Policies and Procedures
Policy IKF- Graduation Requirements
Note: These requirements begin with the graduating class of 2011.
The high school diploma awarded by Denver Public Schools represents a high standard of quality in curriculum content, instruction, and student learning, and should be maintained as a document that reflects substantial effort by the student and the school district in preparation for the world of work or higher education.
THE PERSONAL EDUCATION PLAN
Each student who enters a Denver Public Schools high school will develop a personal education plan (P.E.P.). This plan will set his/her intended course of study as he/she begins his/her journey toward graduation. The student and an academic adviser (this may be a teacher, counselor, dean administrator or other professional school staff member) will review and amend the P.E.P. each semester, prior to the development of a new class schedule (for students attending the 8th grade in the Denver Public Schools, the P.E.P. will be initiated during the spring semester of the 8th grade year). Schools may opt for an "advisement" class to provide for the P.E.P. This process will not only provide clear information and a focus on the future for the student, but also bring a new purpose to the important articulation between middle school and high school staff members.
The course requirements stated are definitive. An individual school may not impose course requirements beyond those stated as a condition of graduation from high school, unless permission is granted by the Chief Academic Officer.
A high school principal may waive a given requirement if, in the principal's judgment, it is determined to be in the best educational interest of the student or if required in order to provide each student with disabilities a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
A high school diploma from Denver Public Schools certifies that a student has fulfilled all graduation requirements in one of five course areas. A personalized education plan is required for each course area:
• Combined General Course of Study
• Achieving Personal Excellence (APEX)
• Combined General Program
• Work Experience and Study
• Designated Course of Study.
The Combined General Course of Study, Work Experience and Study, and the Designated Course of Study options are available only to students with identified special education needs or to students whose Individualized Education Program necessitates one of these courses of study. A student's course of study is not reflected in a differentiated diploma, but rather in the student's transcript. Every student diploma will state, "This diploma is reflective of the student's course of study as recorded on an official transcript."
REQUIRED UNITS OF STUDY
General Course of Study
Twenty-four (24) units of study (240 semester hours) shall be required in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 for students to graduate from high school and receive a high school diploma. The content area requirements are as listed below.
1. Language Arts
A minimum of forty semester hours (4 units) shall be earned including ten semester hours (1 unit) of Introduction to Literature and Composition 1 & 2 (9th Grade), ten semester hours (1 unit) of American Literature 1 & 2 (10th Grade), ten semester hours (1 unit) of upper division writing academic elective or world literature, and ten semester hours (1 unit) of other language arts.
2. Social Studies
Thirty semester hours (3 units) shall be earned: ten semester hours (1 unit) in U.S. History, five semester hours (.5 units) in Civics, and fifteen semester hours (1.5 units) of other Social Studies are required.
3. Science
Thirty semester hours (3 units) shall be earned: Students will be required to complete 30 semester hours of science credit, 20 semester hours (2 units) must come from Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
4. Mathematics
Forty semester hours (4 units) shall be earned. Ten semester hours (1 unit) of Algebra I or its integrated equivalent (9th Grade), ten semester hours (1 unit) of Geometry or its integrated equivalent (10th Grade), ten semester hours (1 unit) of Algebra II or the integrated equivalent, and ten semester hours (1 unit) of higher math from an approved course list 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. However, such students will still be required to complete forty semester hours (4 units) of mathematics in high school, including ten semester hours (1 unit) of Geometry and 10 semester hours of Algebra II (1 unit). In no case, will students receive high school credit for courses completed in middle school.
5. Physical Education/Dance, Citywide Marching Band, ROTC, or DPL Athletics
Ten semester hours (1 unit) of Physical Education or Dance shall be earned or an equivalent shall exempt the student from this requirement. Equivalents shall include: Citywide Marching Band, ROTC, DPS Athletics.
Athletic sports that are sanctioned by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education and meet the criteria below may exempt a student from the physical education graduation requirement. No grade or credit will be given for athletic participation and such exemptions will not reduce the total number of hours required to earn a diploma. Both semesters of the physical education requirement may be exempted by athletic participation.
Criteria governing physical education exemptions:
a. The student must maintain academic eligibility for the entire season.
b. One full sport season is required to exempt a student from five semester hours (5 units) of P.E. requirement,
c. A student must be a high school freshman, sophomore, or junior to qualify for the exemption. Seniors who have not yet met the physical education requirement are not allowed to take this exemption and must enroll in a physical education course.
d. The waiver must be requested in the same semester that the sport s played. (Rationale: this aligns the criteria of the Board policy and with the guidelines provided on the Criteria for Athletic Exemption form that is located on page 23 of the High School Procedures Guide. Provides clarification.)
d. The waiver must be requested in the same semester that the sport is played.
