Graduation Requirements

To earn a Wayzata High School diploma, students must have earned sixty (60) credits in Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, with a distribution of coursework that meets the standards established by the Wayzata School Board and which meets Minnesota State standards, including: 

• 8 credits of English

  • 2: English 9 

  • 2: English 10

  • 2: English A 

  • 2: English B

• 8 credits of Math

  • Including two Algebra 2 credits or its equivalent, sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in mathematics.***

  • *Two of eight credits may come from STEM courses or Applied Math courses.

• 8 credits of Science

  • 2: Earth Science or Physical Science

  • 2: Biology

  • 2: Chemistry or Physics**

  • 2: Additional Science

  • *Two of the eight credits may come from STEM courses.

• 8 credits of Social Studies

  • 2 Civics (Class of 2025-2027) or 2 Human Geography (Class of 2028), 2 World History, 2 US History and 2 Senior Social Studies/Economics.

  • Note: AP Micro + AP Macro + AP Research may be substituted for Senior Social Studies Economics.

• 2 credits of Fine Arts (Music, Theater, Art)

• 2 credits of Physical Education

• 1 credit of Health

• 23 Elective Credits

*STEM courses are designed to dramatically increase student interest in, and preparation for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Courses that satisfy the STEM designation will be identified by the acronym STEM after the course number.

**Minnesota Department of Education requires that every high school graduate must complete 2 credits of Chemistry or 2 credits of Physics as a part of the student’s science graduation requirements.

***Minnesota Department of Education requires that every high school graduate must complete math through Algebra 2 as a part of the student’s math graduation requirements.

All classes as listed within the Art Department and Music and Theater Department, fulfill the Fine Art graduation requirement:

• 604 - ADVANCED GRAPHIC DESIGN (2-D Art and Design) 

• 605 - AP GRAPHIC DESIGN (AP 2-D Art and Design-Portfolio) 

• 606 - GRAPHIC DESIGN 1 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 607 - GRAPHIC DESIGN 2 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 608 - GRAPHIC DESIGN 3 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 609 - CERAMICS 1 (3-D Art and Design) 

• 610 - CERAMICS 2 (3-D Art and Design) 

• 611 - CERAMICS 3 (3-D Art and Design) 

• 612 - ADVANCED CERAMICS (3-D Art and Design) 

• 613 - PAINTING 1 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 614 - PAINTING 2 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 617 - DRAWING 1 (Drawing Art and Design) 

• 618 - DRAWING 2 (Drawing Art and Design) 

• 619 - DRAWING 3 (Drawing Art and Design) 

• 620 - ADVANCED DRAWING (Drawing Art and Design) 

• 625 - SCULPTURE 1 (3-D Art and Design)

• 629 - AP DRAWING 

• 631 - AP CERAMICS (AP 3-D Art and Design-Portfolio) 

• 633 - DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 1 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 634 - DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 2 (2-D Art and Design) 

• 635 - COMIC ARTS 1 (2-D Art and Design)

• 640 - MUSIC PRODUCTION 1

• 641 - MUSIC PRODUCTION 2

• 642 - MUSIC HISTORY

• 643 - MUSIC THEORY & EAR TRAINING

• 644 - HONORS MUSIC THEORY & EAR TRAINING

• 645B, C - AP MUSIC THEORY

• 650 - BAND GRADES 9-12

• 652 - MARCHING BAND

• 660 - CHOIR GRADES 9-12

• 670 - ORCHESTRA GRADES 9-12

• 680GE - UNIFIED MUSICAL THEATRE EXPERIENCE

• 680SE - UNIFIED MUSICAL THEATRE

• 683 - ACTING 1

• 684 - ACTING 2

• 686 - IMPROVISATION & COMEDY STUDIES

• 861 - INTERIOR DESIGN 1

• 881 - INTERIOR DESIGN 2

• 867GE - UNIFIED ARTS FIELD EXPERIENCE

• 867SE - UNIFIED ARTS

• 923 - INTRO TO ANIMATION

• 924 - APPLIED ANIMATION (STEM)

• 930 - APPLIED GRAPHICS 1

• 931 - APPLIED GRAPHICS 2

The following Applied Math (M) courses can be used to fulfill math credits that are completed after Algebra 2:

• 741 - AP MACROECONOMICS (M)

• 740 - AP MICROECONOMICS (M)

• 9993B - APPLIED MATHEMATICS - COMPASS (M)

• 725 - FINANCIAL ALGEBRA (M)

