unit
*Citizenship 1/3 unit
*Social Science Elective 1/3 unit
World Studies 1 unit
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
Course Units
Health and Safety 1/3
*This pattern can be used as long as DeKalb County schools are on the quarter system.
Physical Education 2/3
Computer Technology, Fine Arts or
Vocational Education ** 1
State Required 13
**The course selected to satisfy this requirement must be in addition to the area of study selected
below.
Fine Arts Requirement Plus General Electives
Art 5 units plus 5 general electives = 10 units
Choral Music 5 units plus 5 general electives = 10 units
(To include one unit from Advanced Performance and one unit from Music Theory)
Music 5 units plus 5 general electives = 10 units
(To include one unit from Advanced Performance and one unit from Music Theory)
Practical Arts Requirements Plus General Electives
Business Education 4 units plus 6 general electives = 10 units
Cooperative 4 units plus 6 general electives = 10 units
Vocational Education
Home Economics 4 units plus 6 general electives = 10 units
Industrial Arts 4 units plus 6 general electives = 10 units
Trade and Industrial Education
(OEC – 6 consecutive quarters in the same area) 10 units
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED 23
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
Advanced Placement
For students who qualify, Advanced Placement course credit may be earned in the appropriate
academic area(s).
Additional Electives
Additional electives selected from the following disciplines are also strongly recommended:
1. A third course in foreign language or study in a second foreign language
2. Physical education, health, and safety education
3. Vocational education
4. Computer technology
5. An additional laboratory science course
6. Fine arts (drama, music, visual arts)
7. Humanities
8. Traffic safety education
9. Social studies
10. Speech
Post-secondary Options/Joint Enrollment
Eligible high school students who qualify may enroll in a post-secondary institution and earn
both high school Carnegie unit credit and postsecondary credit hours. Students who attend
Georgia public colleges or universities will not be responsible for tuition for courses taken under
Postsecondary Options. Students who attend private colleges or universities in Georgia under a
Joint Enrollment agreement will be responsible for the cost of such enrollment. This provision
became effective for eligible students in the 1993-94 school year. (Policy Code IDCH)
Transfer Credit
Students transferring from accredited home, private, public, and foreign schools outside the
DeKalb County School District and registering for the DeKalb County high school program may
receive credit for subjects completed in standard high schools by presenting transcripts or the
equivalent.
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BOARD POLICY Descriptor Code: IHF(1)
Graduation Requirements – Prior to 1993-1994
A unit shall represent satisfactory completion of instruction in a subject for two semesters or one
school year. A Carnegie unit is based on 150 clock hours during the regular school year and 120
clock hours during summer school.
Requirements for High School Diploma
Ninth graders enrolled in the 1986-87 school term and all subsequent classes must meet the
attendance requirements, the required number of Carnegie units, and the basic skills competency
requirements in order to receive a high school diploma.
Learner Basic Skills Areas
Reading Skills
Mathematics Skills
Writing
Requirements for High School Certificate of Performance
Ninth graders enrolled in the 1986-87 school term and all subsequent classes must meet the
attendance requirements and the required number of Carnegie units in order to receive a high
school certificate of performance.
Local Authority and Responsibility
The DeKalb County Board of Education has established instructional support services and
delivery services to uphold the multiple criteria for high school graduation:
To provide an ongoing guidance component beginning with the ninth grade for familiarizing
students with graduation requirements and for examining the likely impact of individual career
objectives on the program of work they plan to follow.
To provide annual advisement sessions to report progress and offer alternatives in meeting
graduation requirements and career objectives.
To provide record keeping and reporting services that document student progress toward
graduation and include information for the school, parents, and students.
To provide diagnostic and continuous evaluation services that measure individual student
progress in meeting competency expectations for graduation.
To provide instructional programs, curriculum and planned course guides, and remedial
opportunities to assist each student in meeting graduation requirements.
To provide appropriate curriculum and assessment procedures for students who have been
identified as having disabilities that prevent them from meeting the prescribed competency
performance requirements.
Page 9
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