Graduation Requirements

The Ohio Core

Only 24% of Ohio's students currently complete a rigorous high school curriculum. The Ohio Core will require students, beginning with the high school graduating class of 2014, to complete a rigorous curriculum as a requirement for high school graduation and as the prerequisite for admission to Ohio's four-year state-assisted institutions of higher education.

General Ohio Graduation Criteria for Classes Beginning 2014

English Language Arts: 4 units
Mathematics: 4 units
Science: 3 units
Social Studies: 3 units
Physical Education: .5 units
Health: .5 units
Electives: 5 units*

Total Minimum Requirements: 20 units

*Elective units must include 1 unit or 2 half-units in Business, Technology, Fine Arts or Foreign Language; 1 Mathematics unit must include 1 unit of Algebra II or the equivalent of Algebra II.

Other Information:

The Ohio Core allows school districts to adopt a policy that would exempt students who participate in interscholastic athletics, band or cheerleading for two full seasons from the physical education requirement. Students must take another course of at least 60 contact hours in its place.
Science units must include 1 unit of physical sciences, 1 unit of life sciences and 1 unit advanced study in one or more of the following sciences: chemistry, physics, or other physical science; advanced biology or other life science; astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space science.
Social studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government. * Beginning with the graduating class of 2021, students must also complete a ½ unit of Modern World Studies
Electives units must include one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career- technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology,agricultural education or English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies courses not otherwise required.
All students must receive instruction in economics and financial literacy during grades 9-12 and must complete at least two semesters of fine arts taken any time in grades 7-12. Students following a career- technical pathway are exempted from the fine arts requirement.

Criteria for Academic Diploma with Honors

There are currently six Honors Diplomas recognized by the Ohio Department of Education. Below are the Criteria for the Academic Diploma with Honors. Information on the other avenues can be found on the ODE website.

In order to receive a Diploma with Honors, students must complete more intensive criteria in mathematics, science and social studies for high school academic and career-technical Diplomas with Honors. A student who completes the OHVA high school academic curriculum must meet at least seven of the following eight criteria to be awarded the Diploma with Honors:

1. earn four units of English;
2. earn at least four units of Mathematics which shall include Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and another higher level course or a four-year sequence of courses which contains equivalent content;
3. earn at least four units of Science including two units of advanced
4. earn four units of Social Studies;
5. earn either three units of one foreign language or two units each of two foreign languages;
6. earn one unit of Fine Arts;
7. maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale up to the last grading period of the senior year; or
8. obtain a composite score of 27 on the American college test's ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score of 1210 on the College Board's SAT verbal and mathematics sections (excluding the required writing section).

Criteria for Career Tech Diploma with Honors

There are currently six Honors Diplomas recognized by the Ohio Department of Education. Below are the Criteria for the Career Tech Diploma with Honors. Information on the other avenues can be found on the ODE website.

High-level coursework, college and career readiness tests, and real-world experiences challenge students. A student who completes the OHVA high school career tech curriculum must meet all but one of the following criteria, unless it is a minimum graduation requirement in order to earn the Diploma with Honors:

1. earn at least four units of Mathematics
2. earn at least four units of Science including two units of advanced
3. earn four units of Social Studies;
4. earn two units of one world language
5. maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale
6. ACT: 27 or higher/SAT: 1280 or higher/Work Keys: 6 or higher on Reading for Information and 6 or higher on Applied Mathematics
7. complete a field experience and document that experience in a portfolio specific to the student's area of focus
8. develop a comprehensive portfolio of work-based on the student's field experience or a topic that is related to the student's area of focus
9. earn an industry-recognized credential or achieve proficiency benchmark for appropriate Ohio Career-Technical Competency Assessment or equivalent

A diploma with Honors requirements pre-supposes the completion of all high school diploma requirements in the Ohio Revised Code including:

½ unit physical education**

½ unit health

½ unit in American history

½ unit in government

Note:

Writing sections of either standardized test should not be included in the calculation of this score.
SB 311 allows school districts to adopt a policy exempting students who participate in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading for two full seasons or two years of JROTC from the physical education requirement.
Advanced science refers to courses in the Ohio Core that are inquiry-based with laboratory experiences and align with the 11/12th grade standards (or above) or with an AP science course, or with the new high school syllabi, or with an entry-level college course (clearly preparing students for a college freshman-level science class, such as anatomy, botany, or astronomy), or contain material above the current OGT level.

State TEsting Requirments

Ohio Graduation Tests for graduation years 2007-2017 and State End of Year (AIR Exams) are required for all students enrolled in OHVA. As of 2017 OHVA will also be administering the State required College Readiness Exam to all students in their junior year. This test will be the school district’s choice of ACT and will be free of charge for families/students. Failure to take State-Required Graduation Assessments will jeopardize the student’s continued enrollment in OHVA. It also can prevent students from receiving an Ohio diploma. For more detailed information, see the testing page.