• 855 - INDEPENDENT MONEY MANAGEMENT (M)

• 711 - INTRO TO ACCOUNTING (M)

• 723 - MANAGING YOUR INVESTMENTS (M)

• 722 - PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY (CM)

STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

The following STEM (S) courses can be used to fulfill Science credits that are completed after Chemistry and/or Math credits that are completed after Algebra 2:

• 922S - ADVANCED GAME DESIGN (S)

• 913S - ADVANCED HOME CONSTRUCTION (S)

• 951S - ADVANCED WOOD MANUFACTURING (S)

• 944S - AP COMP SCI/PLTW SFTW ENG PRCP

• 947S - AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A (S)

• 924S - APPLIED ANIMATION (S)

• 930 - APPLIED GRAPHICS 1 (S)

• 931 - APPLIED GRAPHICS 2 (S)

• 925S - APPLIED ROBOTICS (S)

• 709 - APPLIED WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

• 910S - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1 (S)

• 911S - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 2 (S)

• 412 - CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT

• 943S - CIVIL ENG/ARCHITECTURE (S)

• 9992B - COMPASS APPLIED GRAPHICS 2

• 963S -CTC NURSING ASSISTANT

• 964S - CTC OUTDOOR POWER SPORTS

• 965S - CTC ADVANCED OUTDOOR POWER SPORTS

• 967S - CTC AUTO BODY REPAIR

• 968S - CTC ADVANCED AUTO BODY REPAIR

• 970S - CTC AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• 975S - CTC COMPUTER REPAIR

• 976 - CTC SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

• 977S - CTC CYBERSECURITY

• 978S - CTC FIRST AID, CPR, EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE

• 979S - CTC NETWORKING SYSTEMS

• 9981 - CTE INTERNSHIP/APRENTICESHIP (S)

• 9993A - CYBERSECURITY  (COMPASS) (S)

• 940S - ENGINEERING CONCEPTS (S)

• 414 - EXPLORING HEALTH CAREERS (S)

• 912S - HOME CONSTRUCTION & MAINT (S)

• 760S - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1 HARDWARE (S)

• 923 - INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION

• 705 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

• 718 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

• 921S - INTRODUCTION TO GAME DESIGN (S)

• 708 - INTRODUCTION TO WEBSITE DESIGN

• 950S - INTRODUCTION TO WOOD MANUFACTURING 1 (S)

• 413 - MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (S)

• 945 - METAL MANUFACTURING (S)

• 941S - PRIN ENGINEERING  (POE) (S)

Students who are unable to successfully complete all their course work should collaborate with their counselor to develop individualized plans to recover credits. Students can recover credits through our Alternative Independent Study Program. A credit recovery student may not earn more than twenty-four (24) credits in one academic year.

Students who wish to graduate early must contact their counselor to work out the details. These students will be expected to meet all graduation requirements. A written contract will be established and must be signed by the student, parent/guardian, counselor, and associate principal. This should be completed before the end of the junior year. A student may not earn more than sixteen (16) credits per school year to accelerate graduation.

Athletes interested in becoming eligible for Division I and Division II college athletic programs must meet the NCAA eligibility criteria. Early academic planning is critical. See your counselor for details.

Wayzata High School students who wish to enroll in an independent study may do so if the course they wish to enroll is one that has been approved through Wayzata Public Schools curriculum review process and the Wayzata High School new course proposal committee (i.e., the course must appear in the Wayzata High School registration guide). Eligible students are responsible for completing the application and finding a Wayzata High School teacher to facilitate the independent study.

INDEPENDENT STUDY APPLICATION

Credit for Online Learning vs Placement by Assessment 

A student may earn credit to fulfill graduation requirements from an online MN learning provider approved by the Minnesota Department of Education.  Students should meet with their counselor to discuss available options prior to enrolling in an online course.  Students who successfully complete the identified course will receive a course grade of “T” on their transcript, according to district policy 625.  This signifies that the required MN graduation standard has been met. 

Credit for Online Learning vs Placement by Assessment  

A student may fulfill the prerequisite requirements for a higher level course by completing a Summer Test-in/Test-out option.  In preparation for the summer assessment, students may enroll in a course offered by an external provider.  The student should meet with their counselor to discuss appropriate course options and review required deadlines prior to enrolling in a course and/or attempting a Placement by Assessment.  Students who successfully complete the assessment process will receive a course grade of “T” on their transcript and be enrolled in the next level course.  A student has one opportunity to attempt to test out of a course.