Graduation Requirements
OHVA follows the graduation requirements set forth by the Ohio Department of Education. Use the following link to access a full list of graduation requirements, based on cohort year. https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Ohio-s-Graduation-Requirements
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. ·
For Class of 2026 and beyond, student must complete one semester of Financial Literacy.
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 six of the following seven criteria to be awarded the Diploma with Honors:
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;
Earn at least four units of Science including two units of advanced
Earn four units of Social Studies;
Earn either three units of one foreign language or two units each of two foreign languages;
Earn one unit of Fine Arts;
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
Obtain a composite score of 27 on the American college test's ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score of 1280 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:
earn at least four units of Mathematics
earn at least four units of Science including two units of advanced
earn four units of Social Studies;
earn two units of one world language
maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale
ACT: 27 or higher/SAT: 1280 or higher/Work Keys: 6 or higher on Reading for Information and 6 or higher on Applied Mathematics
complete a field experience and document that experience in a portfolio specific to the student's area of focus
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
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 in physical education**
½ unit in health
½ unit in American history
½ unit in government
½ unit in World history
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
The State of Ohio Requires that all OHVA High School students complete the appropriate Ohio State Tests. Students in graduation years 2018 and beyond will take state-provided End-of Course Exams after course completion, and a school selected College Readiness Exam during their 11th grade year. Failure to take State-Required Assessments will jeopardize the student’s continued enrollment in OHVA. It also can prevent students from receiving an Ohio diploma.
For graduation years 2023 and beyond, end-of-course tests will be in English Language Arts II, Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, American History, and American Government. State Testing requirements for graduation years prior to 2023 can be discussed with the school counselor and referenced on the Ohio Department of Education website. Middle school students who take one of these courses for high school credit must take the corresponding state end-of-course exam.
Students can earn a 1-5 score for each exam, based on their performance.
5 – Advanced
4 – Accelerated
3 – Proficient
2 – Basic
1 – Limited
For more state testing information, see the testing page.
Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2021 and 2022
Students who entered grade 9 between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019, will utilize Ohio’s new high school graduation requirements, including earning the state minimum of 20 credits in specific subjects as outlined above AND meet one of the following options.
Option 1
Satisfy one of the three original pathways to graduation that were in place when student entered high school. The pathways include:
1. Ohio’s State Tests - Earn at least 18 points on seven end-of-course state tests. Each test score earns you up to five graduation points. You must have a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies.
2. Industry credential and workforce readiness - Earn a minimum of 12 points by receiving a State Board of Education-approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and earn the required score on WorkKeys, a work-readiness test. The state of Ohio will pay one time for you to take the WorkKeys test.
3. College and career readiness tests - Earn remediation-free scores in mathematics and English language arts on either the ACT or SAT.
Option 2
Satisfy the new graduation requirements for the classes of 2023 and beyond (see below)
Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2023 and Beyond
Students in the classes of 2018-2022 have the option to meet the new requirements or the requirements of the original three pathways to graduation, while the students in the classes of 2023 and beyond must meet the new requirements.
Students will be required to earn 20 credits in specific subjects as outlined above, AND will demonstrate competency and readiness as outlined below.
Demonstrate Competency:
Earn a 684 on Ohio’s Algebra I and English II tests. Students who do not pass the test will be offered additional support and must retake the test at least once. Three additional ways to show competency include:
o Demonstrate two career-focused activities per ODE guidelines
o Enlist in the military
o Complete College Coursework per ODE guidelines
Show Readiness:
Earn two diploma deals, one of which must be Ohio designed
More information regarding Ohio’s Graduation requirements and specific guidelines can be found below.
http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Ohio-s-Graduation-Requirements
Ohio Virtual Academy’s Career Advising Policy shall be amended to include the following requirements with respect to graduation planning:
Graduation Planning
A graduation plan will be developed and maintained for each student in grades 9-12. The graduation plan shall address the student’s academic pathway to meet the curriculum requirements specified by OHVA and satisfy the graduation conditions, as appropriate, under Ohio law. The graduation plan shall be developed jointly by the student and a representative of OHVA and shall be updated each school year in which the student is enrolled, until the student qualifies for a high school diploma. The student’s parent, guardian, or custodian shall be invited to assist in developing and updating the graduation plan. A graduation plan developed pursuant to this policy shall supplement the OHVA’s policy on career advising. The individualized education program developed for a student pursuant to O.R.C. §3323.08 may be used in lieu of developing a graduation plan if the individualized education program contains academic goals substantively similar to a graduation plan.
