Graduation Requirements
Students are N. B. Clements Junior High School start on a path towards high school graduation. Many 8th grade students are enrolled in credit-bearing courses, which include Algebra I and foreign languages. These credits count toward a high school diploma. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has outlined the requirements that must be met in order to obtain various types of diplomas.
You can view the Graduation Requirements page on the VDOE website by clicking below
Profile of a Virginia graduate
DIPLOMA SEALS
Awards are given for exemplary student performance. Students who demonstrate academic excellence and/or
outstanding achievement may be eligible for one of the following awards placed on their diploma:
• Governor’s Seal
The Governor's Seal shall be awarded to students who complete the requirements for an
Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of "B (3.0)" or better and successfully complete college-
level coursework that shall earn the student at least nine transferable college credits in Advanced
Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, or dual enrollment courses.
• Board of Education Seal
The Board of Education Seal shall be awarded to students who complete the
requirements for a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of "A."
• Career and Technical Seal
The Board of Education's Career and Technical Education Seal shall be awarded
to students who earn a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma and complete a prescribed
sequence of courses in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that they choose
and maintain a "B" or better average in those courses or (i) pass an examination or an occupational
competency assessment in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that confers
certification or occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional
association or (ii) acquire a professional license in that career and technical education field from the
Commonwealth of Virginia. The board shall approve all professional licenses and examinations used to
satisfy these requirements. a.
• STEM Seal
The Board of Education's Seal for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
shall be awarded to students who earn either a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma and (i)
satisfy all Math and Science requirements for the Advanced Studies diploma with a “B” average or better
in all course work; and (ii) successfully complete a 50 hour or more work-based learning opportunity in a
STEM area; and (iii) satisfy all requirements for a Career and Technical Education concentration (a
concentration is a coherent sequence of two or more state-approved courses as identified in the course
listing within the CTE Program #049-22 Page 3 Area Guide); and (iv) pass one of the following: (a) a Board
of Education CTE STEM-H credential examination, or (b) an examination approved by the Board that
confers a college level credit in a STEM field. Note: The STEM seal was established by House Bill 167
(2018) to replace the Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology and is available to graduating
seniors in the Class of 2019 and beyond.
• State Board of Education Excellence in Civics Education Seal
The Board of Education's Seal for Excellence in Civics Education shall be awarded to students who earn either a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma and (i) complete Virginia and United States history and Virginia and United States
government courses with a grade of "B" or higher; (ii) have good attendance and no disciplinary
infractions as determined by local school board policies; and (iii) complete 50 hours of voluntary
participation in community service or extracurricular activities. Activities that satisfy the requirements of
clause (iii) of this subdivision include (a) volunteering for a charitable or religious organization that
provides services to the poor, sick, or less fortunate; (b) participating in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or similar
youth organizations; (c) participating in JROTC; (d) participating in political campaigns or government
internships, or Boys State, Girls State, or Model General Assembly; or (e) participating in school-sponsored
extracurricular activities that have a civics focus. Any student who enlists in the United States military
prior to graduation shall be deemed to have met this community service requirement.
• Early College Scholars:
Participants in the Early College Scholars Program must have a “B” average or
better, must be pursuing an Advanced Studies Diploma with a Governor’s Seal, and must complete 15
hours of college-level coursework (i.e., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual
Enrollment) that will earn at least 15 transferable college credits.
• Board of Education’s Seals Biliteracy Seal:
The Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who earn a Board of Education-approved diploma and (i) pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English reading and writing at the proficient or higher level; and (ii) be proficient at the
intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English, as demonstrated through
an assessment from a list to be approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. As end-of-course
assessments in spring 2020 were waived, students are considered to have met the Seal of Biliteracy
English proficiency requirement for 2020 by successfully passing their English course for that year. For all
years in which end-of-course assessments were #049-22 Page 4 administered, students must have passed
the English reading and writing assessment at the proficient or higher level. More information can be
found on the Seal of Biliteracy webpage, including the Evidence of Proficiency document (DOCX), which
provides a full list of assessment options for meeting the world language proficiency requirement. (AP
Exam pass with 3 or higher).
• Science and the Environment Seal
Science and the Environment Seal The Board of Education's Seal for
Excellence in Science and the Environment shall be awarded to students who earn either a Standard
Diploma or Advanced Studies Diploma and (i) complete at least three different first-level board-approved
laboratory science courses and at least one rigorous advanced-level or postsecondary-level laboratory
science course, each with a grade of "B" or higher; (ii) complete laboratory or field-science research and
present that research in a formal, juried setting; and (iii) complete at least 50 hours of voluntary
participation in community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science such
as environmental monitoring, protection, management, or restoration