We offer five high school graduation paths. Please read below for more information on each path to help you and your student choose the best one to fit their goals and interests.
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General Grad Path
General Grad Path
Recommended for:
Students who do not plan to attend a four-year college or university immediately after high school.
Students with diverse educational and vocational goals, including community college, vocational programs, training and certificates, the pursuit of full-time employment immediately after graduation, volunteer experience, entrepreneurship goals, and more.
Not Designed for 4-Year University Admission
This grad path is not designed for students who plan to attend a four-year college immediately after high school.
General Grad Path Requirements
We’ve developed recommended course loads for each graduation path. Here’s what we recommend for the General Graduation Path:
General Graduation Path – 5 courses per semester
English
3 years, 30 credits
History/Social Studies
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
one year of US History
one year of World History/Geography
one semester of Economics and one semester of US government.
Science
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
one year of a biological science
one year of a physical science
Mathematics
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
Algebra 1
Physical Education (PE)
2 years, 20 credits
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts), CTE (Career Technical Education), or World Languages
1 year, 10 credits
1 year of American Sign Language (ASL), will count toward this requirement.
Electives
6 courses, 60 credits
Taken over four years
College Prep/A-G Grad Path
College Prep/A-G Grad Path
Recommended for:
Students who plan to apply for admission to attend a four-year university immediately after high school.
Students who aren’t yet sure if they want to attend a four-year university, and don’t want to lose any options.
College Prep/A-G Grad Path Requirements
Please note that in order for your student's coursework to count towards meeting these requirements, it must be certified A-G through Suncoast Preparatory Academy. Please view our A-G curriculum resources on the Curriculum Resources page for some links to approved A-G curriculum.
For more information about A-G requirements, please visit the University of California's Subject Requirements page.
We’ve developed recommended course loads for each graduation path. Here’s what we recommend for the College Prep/A-G Path:
College Prep / A-G Path – 6 courses per semester (including concurrent enrollment options)
(A) History/Social Studies
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
one year of US History
one year of World History/Geography
The requirement below is a CSU Graduation Requirement:
one semester of Economics and one semester of US government.
(B) English
4 years, 40 credits
(C) Mathematics
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
Three years of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry. This pathway may look something like this:
Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1
Geometry or Integrated Math 2
Algebra 2 or advanced mathematics courses, not limited to trigonometry, statistics, precalculus, or calculus.
(D) Science
2 years, 20 credits
Must include two different full-year classes from the following subjects:
one year of biology
one year of a physical science
one year of physics
one year of approved interdisciplinary or earth and space sciences coursework can meet one year of the requirement.
(E) World Languages (other than English)
2 years, 20 credits of coursework in the same language.
3 years of World Language coursework in the same language are recommended by UC.
American Sign Language (ASL), will count toward this requirement.
(F) VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts)
1 year, 10 credits
(G) College-Preparatory Electives
One year, 10 credits
Chosen from courses specific to the elective (G) subject area or courses beyond those used to satisfy the requirements of the A-F subjects.
Additional Electives:
40 credits
Suncoast Grad Plan Recommendation for 9th Grade Students
High School Graduation Paths.mp4
Basic Grad Path
Basic Grad Path
Genuine Diploma
Students who earn a diploma on this path are earning a genuine California high school diploma. It will help them in obtaining jobs, and admission to community colleges and vocational programs to further their education.
Not Designed for 4-Year University Admission
This grad path is not designed for students who plan to attend a four-year college immediately after high school.
Consultation Required
This path is based on California Graduation Requirements, minus most of the electives. This path is designed for students with special circumstances that put them at risk of not graduating. This path requires a consultation with our team to determine if the student is a good candidate for this path, and to outline the support required to be successful on this path.
Basic Grad Path Requirements
We’ve developed recommended course loads for each graduation path. Here’s what we recommend for the Basic Path:
Basic Path – 4 courses per semester
English
3 years, 30 credits
History/Social Studies
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
one year of US History
one year of World History/Geography
one semester of Economics and one semester of US government.
Science
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
one year of a biological science
one year of a physical science
Mathematics
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
Algebra 1
Physical Education (PE)
2 years, 20 credits
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts), CTE (Career Technical Education), or World Languages
1 year, 10 credits
1 year of American Sign Language (ASL), will count toward this requirement.
Alternative Diploma Path
Alternative Diploma Path
Suncoast students with exceptional needs who entered ninth grade in the 2022-23 school year or later may be eligible for an alternative graduation pathway if their IEP requires them to take the alternate assessment in grade 11 and complete state standards-aligned coursework to meet statewide graduation requirements. Eligibility will be determined by the IEP team before the student begins 10th grade.
Genuine Diploma
Students who earn a diploma on this path are earning a genuine California high school diploma. It will help them in obtaining jobs, and admission to community colleges and vocational programs to further their education.
Not Designed for 4-Year University Admission
This grad path is not designed for students who plan to attend a four-year college immediately after high school.
Alternative Diploma Path Coursework Requirements
We’ve developed recommended course loads for each graduation path. Here’s what we recommend for the Alternative Diploma Path:
Minimum of 4 courses per semester
English
3 years, 30 credits
History/Social Studies
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
one year of US History
one year of World History/Geography
one semester of Economics and one semester of US government.
Science
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
one year of a biological science
one year of a physical science
Mathematics
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
Algebra 1
Physical Education (PE)
2 years, 20 credits
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts), CTE (Career Technical Education), or World Languages
1 year, 10 credits
1 year of American Sign Language (ASL), will count toward this requirement.
Electives
30 credits
Certificate of Completion
Certificate of Completion
Instead of a high school diploma, an individual with exceptional needs may be awarded a certificate of completion if the student has met one of the following requirements: (Education Code section 56390)
Satisfactorily completed a prescribed alternative course of study approved by the board of the district in which the student attended school or the district with jurisdiction over the student as identified in the student's IEP
Satisfactorily met the student's IEP goals and objectives during high school as determined by the IEP team
Satisfactorily attended high school, participated in the instruction as prescribed in the student's IEP, and met the objectives of the statement of transition services
Certificate of Completion Coursework Requirements
We’ve developed recommended course loads for each graduation path. Here’s what we recommend for the Certificate of Completion.
Minimum of 4 courses per semester
English
3 years, 30 credits
History/Social Studies
3 years, 30 credits
Must include:
one year of US History
one year of World History/Geography
one semester of Economics and one semester of US government.
Science
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
one year of a biological science
one year of a physical science
Mathematics
2 years, 20 credits
Must include:
Algebra 1
Physical Education (PE)
2 years, 20 credits
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts), CTE (Career Technical Education), or World Languages
1 year, 10 credits
1 year of American Sign Language (ASL), will count toward this requirement.
Electives
30 credits
Graduation Guide
Graduation Guide
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