IKFGRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
IKFRegular Education
Graduation requirements for the Classes of 2008-2011 are a minimum of twenty-two (22) units of credit are required for graduation. Listed below are the subjects that must be included in the twenty-two (22) units required. Each student shall demonstrate accomplishment of the standards in reading, writing, science, social studies, and mathematics adopted by the State Board of Education.
Graduation requirements may be met as follows:
A. By successful completion of subject area course requirements.
B. By mastery of the standards adopted by the State Board of Education and other competency requirements for the subject as determined by the Governing Board in accord with A.A.C. R7-2-302 and rules established by the Superintendent.
C. By earning credits through correspondence courses that meet graduation requirements in accordance with A.A.C. R7-2-302.04 and/or by passing appropriate courses at the college or university level if the courses are determined to meet standards and criteria established by the Board and in accord with A.R.S. 15-701.01.
Graduation requirements are:
English 4.0 units
Social Studies 3.0 units
(to include: World History or World Geography [1.0 unit],
American and Arizona History [1.0 unit], American and
Arizona Government [0.5 unit], and Economics/Free
Enterprise [0.5 unit])
Math 3.0 units
Science 2.0 units
Physical Education 1.0 unit
Fine Arts or CTE 1.0 unit
Electives 8.0 units
Total 22.0 units
Arizona Instrument to Measure the
Standards (AIMS) Requirement
Per state statute (A.R.S. 15-701.01) and State Board of Education Rule (R7-2-302), students graduating after January 1, 2006 must meet the standard on the reading, writing, and mathematics portions of AIMS in order to graduate from high school or receive a diploma. Beginning in the spring of their sophomore year, all students will have the opportunity to take the AIMS tests once per semester.
Exceptions to the AIMS Requirement
Students must meet one (1) of the following criteria's to be considered Exempt from having to meet the AIMS graduation requirement.
A. Special education students and students with 504 accommodation plans are exempt from passing the AIMS test (meeting the standard) in order to graduate (A.R.S. 15-701.01), unless otherwise noted in the individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. Please refer directly to a student's IEP or their 504 plan to determine if a student must meet the standard in order to graduate.
B. Students who met the standard or received a passing score on a No Child Left Behind (NCLB) assessment in a prior state/school system are able to use that proficiency score to meet the AIMS graduation requirement, otherwise known as "AIMS Reciprocity."
C. AIMS augmentation as allowed by (A.R.S. 15-701.02) to allow students to augment their AIMS scores with course grades.
Special Education
Listed above, under "Regular Education," are the requirements that must be completed before a student may receive a high school diploma. Completion of graduation requirements for special education students who do not meet the required units of credit shall be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the special education course of study and the individualized education program of the student. Graduation requirements established by the Governing Board may be met by a student as defined in A.R.S. 15-701.01 and A.A.C. R7-2-301.
Issuance of Diplomas
Beginning with the Class of 2012 the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) will offer students an option to receive one of three (3) types of diplomas. Diplomas will be issued to students upon completion of graduation requirements. For all three (3) types of diplomas, a course waiver, or other demonstration of proficiency, may satisfy these graduation requirements, however, no credit will be granted for such course waiver or other demonstrated proficiency. Students will receive a diploma based on the successful completion of all graduation requirements in accordance with the following diploma guidelines:
Standard Diploma. For the Class of 2012 all students will be eligible to receive this diploma type if they meet the Board approved graduation requirements. Students graduating with twenty-two (22) or more credits to include specifically four (4) credits in English, three (3) credits in mathematics, three (3) credits in science, three (3) credits in social studies (as specified below), one (1) credit in fine arts/CTE, one (1) credit in physical education and a minimum of seven (7) elective credits will be eligible to receive this diploma.
For the Class of 2013 and beyond, all students will be eligible to receive this diploma type if they meet the Board approved graduation requirements. Students graduating with twenty-two (22) or more credits to include specifically four (4) credits in English, four (4) credits in mathematics, three (3) credits in science, three (3) credits in social studies (as specified below), one (1) credit in fine arts/CTE, one (1) credit in physical education and a minimum of six (6) elective credits will be eligible to receive this diploma.
A. Scottsdale Unified School District Regents Diploma. All students will be eligible to receive this diploma type if the following requirements are met. Students graduating with twenty-two (22) or more credits to include specifically four (4) credits in English, four (4) credits in mathematics (as specified below), three (3) credits in science (as specified below), three (3) credits in social studies (as specified below), one (1) credit in fine arts, one (1) credit in physical education, two (2) credits in World Languages and a minimum of four (4) elective credits will be eligible to receive this diploma.
B. Scottsdale Unified School District Scholar Diploma. All students will be eligible to receive this diploma type if the following requirements are met. Students graduating with a minimum seventh (7th)-semester academic grade point average (GPA) of three point five (3.5) or higher and twenty-four (24) or more credits to include specifically four (4) credits in English, four (4) credits in mathematics (as specified below), three (3) credits in science (as specified below), three (3) credits in social studies (as specified below), one (1) credit in fine arts, one (1) credit in physical education, two (2) credits in World Languages and a minimum of six (6) elective credits will be eligible to receive this diploma.
The Scottsdale Unified School District encourages all students to strive to achieve the Scholar Diploma.
