Standard Diploma: Graduation Requirements
For students entering the ninth grade in 2018-2019 and beyond
The graduation requirements for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2018-2019 and beyond are prescribed by the Board of Education in section 8VAC20-131-51 of the Standards of Accreditation (SOA)
. Additional clarification on some provisions of the Standards of Accreditation, including graduation requirements, is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC-20-131)-This is a Word document..
To graduate with a Standard Diploma for students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2018-2019 and beyond, a student must earn at least 22 standard units of credit and five verified units of credit. Students earn standard credits by successfully completing required and elective courses. Students earn verified credits by successfully completing required courses and passing associated end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the state Board of Education. More information on standard credits, verified credits, and locally awarded verified credits can be found on the Credits for Graduation webpage.
Please note: Your school counselor can tell you which courses are offered by your school to fulfill the requirements for a Standard Diploma.
Approved Courses
- Approved Courses – Effective for Students Who Entered Ninth Grade for the First Time in 2010-2011 and Beyond-This is a Word document.
- Substitute Tests for Earning Verified Credits-This is a PDF document.
| Subject Area | Standard Credits | Verified Credits | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 2 | N/A |
| Mathematics | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two different course selections from among: algebra I, geometry, algebra functions, and data analysis, algebra II, or other mathematics courses approved by the board to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a mathematics course credit. |
| Laboratory Science | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selection from at least two different science disciplines: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics, or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma and shall include interdisciplinary courses that incorporate Standards of Learning content from multiple academic areas. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a science course credit. Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association, or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for either a laboratory science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement. |
| History and Social Sciences | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include Virginia and U.S. history, Virginia and U.S. government, and one course in either world history or geography or both. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association, or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for either a laboratory science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement. |
| Health and Physical Education | 2 | 0 | N/A |
| World Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education | 2 | 0 | Credits earned for this requirement shall include one credit in fine or performing arts or career and technical education. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a career and technical course credit. |
| Economics & Personal Finance | 1 | 0 | N/A |
| Electives | 4 | 0 | Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives. More information is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC-20-131)-This is a Word document.. |
| Total | 22 | 5 | N/A |
Additional Requirements for Graduation
- AP, Honors, IB, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, or CTE Credential - Students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by Board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential approved by the board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.
- Virtual Course - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a non-credit-bearing course or a required or elective credit-bearing course that is offered online. Guidance on this requirement is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC20-131)-This is a Word document..
- First Aid, CPR, and AED Training - Students shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that documents that they cannot successfully complete this training shall be granted a waiver from this graduation requirement, as provided in 8VAC20-131-420(B).
- Demonstration of the 5 C’s - In accordance with the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, students shall acquire and demonstrate foundational skills in Virginia’s 5 C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.
For students entering the ninth grade in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018
The graduation requirements for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018 are prescribed by the Board of Education in section 8VAC20-131-50 of the Standards of Accreditation (SOA). Additional clarification on some provisions of the Standards of Accreditation, including graduation requirements, is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC20-131)-This is a Word document..
To graduate with a Standard Diploma for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018, a student must earn at least 22 standard units of credit and six verified units of credit. Students earn standard credits by successfully completing required and elective courses. Students earn verified credits by successfully completing required courses and passing associated end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the state Board of Education. More information on standard credits, verified credits, and locally awarded verified credits can be found on the Credits for Graduation webpage.
Please note: Your school counselor can tell you which courses are offered by your school to fulfill the requirements for a Standard Diploma.
Approved Courses
- Approved Courses – Effective for Students Who Entered Ninth Grade for the First Time in 2010-2011 and Beyond-This is a Word document. (Word)
- Substitute Tests for Earning Verified Credits-This is a PDF document.
| Discipline Area | Standard Credits | Verified Credits | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 2 | N/A |
| Mathematics | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two different course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra, Functions, and Data Analysis, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of Algebra II. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a mathematics course credit. |
| Laboratory Science | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least two different science disciplines: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics, or completion of the sequence of science courses required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a mathematics course credit. Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association, or acquire a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (i) the student-selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement. |
| History & Social Sciences | 3 | 1 | Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and one course in either world history or geography or both. The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association, or acquire a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (i) the student-selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement. |
| Health & Physical Education | 2 | 0 | N/A |
| World Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education |
2 | 0 | Credits earned for this requirement shall include one credit in fine or performing arts or career and technical education. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a career and technical education course credit. |
| Economics and Personal Finance | 1 | 0 | N/A |
| Electives |
4 | 0 | Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives. More information is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC-20-131)-This is a Word document.. |
| Student Selected Test | 0 | 1 | A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career and technical education, economics or other areas as prescribed by the board in 8VAC20-131-110. |
| Career and Technical Education Credential | 0 | 0 | Students shall earn a career and technical education credential approved by the Board of Education, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the standard diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment. |
| Total | 22 | 6 | N/A |
Additional Requirements for Graduation
- Virtual Course: All students entering the ninth-grade for the first time in 2013-2014 and beyond shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course or a required or elective credit-bearing course that is offered online. Guidance on this requirement is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC20-131)-This is a Word document..
- First Aid, CPR, and AED Training: All students entering the ninth-grade for the first time in 2016-2017 and beyond shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan that documents that they cannot successfully complete this training shall be granted a waiver from this graduation requirement, as provided in 8VAC20-131-420(B).