Procedures for Development of Graduation Plan
All high school students and parents are invited to a grade level meeting during semester one, held by the School Counselors, to plan and develop a student graduation plan.
· During the grade level meeting, School Counselors review graduation requirements and pathways for the cohort year grade level. The meeting will be recorded and shared with families who are unable to attend.
· Following this meeting, all students receive an email from their School Counselor that includes a graduation plan developed for the student. Students will be encouraged to use this plan throughout their high school career. Students will also receive a blank graduation plan that they can use to develop a modified graduation plan to submit to their School Counselor for review and approval.
· In addition, School Counselors meet with all 12th graders individually during the first semester of their senior year, to review graduation plans and graduation requirements.
· All students, parents and learning coaches also have access to PowerSchool, where they can self-monitor credits and testing progress, including progress towards graduation requirements and meeting the graduation plan.
Identifying Students At-Risk of Not Qualifying for a High School Diploma
High School Administrators, with the assistance of School Counselors, shall develop criteria for identifying students at risk of not qualifying for a high school diploma, which shall include a student’s lack of adequate progress in meeting the terms of a graduation plan as well as other factors, such as if a student has issues regarding excessive absences. Beginning after semester one of the 9th grade, students who are credit deficit will be identified as being at-risk for not qualifying for a high school diploma.
In addition, students who are not on track with credits at the beginning of each school year are also identified as being at-risk for not qualifying for a high school diploma.
A student’s lack of progress in meeting the terms of a graduation plan shall be a criterion for identifying at-risk students.
Notification Process
After a student is identified as being at-risk of not qualifying for a high school diploma, the following steps will be taken:
• Students will be contacted by email at the beginning of each semester by their assigned School Counselor.
• During the Fall semester, students identified as being at-risk are invited to an informational session to review the credit recovery program offered by Ohio Virtual Academy.
• During the Spring semester, this information is again made available to all students identified as being at-risk through a recording that is shared in a second email. During these informational sessions, School Counselors review graduation requirements, and discuss how OHVA’s credit recovery program can help students get back on track to meet graduation requirements and qualify for a high school diploma.
• At the end of each school year, a separate written notification will be emailed to an at-risk student’s parent, guardian or custodian. This written notification shall include all of the following: 1. A statement that the student is at risk of not qualifying for a high school diploma; 2. A description of OHVA’s curriculum requirements, or the student’s individualized education program, and, as appropriate, the student’s graduation pathway options; and 3. A description of any additional instructional or support services offered by OHVA and available to the at-risk student.
Ohio Virtual Academy assists at-risk students with additional instructional or support services to help meet graduation requirements, including the following:
• Mentoring/tutoring programs with Impact Academy
• End of Course competency scores and course credit
• Credit Recovery Program
• Mental health services including Crisis Support Team and Student Support Groups
• iSupport Tutors
• EL Support
• Learning Coach support sessions
Ohio Virtual Academy also assists students at-risk of dropping out of school with additional instructional or support services including the development of a Student Success Plan as further explained in the Career Advising Policy.
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 by completing two full seasons of interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, or marching band. Should a student become injured or not complete the season for ANY reason, they must find an alternate way to satisfy their 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.
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 school 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 approval form for early graduation (available from school counselor), with both student and parent signature
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 approval form 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 their graduating class.
Commencement Exercises
A student may participate in the high school graduation exercises only if they have 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 their graduation cohort year. 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
To request a high school transcript, access THIS FORM. Final Transcripts will be available for request through the link within one week after the graduation ceremony.