Graduation Requirements
What It Takes to Graduate
Knowing the basics about graduation requirements is the first step to ensuring that your child will walk across the stage someday. Understanding these requirements will help parents and students make the most out of high school. Every student's path is different, so take the basics and think about how you can build on them in positive ways.
Diploma Types
Standard Diploma*
22 Total Course Credits
4 English
3 Math
3 Science
3 History & Social Sciences
2 Health/PE
1 Economics & Personal Finance
1 Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education (CTE) Elective
1 World Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Technical Education (CTE) Elective
4 Electives — including 2 sequential
Advanced Diploma*
26 Total Course Credits
4 English
4 Math
4 Science
4 History & Social Sciences
2 Health/PE
1 Economics & Personal Finance
3 World Languages (or 2 of 2 different languages each)
1 Fine Art or CTE
4 Electives — including 2 sequential
Applied Diploma
Instruction in Standards of Learning OR Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning
Testing (SOL or VESOL) determined by IEP team
5 Verified credits not required
May not qualify for higher education, federal aid and some employment opportunities
*Please note that a minimum number of credits is required to be promoted to each grade level:
- Grade 10: Minimum of 5 credits
- Grade 11: Minimum of 11 credits
- Grade 12: Minimum of 16 credits
- Graduation: Minimum of 22 credits
Standards of Learning
For both the Standard and Advanced Diplomas, students need to earn 5 verified credits, one in each of the following 5 subject areas:
- Writing
- Reading
- Math
- Science
- History
To earn a verified credit, a student must pass the SOL and the corresponding class. The minimum passing score for an SOL is 400.
CTE Requirements
Career & Technical Education (CTE) has a two-part graduation requirement. The first part is the elective credit requirement. Students are required to take sequential CTE electives stipulated by the diploma type and the second part requires a task or test completion requirement.