6. Academic Electives
Twenty semester hours (2 units) shall be earned. Ten semester hours (1 unit) shall be earned from an approved electives list. Another ten semester hours (1 unit) of fine arts (Music, Art, Drama) or Career Technical Education (CTE) must be earned.
7. Community Service and Service Learning
Within the 240 semester hours (24 units) required for a diploma, a minimum of 220 semester hours (22 units) shall be earned in classroom-based instruction. Students may, therefore, earn and apply a maximum of twenty semester hours (2 units) of community service and/or service learning experience, approved by the school, toward graduation requirements. These experiences may include, but are not limited to, field or service experiences, work experiences, volunteering with community organizations, and internships.
8. Electives
Student must earn 70 semester hours of electives, of which 20 semester hours may be community service and service learning.
General Course of Study Additional Information
At least four years (eight semesters) of attendance is required for students to complete grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 except that:
* students with a 3.0 GPA who have completed all core curriculum/elective requirements and 240 credit hours (24 units) and all required assessments may graduate in seven semesters
* students with a 3.5 GPA who have completed all core curriculum/elective requirements and 240 credit hours (24 units) and all required assessments may graduate in six semesters.
* students with an Individual Education Program who are working towards a general course of study may earn up to 40 semester hours (4 units) in Special Education modified classes in only one core subject area. In addition, they may earn up to twenty semester hours (2 units) of Special Education modified credit in world language classes.
Achieving Personal Excellence (APEX) Requirements COURSE OF STUDY
Provided that the high school has approval by the Superintendent or his designee, students will be awarded an ASCENT diploma if they meet all of the requirements in one through five in the general course of study, earn 35 hours of elective credit, and meet the requirements to earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree from a community college or a certificate of career and technical education.
Combined General Course of Study
The combined General Course of Study requirements are the same as those for the General Course of Study, except that students with an Individual Education Program may earn up to 140 semester hours (14 units) in Special Education modified courses in the core subject areas and world language classes.
Work Experience and Study
Two hundred and forty semester hours (24 units) will be required in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, and/or through the first semester in which the student's twenty-first (21st) birthday falls, from courses approved by the school principal and determined by the staffing team. Transcripts will reflect differences in program content. The content areas and work study requirements are as listed below. Numbers of units are stated as minimums:
1. Language Arts 3.0 Units
2. Social Studies 2.0 Units
3. Science 1.0 Unit
4. Mathematics 2.0 Units
5. Physical Education/ Dance, Citywide Marching Band, or ROTC 1.0 Unit (unless otherwise specified by IEP)
6. Electives
1.0 Unit in vocations and/or Transition Classes - Required
8.0 Units (may include work experience)
7. Work Experience and Study 6.0 Units of work experience earned in Special Education-coordinated work experience. Vocations/Transitions course must be taken and passed as a prerequisite or in conjunction with work experience/study
1. Language Arts 3.0 Units
2. Social Studies 2.0 Units
3. Science 1.0 Unit
4. Mathematics 2.0 Units
5. Physical Education/ Dance, Citywide Marching Band, or ROTC 1.0 Unit (unless otherwise specified by IEP)
6. Electives 1.0 Unit in vocations and/or Transition Classes - Required
8.0 Units (may include work experience)
7. Work Experience and Study 6.0 Units of work experience earned in Special Education-coordinated work experience. Vocations/Transitions course must be taken and passed as a prerequisite or in conjunction with work experience/study
Designated Course of Study Requirements:
The designated course of study will substitute for the curriculum/content standard approved by the Board of Education. In making determinations for earning a diploma, assessment instruments will be selected and administered so as to best ensure that when an assessment is administered to a student with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills, the test results accurately reflect the student's aptitude or achievement level rather than reflecting the student's impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills.
1. Students with severe and profound disabling conditions that interfere with their ability to meet the requirements for either of the above courses of study and have satisfied the requirements of an Individualized Education Program shall graduate with a high school diploma.
2. Students may attend school in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, and/or through the semester in which the student's twenty-first (21st) birthday falls, as determined by the IEP.
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.
Certificate of Attendance
Students who attend school regularly but do not meet the course of study requirements in any of the three courses of study areas may be awarded a Certificate of
Attendance.
CROSS REF.:
IHCDA, Post Secondary Options/Concurrent Enrollment
IHDB, Adult High School/GED Programs
IKE, Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration of Students
Portions adopted April 22, 1977, September 17, 1981, April 7, 1994. June 1995
Revised:
November 19, 2009
October 15, 2009
August 21, 2008
May 19, 2005
December 1996
May 1997
May 1999
May 2000
