GLENDALE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

2025-2026

Graduation Requirements

EXCELLENCE: YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW

Graduation Requirements (GB Policy IKF)

Graduation requirements are set forth below. One (1) unit of credit is given for all full year (two semesters) subjects successfully completed except teacher assistant assignments, which carry 1/2 unit of credit per year. Some WEST-MEC courses are awarded additional credits as determined by WEST-MEC. Twenty-two total credits are required for the Glendale Union High School District.

To graduate from the Glendale Union High School District, a student must earn the required number of course credits. Students are eligible to participate in District sponsored graduation ceremonies only if they have successfully met all of the graduation requirements established by the Governing Board.

Graduation Requirements

The Glendale Union High School District diploma is designed to satisfy the graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education and those of the Glendale Union High School District Governing Board, and provides students with a strong foundation for success in adult life. Meeting these requirements will result in a high school diploma, but may not satisfy all requirements for acceptance into a college or university. **

STANDARD DIPLOMA (Class of 2026)

The Standard Diploma requires a student to earn twenty-two (22) total credits. The student and the student’s parents are encouraged to check the admission requirements of any college or university the student wishes to attend.

Specific courses that satisfy requirements for the Glendale Union High School District Standard Diploma are as follows: ++ **

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English Language Arts 1-2

1 Credit of English Language Arts 3-4

1 Credit of English Language Arts 5-6*

1 Credit of English Language Arts 7-8*

*Or the approved EL sequence

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* S1-S2 to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* S1-S2 to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II S1-S2 or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science (one credit of which must be a Lab Science)

1 Credit Integrated Science S1-S2*

1 Credit Biology S1-S2*

1 Additional Credit of Science of which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History & Geography S1-S2

1 Credit of U. S. & Arizona History S1-S2

1/2 Credit of Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts) or Career and Technical Education (CTE)

This Requirement can be satisfied by successfully completing two semesters (1/2 credit each) to be selected from the approval list of District courses that fulfill the state graduation requirements for Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts) or CTE.

1 Credit of Physical Education

6 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

++Students with an Individual Education Program (IEP) meet the graduation requirements for a standard diploma based on their Individualized Education Program.

** Pass Civics Test

STANDARD DIPLOMA (Class of 2027 and 2028)

Specific courses that satisfy requirements for the Glendale Union High School District Standard Diploma are as follows: ++ **

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English Language Arts 1-2

1 Credit of English Language Arts 3-4

1 Credit of English Language Arts 5-6*

1 Credit of English Language Arts 7-8*

*Or the approved EL sequence

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* S1-S2 to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* S1-S2 to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II S1-S2 or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science

1 Credit Integrated Science S1-S2*

1 Credit Biology S1-S2*

1 Additional Credit of Science of which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History & Geography S1-S2

1 Credit of U. S. & Arizona History S1-S2

1/2 Credit of Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts) or Career and Technical Education (CTE)

This requirement can be satisfied by successfully completing two semesters (1/2 credit each) to be selected from the approval list of District courses that fulfill the state graduation requirements for Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts) or CTE.

1 Credit of Physical Education

6 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

++Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meet the graduation requirements for a standard diploma based on their Individualized Educational Program.

**Specific course requirements for each diploma can be found in the Parent Student Handbook.

ADVANCED & HONORS DIPLOMAS

A student in the Glendale Union High School District may pursue a Glendale Union High School District Advanced Diploma or Honors Diploma, which indicates the student has exceeded the Glendale Union High School District and State requirements for graduation.

