ACADEMIC HONORS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT

Youth who earn an academic honors diploma will be acknowledged to be the top individuals in the class for the purpose of scholarship presentation and class rank.  The valedictorian and salutatorian of the class will be chosen from the academic honors candidates as the top two honor students.  In the event that there is a tie between two pupils for either the valedictorian or salutatorian, the person with the higher number of honors credits will obtain this status.

Criteria to earn an academic honors diploma include:

1. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 for grades 9 through 12.

(exclusive of the final quarter of the senior year) and meet the requirements of the 

regular high school diploma including state academic requirements.

2. The graduating class must complete nine credits from the classes listed

below.  A minimum C average grade is required in each course in order for it to be

considered a part of the credits.

3. Only state approved PSEO courses will be used for honors diploma credit.

4. Persons will be required to obtain a semester credit of the Peer Tutor, Youth Leadership Service, or other student service as approved by the principal or counselor.

In addition, with permission of the principal and/or guidance counselor, participation in community activities/ organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, summer marching band, as well as, volunteering at the Hilltop Nursing Center, Eden Valley Event Center, and cities of Eden Valley and Watkins can count toward School Service credit.  A minimum of 70 hours (½ credit) of work is required in order to earn a semester credit in this manner.  In addition, a student will be allowed to earn up to two school service credits towards his/her graduation requirements.

It is permissible to combine hours between various organizations to obtain the minimum total amount. However, for credit to be received, a supervisor must sign paperwork indicating that the work for the community organization has been completed.

The following courses fulfill academic honors diploma requirements.

Fine Arts (2 semesters equal 1/2 credit Honors Algebra 2

towards an honors diploma for College Algebra

sophomores, juniors, and seniors only) College Algebra/Trigonometry

German II Honors Geometry

German III Advanced Band/Choir

German IV Advanced Animal Science

Spanish II Advanced Agronomy

Spanish III Advanced Ag Welding

Spanish IV Technology Capstone

Humanities CNA

Honors English 9 Physics

British Literature Advanced Biology

Advanced Composition Advanced Psychology

Advanced Modern Fiction Advanced American History 1307

Pre-Calculus Advanced American History 1308

* See Appendix B for an Honors Diploma worksheet.

* See Appendix C for a Concurrent Enrollment worksheet

2022-2023 Registration Guide