Graduation Requirements
Students are encouraged to carefully plan a program of studies that will assist them in reaching their educational and future occupational goals. Course descriptions are designed to guide students in selecting the subjects that will lead them toward achieving these goals.
It is important that you select courses to ensure college and career readiness. We suggest that you:
review all requirements for graduation;
read the information given about each department;
study the sequence charts which suggest course patterns that lead to specific education and/or career goals;
talk to your current teachers; and
talk to your school counselor about developing a 4-year academic plan.
Upper Arlington High School will make every effort to maintain current records and to keep students and parents informed about the status of progress toward completing the necessary coursework for graduation requirements. It is each student’s and parent’s responsibility to be acquainted with the necessary requirements to meet this goal. School counselors are always available to meet and assist your family with this endeavor.
Ohio High School Graduation Readiness Explained:
Earn two of the following diploma seals, choosing those that line up with your goals and interests. These seals give you the chance to demonstrate academic, technical and professional skills and knowledge that align to your passions, interests and planned next steps after high school.
At least one of the two must be Ohio-designed:
1. OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal (Ohio) - Meet the requirements and criteria established for the readiness seal, including demonstration of work-readiness and professional competencies.
2. Industry-Recognized Credential Seal (Ohio) - Earn a 12-point approved industry-recognized credential or group of credentials totaling 12 points in a single career field.
3. College-Ready Seal (Ohio) - Earn remediation-free scores on the ACT or SAT.
4. Military Enlistment Seal (Ohio) - Provide evidence that student has enlisted in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces; or participate in an approved JROTC program.
5. Citizenship Seal (Ohio) - A student can:
a. Earn a score of proficient or higher on both the American history and American government end-of-course exams;
b. Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on appropriate Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate exams; or
c. Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in appropriate classes taken through the
College Credit Plus program.
d. Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in both an American History course and an
American Government course offered by the student’s high school.
Earn a score to be determined on the Social Studies Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities.
Students can mix and match options from the American History and American Government categories to earn this seal. For example: A student who earns a score of proficient on the Ohio State Test in American Government and a “B” in an American History course will qualify for the Citizenship Seal.
6. Science Seal (Ohio) - A student can:
a. Earn a score of proficient or higher on the biology end-of-course exam;
b. Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on appropriate Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams; or
c. Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an appropriate class taken through the College Credit Plus program.
d. Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an Advanced Science course;
Advanced science courses contain rigorous content appropriate for grades 11 and 12. An advanced science course builds on the concepts and skills developed in the physical science and biology courses detailed in Ohio’s Learning Standards for Science.
Appropriate advanced science courses include:
chemistry, physics or other physical sciences;
advanced biology or other life sciences;astronomy
physical geology or other Earth or space science; and
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) Earth, life or physical science courses.
7. Honors Diploma Seal (Ohio) - Earn one of six Honors Diplomas outlined here
a. Academic Honors Diploma;
b. International Baccalaureate Honors Diploma;
c. Career-Tech Honors Diploma;
d. STEM Honors Diploma;
e. Arts Honors Diploma;
f. Social Science and Civic Engagement Honors Diploma.
8. Seal of Biliteracy (Ohio) - Meet requirements/criteria, including proficiency requirements on assessments in world language and English.
9. Technology Seal (Ohio) - A student can:
a. Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on an appropriate Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam;
b. Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an appropriate class taken through the College Credit Plus program; or
c. Complete a course offered through the district or school that meets guidelines developed by the Department. (A district or school is not required to offer a course that meets those guidelines.)
Additional information about Ohio designed seals may be located here.
Locally (UAHS) Designed Seals
10. Community Service Seal (Local) - A student may earn a Community Service Seal by completing a minimum of 60 hours of community service during high school in a high-quality community service experience.
11. Fine and Performing Arts Seal (Local) - A student may earn a Fine/Performing Arts Seal by earning at least 2 credits of approved fine arts program electives in either the visual or performing arts during high school.
12. Student Engagement Seal (Local) - Students may earn a Student Engagement Seal by participating in at least 2 extracurricular activities during high school. Eligible activities include participation in an athletic program (one sports season), recognized school club (must complete at least 30 hours of club participation), or performance/production (one full production). In order for participation to count toward earning the seal, students must participate in the entire scheduled season of the activity.
For additional information, see your counselor or visit www.education.ohio.gov and search graduation requirements Classes of 2024 and beyond.
