To graduate with a Standard Diploma, a student must earn at least 22 standard credits and 5 verified credits. Standard credits are earned by successfully completing required and elective courses; verified credits are earned by successfully completing required courses and passing associated end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the state Board of Education. More information on standard credits, verified credits, and locally awarded verified credits can be found on the Credits for Graduation webpage.
Additional Graduation Requirements:
AP, Honors, IB, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, or CTE Credential - Students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by Board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential approved by the board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.
First Aid, CPR, and AED Training - Students shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that documents that they cannot successfully complete this training shall be granted a waiver from this graduation requirement, as provided in 8VAC20-131-420(B).
Demonstration of the 5 C’s - In accordance with the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, students shall acquire and demonstrate foundational skills in Virginia’s 5 C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.