File: IKF (2017-2020) (pdf)
Adopted:
Revised: June 13, 1991, December 19, 1996, January 8, 1998, October 23, 2001, April 30, 2002, April 26, 2005, June 26, 2007, January 10, 2017
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
(Applicable for the Classes of 2017-2020)
UNITS OF CREDIT
Graduation from high school in the Boulder Valley School District is achieved through the earning of credits as specified in this policy. Credits for all high school courses (grades 9‐12) and for graduation requirements will be awarded on a "unit of credit" basis.
One "unit of credit" will be equal to a minimum of 12 clock hours of scheduled instruction time. Conversion from the Carnegie unit to the "unit of credit" basis will be on a 1 to 10 ratio.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Minimum requirements for graduation from high school in the Boulder Valley School District include the following:
- Two hundred twenty units of credit in grades 9‐12, including completion of specific subject area requirements, and
- Eight semesters of attendance beyond the eighth grade, unless the student qualifies for early graduation (see below.)
A minimum of 25 credits (five classes) per semester must be taken from grades 9 through 12. A maximum of 40 credits per semester will be allowed. Extenuating circumstances as determined by the building principal or designated administrator will permit exemptions to these course load requirements and limitations.
Early graduation is allowed at the end of the seventh semester, provided all requirements for graduation have been met. Early graduation before the end of the seventh semester must be reviewed and approved by the principal and by the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership. Students who complete their work at midyear and are eligible to graduate shall receive their diploma at the end of the school year and may return to take part in the graduation exercises at that time.
Students who fail to meet graduation requirements at the end of eight semesters of attendance will be encouraged to continue in school until they meet graduation requirements or through the semester that they turn 21, as permitted by state law. Such students will be subject to the graduation requirements which were in effect for their class when they entered or would have entered the 9th grade in Boulder Valley.
Transfer students will be held responsible for District requirements as Boulder Valley students. Course work completed outside the District will be evaluated and approved for credit and for fulfillment of graduation requirements by the principal or designee. In addition, Boulder Valley requires enrollment during the two semesters immediately prior to graduation and earning at least 50 credits in Boulder Valley School District to meet district graduation requirements unless an exemption is granted by the building principal.
SUBJECT AREA REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for a high school diploma, a student must have met the following minimum requirements in grades 9 through 12, and must also have received the recommendation of the high school principal for graduation. The graduation requirements for a student who graduates outside the typical four‐year time frame will be the requirements identified at the time the student entered or would have entered 9th grade.
I. LANGUAGE ARTS: 40 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12
10 credits Language Arts 9 in grade 9
10 credits World Literature and Composition, grade 10
10 credits American Literature and Composition, grade 11
5 credits communication, grades 9‐12
5 credits additional Language Arts elective, grades 9‐12
II. SOCIAL STUDIES: 30 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12
5 credits in U.S. Government at grade 9‐12
5 credits in Geography at grade 9 or 10
10 credits in World History at grade 10
10 credits in U.S. History at grade 11
III. MATHEMATICS: 20 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐10
Graduating Classes of 2006 and beyond:
- 20 credits in Mathematics which must include at least 10 credits in Algebra I or higher level Mathematics.*
* Students who complete 20 credits in Math Standards 1 and 2 will be required to take additional mathematics in order to fulfill the Algebra I requirement.
IV. SCIENCE: 20 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐10.
Graduating Classes of 2006 and beyond:
- 10 credits in courses designated as Life Sciences
- 10 credits in courses designated as Physical Sciences
V. PHYSICAL EDUCATION: 15 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12
- 5 credits in Comprehensive Physical Education.
- A minimum of 5 credits earned in grade 9, the remaining 10 credits to be earned in grades 9‐12.
- A maximum of 10 of the 15 physical education credits may be waived* based on participation in comparable school activities (i.e., two credits may be waived* for each CHSAA approved sport successfully completed, or two credits may be waived* for each season of Marching Band successfully completed) or comparable activities outside the school program (i.e., one credit may be waived* for each supervised activity that is at a sophisticated and competitive skill level as determined by the building principal).
*Credit will not be granted for school or outside activities when they are used for waiving of physical education credits. Students are required to take 220 units to fulfill the graduation requirements.
VI. HEALTH EDUCATION: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 10‐12
Graduation classes of 2008 and beyond:
- Health Education: 5 credits in grades 9‐10
VII. HUMANITIES: 10 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12. (Through class of 2009)
- Includes Music, Art, World Languages (Level III or above), and Diversity in the U.S.
VIII. FINE ARTS: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12 (Beginning with graduation classes of 2010)
- Includes Music or Art
IX. SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (Beginning with graduation classes of 2010)
10 credits in World Language, level II or above, or, for English Language Learners, achievement of approved level of English language acquisition.
X. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 9‐12.
Includes Computer, Business, Consumer and Family Studies, Industrial Technology, and Technical Education.
For graduation classes of 2010 and beyond:
- 5 credits in Computer Science or Applied Technology unless fulfilled in middle level; if Computer/Technology requirement fulfilled in middle level, 5 credits Business, Consumer and Family Studies, or other career and technical education course; and
- Evidence of completion of a 12 hour course in Money Management and Personal Finance unless fulfilled in middle level or through another district course.
XI. ADDITIONAL CREDITS IN COURSES APPROVED FOR GRADES 9‐12:
75 credits.
Community Service: A maximum of 5 credits of community service may be earned as an elective. Recommended: 75 or more hours of volunteer work equals 5 credits.
Credit for Independent Study: Independent study contracts, not to exceed a total of 30 units of credit, will be allowed for graduation credit. All contracts must be submitted in writing with prior approval by the teacher(s) and building administrator. The sponsoring teacher will monitor the project and determine grade and credit upon completion of work.
Total Credits: 220 in grades 9‐12, 100 of which must be earned in grades 11‐12.
Exceptions to these credit requirements may be made by the building principal when such action is deemed in the best interest of the student and the school.
When specific requirements are waived, the student must still complete the total of at least 220 credits for graduation.
REQUIREMENTS AS APPLIED TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
To be eligible for a high school diploma, identified students with disabilities must meet objectives, appropriate for them, as determined by the Staffing/Individual Education Program (IEP) Committee. The IEP goals and objectives will reflect modifications of the regular curriculum.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
English as a Second Language classes are an alternative English program for students who are limited English proficient according to District criteria. Language Arts graduation requirements may be fulfilled through ESL courses as deemed appropriate.
NON‐IMMIGRANT FOREIGN STUDENTS (F‐1)
A non‐immigrant foreign student on a valid F‐1 visa may be granted a diploma from the Boulder Valley School District if all graduation requirements and transfer student expectations of the District have been fulfilled.
NON‐IMMIGRANT FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS (J‐1)
The non‐immigrant foreign exchange program student (J‐1) will not graduate from a Boulder Valley School District high school and will not participate in graduation ceremonies.
CROSS REFS.:
IGADB*, Postsecondary Occupational Program
IGBA, Programs for Handicapped Students (Special Education) IKE, Promotion, Nonpromotion, and Acceleration of Students
JECBA, Admission of F‐1 Visa, J‐1 Foreign Exchange Students,
Immigrant Students and Dependent of Non‐Immigrant Visa Holders
JECD, Assignment of Transfer Students to Classes and Grade Levels
End of File: IKF