ACADEMIC DIPLOMA OPTIONS

The Pelham School Board establishes the following as policy:

Every student who attends PHS will be given the opportunity and is expected to meet the graduation

requirements necessary to receive a diploma.

A. PHS will issue an Honors with Distinction Diploma to students who have met the Standard

Diploma requirements and who:

● Earn 32 credits and meet all Graduation Requirements

● Complete all Level 1 required core academic classes

● Complete three (3) credits of the same world language

● Complete four (4) credits of Level 1 or higher sciences

● Complete four (4) credits of Level 1 math or higher

● Complete five (5) Honors level, Advanced Placement, or PHS College Credit courses

● Graduate with a 3.67 GPA*

B. PHS will issue an Honors with Merit Diploma to students who have met the Standard

Diploma requirements and who:

● Earn 32 credits and meet all Graduation Requirements

● Complete two (2) credits of the same world language

● Complete four (4) credits of sciences

● Complete Algebra II

● Graduate with a 3.33 GPA*

C. PHS will issue an Honors Diploma to students who have met the Standard Diploma

requirements and who:

● Graduate with a 3.33 GPA*

D. PHS will issue a Standard Diploma to students who:

● Have successfully achieved the minimum number of credits (see Graduation

Requirements)

● Meet specific course and community service requirements as stated in the PHS

Program of Studies

E. PHS will issue a Core Diploma to students who:

● Have successfully achieved the minimum number of credits (see Graduation

Requirements)

● Meet specific course and community service requirements as stated in the PHS

Program of Studies

*For new and transfer students, the class rank will be calculated after four (4) semesters of attendance at

Pelham High School and GPA will be calculated when credit is awarded.

Certificate of Achievement - PHS will issue a Certificate of Achievement to students who:

● Complete a minimum of four years of high school

● Are enrolled and in regular attendance at PHS for at least one semester in their final

year

● Meet the requirements of their Individualized Education Programs and/or acquire

those credits as defined by the PHS Administration

● Are determined to be ineligible for the other academic diploma options by PHS

Administration

A Certificate of Achievement is not a diploma and is awarded to any student who has successfully

completed an individual program of studies not leading to a standard diploma. Students eligible for

special education and are pursuing a Certificate of Achievement may participate in one graduation

ceremony in the year determined most appropriate by the student’s IEP team. For students eligible for

special education, participation in graduation will not end the student’s eligibility for a free appropriate

public education. Students eligible for special education may continue in an approved program until such

time as the student has earned a regular high school diploma or has attained the age of 21, whichever

occurs first.

Application or referral for participation in the program is open to all students at PHS but is limited to

students who are determined by administration to be unable to meet the requirements for the academic

diploma options. Consideration of eligibility for the Certificate of Achievement will be decided on a

case-by-case basis, and is subject to review and recommendation by administration, and the student’s

respective IEP team. Eligibility for participation will be based on the following factors:

● Academic performance including, but not limited to, standardized achievement tests,

report card grades, diagnostic testing

● Administration’s recommendation relative to the student’s ability to successfully

complete graduation requirements for the standard diploma

● Parent or student written referral

● IEP requirements (for students with educational learning disabilities)

PHS Administration will receive all recommendations in writing from the student’s school counselor and

will make all recommendations and final decisions.