CRITERIA FOR DIPLOMA WITH HONORS

Information and guidelines for Ohio 's graduating high school students

In 1997, legislation was enacted that increased the number of credits Ohio students would need in order to earn a high school diploma. In December 1998, the State Board of Education passed a resolution to increase the Diploma with Honors requirements for high school students who will graduate beginning September 15, 2001. Students graduating prior to that date must meet previous requirements and criteria in order to qualify for a Diploma with Honors.

Depending on whether a student is completing a college preparatory honors diploma requirements differ slightly. The student must meet the requirements for the regular diploma plus criteria for honors listed below.

Beginning September 15, 2001, the student who completes the college preparatory curriculum in high school must meet any eight of the following nine criteria:

1. four units of English
2. three units of mathematics that shall include algebra I, algebra II, and geometry or complete a three-year sequence of courses that contains equivalent content
3. three units of science that develop concepts for physical, life and earth and space sciences
4. three units of social studies
5. either three units of one foreign language or two units each of two foreign languages
6. one unit of fine arts
7. either one unit of business/technology and two additional units in (a) through (f) above or earn three additional units, in (a) through (f) above.
8. maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale up to the last grading period of the senior year
9. obtain a composite score of 27 on the American College Testing (ACT) tests or an equivalent composite score of 1210 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) with no regard for its new writing portion. (This maintains the two scores' comparability as qualifying criteria) .

Beginning September 15, 2001, the student who completes an intensive vocational or technical education curriculum in the high school must meet any nine of the following ten criteria:

1. four units of English which may include one unit of applied communication
2. three units of mathematics which will include algebra and geometry or a sequence of courses that contain equivalent content
3. three units of science that develop concepts for physical, life and earth and space sciences
4. three units of social studies
5. two units of a foreign language; or two units of business/technology; or one unit of each
6. three units in the student's vocational or technical education curriculum
7. two additional units in (a) through (f) above, or in fine arts.
8. maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least a 3.5 on a 4.0 point scale up to the last grading period of the senior year
9. complete a career passport that reflects achievement of the occupational proficiency benchmark established for the Ohio Vocational Competency Assessment or the equivalent
10. obtain a composite score of 27 on the American College Testing (ACT) tests or an equivalent composite score of 1210 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) with no regard for its new writing portion. (This maintains the two scores' comparability as qualifying criteria) .