Diploma Types

Regular – Will be awarded to students who earn the 22 units of credit as specified by the TN State board of Education and have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct.  This includes students with an individual education plan who have earned their specified 22 units of credit.

Honors - All requirements for a Regular Diploma must be fulfilled plus an 85% cumulative percent average with no semester grade lower than a 75% and score at or above ALL of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT.  (SAT score requirements are 1070 total with Evidence-Based Reading and Writing subscore minimum of 480 and Math subscore minimum of 530.  Students cannot mix and match college placement scores. They must use one test or the other to meet all benchmarks.)

Highest Honors – All requirements for an Honors Diploma must be fulfilled plus a 90% cumulative percent average with no semester grade lower than a 75% and complete the courses below:

             • Four English to include honors, dual enrollment or Advanced Placement levels in 10th, 11th, and 12th.

• One of the math credits must be earned in a course above the Algebra II/Geometry level. (While Bridge Math does include some standards above the level of Algebra II, it does not meet the requirement for a Highest Honors diploma.)

             • Three high school science courses to include Biology I and two of the following: Chemistry,

             Physics, Human Anatomy & Physiology, or any AP Science course.

             • Two years of the same foreign language

             • Two Advanced Placement classes* (one must be from core - English, math, science, social studies) 

         * A CTE course in which a student has earned an industry certification from the preferred tier on the TN Promoted student industry credential list may substitute for a non-core AP course. 

             NOTE:  For the purposes of senior ranking and diploma types for Honors or Highest Honors qualified students, ACT benchmark scores must be received by the school prior to the end of Semester 1 for the ranking process and prior to the final day of regularly scheduled classes for the final diploma type.  Students should plan accordingly to take the ACT well in advance so the school receives scores in a timely manner. 

Special Education Diploma – A special education diploma will be awarded after the 4th year of high school to students with an individual education plan (IEP) who have met the requirements of their IEP but have not completed the specified 22 credits required to earn a regular diploma.

Occupational Diploma – An occupational diploma will be awarded to students with an individual education plan (IEP) who have met the requirements of the SKEMA, completed the English, Biology and Algebra alternate assessments and completed 2 years of work experience.

Alternate Academic Diploma – An alternate acadmic diploma will be awarded to students with an individual education plan (IEP) who have completed the required 22 credits, the high school alternate assessments, and a transition assessment.