Senior Capstone
The Senior Capstone Project is the culmination of each student’s academic experience at Upper Arlington High School. This is a genuine way for seniors to merge their interests, passions, and curiosities with their academic goals. Seniors are given the opportunity to demonstrate the autonomy, complexity and uniqueness of their Senior Capstone Project in written and oral formats. Capstone is awarded a half credit and is a pass/fail class.
Successful completion of the Senior Capstone Project is required for graduation.
Credit Earned in Middle School
Students who successfully complete high school courses while in middle school are granted high school credit.
Credit will be awarded and calculated in cumulative grade point average upon entrance to the high school.
Students may elect to retake a course taken in middle school. If a course is retaken, the grade and credit earned in middle school will be removed from the transcript and replaced by the grade and credit earned in high school. The new course grade is calculated into the GPA.
Students must inform their high school counselor of intent to repeat a course.
Early Completion of Graduation Requirements
It is possible for a student to organize his/her schedule of studies to complete graduation requirements in less than the traditional four-year period. In such situations, the student may pursue any post-high-school option open to the regular four-year graduate.
In the situation of 3-1/2-year completion, there is no mid-year graduation ceremony; however, a student is eligible and encouraged to return and participate in the graduation exercises of that year’s class.
If this option is exercised, it is the responsibility of the student and parent to make arrangements with their high school counselor to complete the early graduation form and to finalize details.
We recommend that this meeting occur as soon as this option is being considered by a family.
An Early graduation form must be completed by the family and signed by the principal. See your school counselor for the form.
Method of Determining Grade Point Average
A student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is determined by converting all semester letter grades to the numerical value assigned to these grades (see chart on this page) then adding these points to determine a total point value. The next step is to determine the total number of credits associated with the converted grades. Dividing the total point value by the total number of credits will provide the student’s GPA.
Courses taken for Audit and Pass/Fail are not included in computing grade point average. Additionally, semester examinations are reported in numerical percentages and are to constitute 1/5 (20%) of a semester letter grade.
Method of Determining Semester Grade
Semester grades are calculated using both quarter grades and the exam grade. If for some reason there is not an exam grade then just the two quarter grades will determine the semester grade.
Changing a Schedule During School Year
Core class and elective schedule changes take place the first three days of each semester.
Only parent(s)/guardian(s) will be able to submit request(s) through an online form.
Requests will be time stamped and processed in the order received.
In addition, changes will be made as class size allows.
See UAHS website for the date when the form will be available.
Class changes generally will be made for the following reasons:
1. Courses scheduled in conflict
2. A senior needs to make a change to meet graduation requirements
3. A technical error was made in the schedule
4. The course has been completed in summer school
5. A more appropriate level of a subject for the student is determined after discussion with student, family and teacher.
Dropping a course may endanger athletic eligibility.
There will be no schedule changes to accommodate lunch period preferences.
Students cannot schedule more than two forums/study halls during any semester. Students (in grade 11/12) will only be given late arrival or early release - not both.
Dropping a Class
Students have the first six weeks of each semester to drop a course without penalty.
If a student drops a course after the first six weeks, a withdraw fail (W/E) will appear on your transcript.
Please be advised, dropping a course may endanger athletic eligibility.
Level Changes
A student may request a level change within the first six weeks of the school year.
Level changes are subject to class size and availability.
The order of a student's schedule may be altered to accommodate a level change.
If a level change is granted, the weight of the grade earned at the end of the semester will reflect the level of the class the student completed. A student moving from a higher-level course will not receive added weight for the weeks in that course.
Auditing a Course
It is possible for a student to “audit” a course if space permits and proper approval is secured. The following conditions and understandings apply for audited courses:
Students are expected to actively participate and regularly attend the class.
All work will be reviewed by the instructor and the student will receive feedback (not necessarily a grade) regarding the quality of work submitted.
Students must be enrolled in five (5) additional courses for credit.
Audited courses do not count toward athletic eligibility.
Credit will not be awarded in the course and an “NG” will appear on the transcript to indicate “audit”.
Graduation requirements cannot be taken as an audit.
An audit cannot be changed back to a letter grade.
Please see your school counselor for the audit form.