ADVANCED DIPLOMA (Class of 2026)

Advanced Diploma requires a student to earn twenty-three (23) total credits. Additionally, a student must maintain a core point average of 3.0 or rank in the upper 25% of his/her class at the end of seven semesters. Specific courses that satisfy requirements for an Advanced Diploma are as follows: ++,**

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English 1-2

1 Credit of English 3-4

1 Credit of English 5-6*

1 Credit of English 7-8*

*or the approved EL sequence

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics for which Algebra II is a prerequisite

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science (one credit of which must be a Lab Science)

1 Credit Integrated Science*

1 Credit Biology*

1 Additional Credit of Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Physics, or AP Chemistry, which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History and Geography/Arizona Geography

1 Credit of United States/Arizona History

1/2 Credit of United States Government/Arizona Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

2 Credits of World Language (must be two years of the same language)

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts)

1 Credit of Physical Education

5 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

** Pass Civics Test

ADVANCED DIPLOMA (Class of 2027 and 2028)

The Advanced Diploma requires that students earn twenty-three (23) total credits. Students must maintain a minimum core point average of 3.0 or rank in the upper 25% of the class at the end of seven (7) semesters. Courses that meet requirements for the Glendale Union High School District Advanced Diploma are as follows: ++, **

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English 1-2

1 Credit of English 3-4

1 Credit of English 5-6*

1 Credit of English 7-8*

*or the approved EL sequence

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics for which Algebra II is a prerequisite

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science

1 Credit Integrated Science*

1 Credit Biology*

1 Additional Credit of Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Physics, or AP Chemistry, which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History and Geography/Arizona Geography

1 Credit of United States/Arizona History

1/2 Credit of United States Government/Arizona Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

2 Credits of World Language (must be two years of the same language)

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts)

1 Credit of Physical Education

5 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

++Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meet the graduation requirements for a standard diploma based on their Individualized Educational Program.

**Specific course requirements for each diploma can be found in the Parent Student Handbook.

HONORS DIPLOMA (Class of 2026)

Honors Diploma requires a student to earn twenty-four (24) credits. Additionally, a student must successfully complete a minimum of six (6) hours of Honors/AP credits with four (4) of the six (6) credits taken during his/her junior and senior year; maintain a core point average of 3.0 or rank in the upper 25% of his/her class at the end of seven (7) semesters. ++, **

Specific courses that satisfy requirements for an Honors Diploma are as follows:

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English 1-2

1 Credit of English 3-4

1 Credit of English 5-6

1 Credit of English 7-8

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics; College Algebra, Honors Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science (one credit of which must be a Lab Science)

1 Credit Integrated Science*

1 Credit Biology*

1 Additional Credit of Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Physics, or AP Chemistry, which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History and Geography/Arizona Geography

1 Credit of United States/Arizona History

1/2 Credit of United States Government/Arizona Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

2 Credits of World Language (must be two years of the same language)

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts)

1 Credit of Physical Education

6 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

** Pass Civics Test

HONORS DIPLOMA (Class of 2027 and 2028)

The Honors Diploma requires that students earn twenty-four (24) credits. Students must successfully complete a minimum of six (6) Honors/AP credits with four (4) of the six (6) credits taken during their junior and senior years. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum core point average of 3.25 or rank in the upper 20% of the class at the end of seven (7) semesters. Courses that meet the requirements for the Glendale Union High School District Honors Diploma are as follows: ++, **

Specific courses that satisfy requirements for an Honors Diploma are as follows:

4 Credits of Language Arts that must include:

1 Credit of English 1-2

1 Credit of English 3-4

1 Credit of English 5-6

1 Credit of English 7-8

4 Credits of Mathematics

1 Credit of Algebra I* to be taken during the freshman year

1 Credit of Geometry* to be taken following successful completion of Algebra I

1 Credit of Algebra II or equivalent*

1 Additional credit of Mathematics; College Algebra, Honors Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Math

3 Credits of Science

1 Credit Integrated Science*

1 Credit Biology*

1 Additional Credit of Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Physics, or AP Chemistry, which Biology is a prerequisite.

*Required of all students unless approved to move into a higher-level Science

3 Credits of Social Studies that must include:

1 Credit of World History and Geography/Arizona Geography

1 Credit of United States/Arizona History

1/2 Credit of United States Government/Arizona Government

1/2 Credit of Economics

2 Credits of World Language (must be two years of the same language)

1 Credit of Fine Arts (Performing/Visual Arts)

1 Credit of Physical Education

6 Elective credits to be selected from the course offerings approved by this District

++Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meet the graduation requirements for a standard diploma based on their Individualized Educational Program.

**Specific course requirements for each diploma can be found in the Parent Student Handbook.

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