The high school diploma awarded by the Denver Public Schools represents a high standard of quality in curriculum content, instruction, and student learning. It should be maintained as a document that reflects substantial effort by the students and the school district in preparation for the world of work or higher education. Students have the opportunity to earn 280 hours in four years; therefore, the goal should be a comprehensive education that could include more than the minimum 220 hours.
General Information
The graduation requirements outlined in this publication became effective for freshmen students entering high school in the fall of 1999. At least four years (eight semesters) of attendance is required for students to complete grades 9, 10, 11, 12 with two exceptions:
- Students with a 3.O GPA who have completed all core curriculum/elective requirements and 220 hours (22 Carnegie Units) may graduate in seven semesters. Students are ranked in the class with which they entered as freshmen.
- Students with a 3.5 GPA who have completed all core curriculum/elective requirements and 220 credit hours (22 Carnegie Units) may graduate in six semesters. Students are ranked in the class with which they entered as freshmen.
A high school diploma from the Denver Public Schools certifies that a student has fulfilled all graduation requirements in one of the five Course of Study areas:
- General (available to all students)
- APEX (Achieving Personal Excellence)
(APEX is available to students completing APEX in 2003) - Combined General and Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Work Experience and Study
The Combined General and Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), and the Work Experience and Study are available only to students with identified special education needs. A student’s course of study is not reflected in a differentiated diploma, but rather in the student’s transcript.
| General Course of Study Diploma Requirements | ||
|
Semester Hours
Required |
Carnegie Units
Required |
|
|
Course
|
(Years)
|
|
| Language Arts 40 semester hours (4 units) shall be earned including ten semester hours (1 unit) of the courses Introduction to Literature and Composition 1 & 2 and ten semester hours (1 unit) of American Literature 1 & 2 |
40
|
4.0
|
| Mathematics 30 semester hours (3 units) shall be earned including ten hours (1 unit) of algebra or its integrated equivalent and ten hours (1 unit) of geometry or its integrated equivalent are required, except that the high school algebra requirement will be waived for a student who successfully completes one year of algebra in middle school. Such students will be required to complete only 20 semester hours (2 units) of mathematics in high school, including ten semester hours (1 unit) of geometry. In no case will students receive high school credit for courses completed in middle school. |
30
|
3.0
|
| Science 30 semester hours (3 units) shall be earned including ten semester hours (1 unit) of Biology 1 & 2, which must include study of the nature of alcohol and narcotics, their effects upon the human system and environmental concerns. |
30
|
3.0
|
| Social Studies 25 semester hours (2.5 units) shall be earned including ten semester hours (1 unit) in American History, five semester hours (.5 units) in American Government and five semester hours (.5 units) in Geography are required. |
25
|
2.5
|
| Physical Education/Dance, Citywide Marching Band, or ROTC 10 semester hours (1 unit) shall be earned. |
10
|
1.0
|
|
Elective Curriculum |
||
| Electives 85 semester hours (8.5 units) shall be earned. Classroom-based Instruction Within the 220 semester hours (22 units) required for graduation, 85 semester hours (8.5 units) are available for electives. An extensive elective program is offered in the core curriculum subjects. In addition, students may choose electives in art, business/marketing, consumer and family studies, foreign languages, industrial/technology, music, physical education/dance, or special offerings. Community-based Experience Within the 220 semester hours (22 units) required for a diploma, a minimum of 190 semester hours (19 units) shall be earned in classroom-based instruction. Students may, therefore earn and apply a maximum of 30 semester hours (3 units) of community-based experience toward graduation requirements. These experiences may include, but are not limited to, field or service experiences, work experience, and internships. All experiences must be approved and supervised by a certified Denver Public Schools teacher. |
85
|
8.5
|
|
Total
|
220
|
22.0
|
A complete set of high school course offerings with descriptions is available for review in each high school.
Additional Information Regarding Requirements
The course requirements stated here are definitive. Individual schools may not impose course requirements beyond those stated as a condition of graduation from high school.
The principal may waive given requirements, if in the principal’s judgment, it is determined to be in the best educational interest of the student.
A student may register for 70 credit hours, (35 credits per semester) during the regular school year. The limit may be increased to 80 credits, (5 additional credits per semester) with special permission from the principal.
The maximum number of credits a student may earn in summer school is 10 semester hours.
Valedictorian/Salutatorian
The average of all eight semesters are used to determine each school’s valedictorian/salutatorian.
Transfer Students
A transfer student from outside the Denver Public Schools must meet the requirements to receive a diploma from the Denver Public Schools. All graduation requirements must be met prior to graduation, including attendance in the Denver Public Schools for at least two semesters, with a minimum of 50 semester hours (5 units) of credit earned.
Students with Disabilities
The following Course of Study areas may be used to earn a Denver Public Schools diploma:
- Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of a General Course of Study shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
- Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of an APEX (Achieving Personal Excellence) Course of Study shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma. (Course of study available only to students completing APEX in 2003.)
- Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of the Combined General and Individualized Education Program (IEP) Course of Study shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
- Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of a Work Experience and Study Program shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
- Students with severe and profound disabling conditions that interfere with their ability to meet the requirements for any of the above courses of study and have satisfied the requirement of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
Contact your child’s counselor or special education teacher for definitive Course of Study requirements.
The course of study completed by the student will be reflected on the student’s official transcript.
| Grade Level Classification of Students | |
| 55 semester hours | Sophomore |
| 110 semester hours | Junior |
| 165 semester hours | Senior |
| 220 semester hours | Award Diploma |