GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

As taken from OUSD Course Catalog, pg. 4-5 http://www.orangeusd.org/ed_svcs/pdf/hs_catalog.pdf

A high school diploma shall be awarded to all students who satisfactorily meet the

prescribed requirement for graduation. Individual educational plans may provide alternative

ways to demonstrate proficiencies for special education students. The requirements are:

I. GENERAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

A. Satisfactory completion of 230 semester periods of credit in grades 9, 10, 11

and 12 (generally 5 semester periods of credit are earned for each semester

course passed).

Classification: Class standing is determined by noting the number of

semester credits completed, grades nine through twelve. A student becomes

a Sophomore when he/she has attained 60 semester credits;

a student becomes a Junior when he/she has attained 120 semester

credits; a student becomes a Senior when he/she has completed 170

semester credits.

B. Pass California High School Exit Exam in both English/Language Arts

and Mathematics .

II. SPECIFIC GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – Class of 2008 and 2009

A. LANGUAGE ARTS (Grades 9-12) ................................................... 40

All students will pass the California High School Exit Exam before

graduation. Individual Education plans may provide alternative ways

to demonstrate proficiencies for Special Education students.

Grade 9 English 9 .................................................. 10

Grade 10 English 10 ................................................. 10

Grade 11 English 11 .................................................. 10

Grade 12 English 12 .................................................. 10

B. SOCIAL SCIENCE (Grades 9-12) .................................................... 35

Grade 9 European History………………………………………5

Grade 10 Modern World History ......................................... 10

Grade 11 United States History .......................................... 10

Grade 12 American Government ......................................... 5

Economics ............................................................ 5

C. MATHEMATICS (Grades 9-12) ........................................................ 20

• Algebra I – Every student must pass Algebra I or the equivalent

course (Algebra 1A and 1B) in order to earn a high school diploma.

5

• CAHSEE – Every student must pass the mathematics portion of

the California High School Exit Exam.

D. SCIENCE (Grades 9-12) ................................................................... 20

Two years of science to include one year of Life and one year of a

Physical Science are required.

A maximum of ten units of credit may be from the following courses to meet the Life

Science requirement for graduation: ROP Animal Care I, ROP Hospital Occupations

Core, ROP Nurse Assistant Acute Care, ROP Certified Nurse Assistant/Home Health

Aide.

E. HEALTH (Grade 9) ............................................................................. 5

F. PHYSICAL EDUCATION (Grades 9-12) .......................................... 20

G. FINE ARTS/FOREIGN LANGUAGE ................................................. 10

H. ELECTIVES (Balance to Complete) ................................................ 80

III. CREDIT ALLOWANCE RESTRICTIONS

A. OUTSIDE SEMESTER CREDITS (Grades 9-12)…...………………..20

Community College, Adult Education, or Private Study Credits allowable

toward meeting graduation requirements. A petition for outside credits

must be approved in advance by the school of residence. A maximum

of 10 units allowed in grades 9-12 for private study.

B. DISTRICT SUMMER SCHOOL (Grades 9-12)……………………….40

C. WORK EXPERIENCE (Grades 11-12)………………………………...20

D. OFFICE SERVICE/TEACHER ASSISTANT………………...….……..10

Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 credits allowable toward meeting

graduation requirements.

E. SPECIAL STUDIES (Grades 9-12)…………………………………….10

A maximum of 10 credits allowable toward meeting

graduation requirements.

F. Transfer credit from Continuation School per semester……………...55

IV. HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM

As required by California State law and the Orange Unified Board of Education

policy, students graduating in 2006 must demonstrate proficiency by passing the

California High School Exit Exam before being granted a high school diploma.

The high school exit exam will be offered several times during the high school

experience for those students who failed the exam.