P.E. Waivers

The P.E. Waiver is a way to complete Physical Education requirements. With a P.E. Waiver, students receive no credit and no grade. Students are waived from taking P.E. classes. A student may waive Physical Education classes, completing two full seasons of interscholastic athletics, cheerleading or marching band. Should a student become injured or not complete the season for ANY reason, he/she must find an alternate way to satisfy his/her P.E. requirement. Participation in Interscholastic athletics, marching band, or cheerleading prior to the 2011-2012 school year does not apply. For more information regarding the state's policies regarding visit this website.

Transfer students must provide OHVA with documentation of a PE waiver used at their previous district if it is not identified on the transcript.

A student interested in a P.E. Waiver must:

Notify School Counselor of intent and
Complete a Physical Education Waiver Application (signed by Admin)

The following due dates apply for intent: Fall Sports - August 30th, Winter Sports-November 30th, Spring Sports-March 30th.

What is the best way for your child to satisfy the P.E. Requirement? P.E. Waiver

P.E. Waiver is suitable for students who have NOT completed any P.E. Credit
P.E. Waiver is ONLY for students participating in interscholastic athletics, Marching Band, or Cheerleading.
P.E. Waiver exemption cannot be combined with P.E. credit earned through actual coursework or through credit flexibility.
With P.E. Waiver, students receive no credit and no grade. Students are exempted from taking two P.E. classes.
Physical Education Waiver Application.

P.E. Credit Flexibility

- - P.E. Credit Flexibility is suitable for students who participate in physical activities that are not affiliated with OHVA.
  - P.E. Credit Flexibility may be used by a student who participates in an Interscholastic sport and has already received one P.E. credit
  - Students who fail to complete hours from an approved application by the end of the semester will receive an “F”.
  - Please see the Flex Credit Policy for forms and requirements.

Physical Education Days

A physical education evaluation is now included as an indicator on the Local State Report Card. Senate Bill 210 , which was signed into law in June 2010, included Physical Education as an indicator on the report card. In order for OHVA to remain compliant with the new PE evaluation, Physical Education Days may be held as a face to face event. Students enrolled in a physical education course may be asked to attend a half-day session in order to be evaluated on the PE state standards, or to meet this state requirement in other ways deemed necessary by the school. Teachers will communicate further details with all students enrolled in a PE course.

Early Graduation/ Early Graduation PRocedures

Students desiring early graduation from Ohio Virtual Academy shall meet the following requirements:

- Students must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average. Students must also meet the graduation requirements for Ohio Virtual Academy.
- Students must meet all total graduation requirements by the end of the first semester of their senior year (for a one semester early exit) or by the end of the second semester of their junior year (for a one year early exit).

Students desiring early graduation are to observe the following procedures:

Apply 15 days before the start of the semester of planned exit by contacting the student’s guidance counselor.
Consult with a school counselor
to ensure all requirements can be met by the early graduation date
to discuss graduation procedures, class rank procedures, regular vs. honors diploma and other considerations
Submit the required petition form (student letter) for early graduation which contains a written explanation of: the reasons for the early graduation request; vocational and/or educational plans following the early graduation and how early graduation helps the student fulfill those goals.
Submit a letter of approval from their parent(s) / guardian.
Students that enroll in the school after the stated early graduation deadline must provide proof of a request to graduate early from the previous district. Students, parents/guardians are responsible for obtaining proof from the previous district.

The petition(student letter), written explanation, parent(s) / guardian approval letter and school records will be evaluated by the early graduation committee consisting of school administration, school counselor and a general education teacher to determine whether the request meets the criteria for early graduation. The request for early graduation will be presented by the Administration to the OHVA Head of School or designee for approval.

The student may take part in the graduation ceremony of his/her graduating class.

Commencement Exercises

A student may participate in the high school graduation exercises only if he/she has successfully completed all course requirements as stipulated by the Ohio State Department of Education, and the Ohio Virtual Academy (as depicted in this handbook), including passing all State Required Testing, and/or meeting all graduation requirements for the class of 2018 and beyond. Students completing graduation requirements after graduation exercises have been conducted may receive diplomas through the mail after requirements have been confirmed. Commencement and other programs and ceremonies are privileges that can be withdrawn as a part of disciplinary action for a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

NOn Graduation Notice

Students who will not be able to complete graduation requirements by the last day of school of their graduating year, will be notified by their school counselor. The notification will be via email to the learning coach/student with an attached letter. This communication will be sent by the end of April each year. The notice will include the date, reason for not meeting graduation requirements, next steps for support/academic planning, and the statement that “failure to graduate on time from high school could impact a student’s ability to be accepted into colleges/universities in the State of Ohio”.

Transcript Requests

Request a final transcript here. Final Transcripts will be available for request through the link within one week after the graduation ceremony.

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