Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive a Georgia high school diploma, Georgia’s current rule states that students must earn:

• 4 Credits of English

• 4 Credits of Mathematics

• 4 Credits of Science

• 3 Credits of Social Studies

• 1 Credits of Health & Physical Education

• 3 Credits of Career/Technology and/or World Language and/or Fine Arts

• 4 Credits of Electives (minimum)

Total Required to Graduate = 23 Units

Note: World language (foreign language) is not required for Graduation BUT is required for acceptance into a four-year college or university.

Note: Some Research, Regional, and State institutions of the University System of GA may require additional credits in academic areas (English, math, science, and/or socials studies) in addition to the high school diploma credits required.

Promotion Requirements

In order to be considered “promoted” to the next grade level in high school, a student must earn a minimum number of credits by the end of each year. In other words, you have to pass your classes!

• 10th Grade = earned 5 credits by end of 9th grade

• 11th Grade = earned 11 credits by end of 10th grade

• 12th Grade = earned 17 credits by end of 11th grade

If a student fails to earn the required number of credits, he or she will be considered a “repeater” for the next year. If a student becomes "off-track" in terms of earning their credits, it means that the student will not graduate on time unless he or she completes additional coursework during summer school or by some other means (please see your counselor for more information).

Honor Graduate Requirements

In the determination for Honor Graduates, all courses will be averaged through the end of the student's senior year.

Honor graduates must have:

1. A minimum cumulative weighted numerical average of 90 or above in a regular program of study;

2. Completed at least one CTAE, Arts and Humanities or Accelerated Pathway;

3. And successfully completed at least eight (8) Units of credit in honors, Advanced Placement and/or post-secondary credit-bearing courses.

The student meeting all of the honor graduates requirements with the highest cumulative, weighted numerical average of all coursework will be named the valedictorian; the student with the second highest cumulative, weighted numerical average of all coursework will be named the salutatorian. Class rank will be determined using the cumulative, weighted numerical average of all coursework.

In order to be eligible to be named valedictorian or salutatorian of his or her graduating class, a student must attend classes on a Bartow County high school campus for at least two (2) semesters of high school and must be enrolled in a Bartow County high school for four (4) consecutive semesters his or her junior and senior years. If selected as valedictorian or salutatorian, the student must be enrolled during the spring term of their senior year and complete the term to receive the distinction.