| Upper Arlington City School District |
| Administrative Guidelines |
5460 - GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In order for a student to qualify for a diploma in this District, s/he must have satisfactorily completed the following courses and earned at least twenty-one (21) credits.
Graduation must be earned by passing all mandated subjects, a major sequence, and earning total units required for the specific diploma sought. Credit toward graduation shall be granted for any course that a student successfully completes outside of school hours at an accredited postsecondary institution whether or not the course was paid for by the District or by the parents or student. In addition, the student must have attained the applicable score on the tests required by the State Board of Education for graduation in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Each student must demonstrate, unless exempted, the required level of skill in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies at the end of the tenth grade.
As an alternative to the requirement that a student attain the applicable scores on the Ohio Graduation Tests ("OGT") in order to be eligible to graduate, a student may meet the OGT testing requirements if s/he satisfies all of the following conditions:
| A. | passes four (4) out of five (5) OGT tests and has missed passing the fifth test by ten (10) points or less | |
| B. | has a ninety-seven percent (97%) school attendance rate in each of the last four (4) school years, excluding any excused absences | |
| C. | has not been expelled from school in any of the last four (4) school years | |
| D. | has a grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0 in the subject area of the test not yet passed | |
| E. | has completed the high school curriculum requirement in the subject area of the test not yet passed | |
| F. | has participated in any intervention programs provided by the District in the subject area and has a ninety-seven percent (97%) attendance rate, excluding any excused absences, in any of those programs provided at times beyond the normal school day, school week, or school year or has received comparable intervention services from another source, and | |
| G. | holds a letter recommending graduation from each of the student's high school teachers in the subject area not yet passed and from the high school principal |
Students in special education shall receive a diploma if certified they have properly completed the requirements of their IEP, and unless exempted, they take the tests required by the State Board of Education for graduation, with or without accommodations. Students should not be exempted from taking the prescribed tests unless no accommodation can be made to enable the student to take the test. They shall participate in all graduation activities.
Diploma - The requirements for graduation are based on grades nine (9) through twelve (12) and are listed below. However, no student shall be required to remain in school for any specific number of semesters or other terms if the student completes the required curriculum early.
High School Credits Earned in Middle School
District students have the opportunity to take high school courses at the middle school level. The following guidelines regarding the granting of high school credits for such courses are in effect:
| A. | Middle school students successfully completing high school courses (as defined by the high school) will be granted a high school unit of credit for each course completed. Such credit will count toward high school credits for graduation purposes as defined by State standards. Students must still earn twenty-one (21) credits in grades 9 – 12 in order to graduate. | |
| B. | Students successfully completing a high school course in middle school may count such credits toward the minimum needed to fulfill the Upper Arlington High School Departmental requirements. | |
| C. | Middle school students may take designated high school courses in middle school for a grade or utilize the pass/fail option in the designated high school course. Students taking such courses for a grade will be graded on the Upper Arlington High School grading scale and grades earned will be included in computing their Upper Arlington High School grade point average. This regulation begins with the class of 2008. | |
| Students taking the pass/fail option in designated high school courses shall not have that count toward the use of the high school pass/fail grading option in grades 9 – 12. Students taking global language in grade seven must choose the pass/fail option by the end of the first semester. Students taking other designated high school courses must choose the pass/fail option by the end of the first grading period. Semester exams will be given for such courses consistent with high school practices. | ||
| D. | Students may elect to take a designated high school course taken in middle school again in grade nine due to a grade of "C" or below. The student may choose to keep the grade earned in ninth grade and have the grade earned in eighth grade removed from the transcript and calculation of GPA. Designated high school courses taken in middle school will be noted on each student’s Upper Arlington High School transcript. | |
| E. | Students taking designated high school courses for consideration for entrance to a university may count such courses successfully completed in middle school. | |
| F. | These procedures are a District administrative regulation and such credits possibly may not apply if a student leaves this District and enrolls in another school district. The new school district will decide as to the application of credit gained in middle school. |
Requirements for Awarding Credit
The Operating Standards place the following requirements for awarding credit to students who successfully complete courses in grades nine (9) through twelve (12):
| A. | A minimum of 120 hours shall be scheduled for one (1) unit of credit except for: |
| 1. | laboratory courses shall be scheduled for a minimum of 150 hours for one (1) unit of credit | ||
| 2. | physical education courses shall be scheduled for a minimum of 120 hours for one-half (1/2) unit of credit |
| B. | A fractional unit of credit shall be awarded on a proportionate basis for a course scheduled to meet less than the minimum time required for one (1) unit of credit. | |
| C. | Students below the ninth grade may take advanced work for credit, but such credit may not be considered in calculating the units required for high school graduation. |
The only exception to the above requirements related to the awarding of credit for courses completed as part of the post secondary school enrollment (concurrent enrollment). Credit for those courses shall be awarded as follows:
| A. | Five (5) semester hours equal one (1) Carnegie unit of credit. All other semester hour offerings shall be given a Carnegie unit equivalent based on the above formula. | |
| B. | Three (3) quarter hours equal one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit of credit. All other quarter hour offerings shall be given a Carnegie unit equivalent based on the above formula. | |
| C. | High school credit awarded for successful completion of college courses shall count toward graduation and subject area requirements. |
| 1. | If Upper Arlington High School offers a course comparable to one a student completes at a college, comparable credit shall be granted. | ||
| 2. | If Upper Arlington High School does not offer a comparable course, credits shall be granted in an elective area of similar subject area. |
In awarding credit, students in grade 11 may not receive high school/college credit for more than the equivalent of two (2) academic years. Students in grade 12 may not receive high school/college credit for more than the equivalent of one (1) academic year.
If there is a dispute between the District and student regarding high school credits granted in a course, the student may appeal to the State Board of Education whose decision is final.