Repeating a Course
Credit for a specific course will be granted only once. Repeating a course is an option for:
grade improvement - repeat a course for an improved grade (C- or lower).
recovering a credit during the school year or in summer school
When a student repeats a course, either to improve a grade or gain a credit because of a failure the transcript will show both attempts and both grades. The higher of the grades earned will become the grade calculated into the GPA.
Pass-Fail Grading Option
The Pass-Fail grading option permits a student to take up to one (1) full credit per year in grades 9-12 without receiving a standard letter grade. Three restrictions are placed upon this choice:
no more than one credit may be elected in a given subject area during the four years (9th grade through graduation);
Students may not elect pass-fail in a subject required for graduation;
A student may elect only one pass-fail option per semester.
In a Pass-Fail choice, a grade of “P” is recorded for a course that is passed. An “F” is recorded if the course is failed. The grade (“P” or “F”) received in a Pass-Fail option is not used in computing a student’s Grade Point Average.
The Pass-Fail selection must be made by the student no later than five (5) days after the end of the first grading period. The Pass-Fail option for a second semester course must be made by the student no later than five (5) days after the end of the third grading period.
If at any time after the option is selected and prior to the completion of the course the student would prefer the standard letter grade, the option may be dropped. The student would receive a letter grade for every marking period during that course of study. When the student drops the pass-fail option, the student may not use that particular option again during that school year.
Please note:
Electing the Pass-Fail option in NCAA core courses may affect athletic participation in college.
Incomplete Policy
Students at Upper Arlington High School are expected to complete their course assignments on time in compliance with teacher-established deadlines.
In the event a student cannot meet this expectation due to extended excused absences (more than three days), the student may be given a grade of “Incomplete” on the report card.
It will be the student’s responsibility to complete the work in fourteen calendar days or fewer in order to earn a letter grade.
Students failure to complete the incomplete work within the prescribed time of two weeks will result in the student’s grade being changed from “Incomplete” to the letter grade earned without completion of outstanding work.
Exceptions to this policy due to unique or extenuating circumstances must be made with the principal or his designee in writing.
For the purposes of athletic eligibility, an Incomplete grade is considered the same as a failing grade.
Athletic Co-Curricular, and Extra-Curricular Eligibility
During the preceding grading period, students must have passing grades in a minimum of five (5) one-credit courses (or the equivalent) which count toward graduation. In most instances this means that the student must be passing five (5) courses, not including Physical Education. For example, quarter 4 GPA determines eligibility for quarter 1 / fall season.
Parents and students are responsible for monitoring the necessary athletic credit requirements. Students and their parents should carefully review student schedules to ensure that a minimum of five (5) credits are scheduled each nine-week grading period. Please contact your school counselor or student life department if you have any questions.
In addition, students involved in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities must meet the academic requirements as indicated under the 2.0 policy.
For the purposes of athletic eligibility, an Incomplete grade is considered the same as a failing grade.
2.0 Policy
It is important that students meet the following academic requirements in order to participate in athletics, extracurricular or co-curricular activities in grades 7-12.
A student must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in order to be eligible for participation.
A student’s eligibility will be determined according to his or her GPA for each quarter. Because of the comprehensive nature of exams, semester and final exams are not calculated into the quarter GPA. A student’s eligibility will be determined by examining each quarter GPA independent of prior grading periods. The individual quarter GPA will be used by itself to determine a student’s eligibility. Eligibility can be maintained, gained, or lost each grading period.
Provisions may be made for individual students with special needs and/or extenuating circumstances. A total of two waivers may be granted to a student during his/her high school career. One waiver may be granted during the 9th or 10th grade year and a second waiver may be granted during a student’s 11th or 12th grade year. An eligibility board will review such situations on an individual basis and may waive certain requirements as appropriate. This provision is intended to meet unique situations of students with special or adjusted educational needs. The eligibility board will hear requests of students and/or parents in regard to special needs, extenuating circumstances such as long-term illness, and/or appeals regarding eligibility.
NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse - Athletic Requirements
Students planning to participate in Division I or Division II college athletics must meet NCAA eligibility requirements. Athletic eligibility is determined by the NCAA Clearinghouse. It is important that students and parents familiarize themselves with these requirements as early as possible in their high school careers. Please refer to eligibility center for more information.
Please note: Most flex credit and correspondence courses do not meet NCAA eligibility requirements. Please check with your counselor about specific requirements.
Students are encouraged to apply to the NCAA Clearinghouse online at the NCAA Clearinghouse during their sophomore year.