Graduation requirements for a Standard diploma for the Class of 2012 are:
English 4.0 units
Social Sciences 3.0 units
(to include: World History or World Geography [1.0 unit],
American and Arizona History [1.0 unit], American and
Arizona Government [0.5 unit], and Economics/Free
Enterprise [0.5 unit])
Math 3.0 units
Science 3.0 units
(two [2] units of laboratory science, must include
Biology, and one [1] unit of additional science course)
Physical Education 1.0 unit
Fine Arts or CTE 1.0 unit
Electives 7.0 units
Total 22.0 units
Graduation requirements for a Standard diploma for the Class of 2013 are:
English 4.0 units
Social Sciences 3.0 units
(to include: World History or World Geography [1.0 unit],
American and Arizona History [1.0 unit], American and
Arizona Government [0.5 unit], and Economics/Free
Enterprise [0.5 unit])
Math 4.0 units
(to include: Two [2] credits containing course content
covering the following areas in preparation for proficiency
at the high school level on the AIMS test:
Number Sense and Operations; Data Analysis,
Probability and Discrete Mathematics; Patterns,
Algebra and Functions; Geometry and
Measurement; and Structure and Logic.
These content areas are typically covered in the following
courses:
Algebra I [1.0 unit], Geometry [1.0 unit],
Algebra II [1.0 unit], Additional course with
Algebra II prerequisite [1.0 unit])
Science 3.0 units
(two [2] units of laboratory science, must include
Biology, and one [1] unit of additional science course)
Physical Education 1.0 unit
Fine Arts or CTE 1.0 unit
Electives 6.0 units
Total 22.0 units
Graduation requirements for a Regents diploma starting with the Class of 2012 are:
English 4.0 units
Social Sciences 3.0 units
(to include: World History or World Geography [1.0 unit],
American and Arizona History [1.0 unit], American and
Arizona Government [0.5 unit], and Economics/Free
Enterprise [0.5 unit])
Math 4.0 units
(to include: Two [2] credits containing course content
covering the following areas in preparation for proficiency
at the high school level on the AIMS test:
Number Sense and Operations; Data Analysis,
Probability and Discrete Mathematics; Patterns,
Algebra and Functions; Geometry and
Measurement; and Structure and Logic.
These content areas are typically covered in the following
courses:
Algebra I [1.0 unit], Geometry [1.0 unit],
Algebra II [1.0 unit], Additional course with
Algebra II prerequisite [1.0 unit])
Science 3.0 units*
(to include: Biology [1.0 unit],
Earth Science/Chemistry/Physics [1.0 unit] Additional
laboratory science [1.0 unit]
Physical Education 1.0 unit
Fine Arts 1.0 unit
World Languages 2.0 unit
Electives 4.0 units
Total 22.0 units
* Applicants must demonstrate competency in laboratory science by completing at least one (1) credit in Biology and one (1) credit in a physical science (Physics, Chemistry or Earth Science) and one (1) credit from a different laboratory science listed within the High School Planning Guide. It is preferable that students take three (3) years of different laboratory science subjects before taking an advanced/honors course in the same subject. It is strongly recommended that students take a fourth (4th) year of laboratory science (including advanced placement, higher level international baccalaureate and other honors courses).
Graduation requirements for a Scholar diploma starting with the Class of 2012 are:
English 4.0 units
Social Sciences 3.0 units
(to include: World History or World Geography [1.0 unit],
American and Arizona History [1.0 unit], American and
Arizona Government [0.5 unit], and Economics/Free
Enterprise [0.5 unit])
Math 4.0 units
(to include: Two [2] credits containing course content
covering the following areas in preparation for proficiency
at the high school level on the AIMS test:
Number Sense and Operations; Data Analysis,
Probability and Discrete Mathematics; Patterns,
Algebra and Functions; Geometry and
Measurement; and Structure and Logic.
These content areas are typically covered in the following
courses:
Algebra I [1.0 unit], Geometry [1.0 unit],
Algebra II [1.0 unit], Additional course with
Algebra II prerequisite [1.0 unit])
Science 3.0 units*
(to include: Biology [1.0 unit],
Earth Science/Chemistry/Physics [1.0 unit] Additional
laboratory science [1.0 unit]
Physical Education 1.0 unit
Fine Arts 1.0 unit
World Languages 2.0 unit
Electives 6.0 units
Total 24.0 units
* Applicants must demonstrate competency in laboratory science by completing at least one (1) credit in Biology and one (1) credit in a physical science (Physics, Chemistry or Earth Science) and one (1) credit from a different laboratory science listed within the High School Planning Guide. It is preferable that students take three (3) years of different laboratory science subjects before taking an advanced/honors course in the same subject. It is strongly recommended that students take a fourth (4th) year of laboratory science (including advanced placement, higher level international baccalaureate and other honors courses).
Computer Proficiency: All students must meet the SUSD computer proficiency requirement as described in the High School Planning Guide.
Implementation of the Personal Curriculum
Provision Established in R7-2-302.03 for
those Students Modifying the Mathematics
Graduation Requirement for the
Standard Diploma
Definitions
"Personal Curriculum" means a documented process that may be used to modify the high school graduation requirements for mathematics delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c). A student may use a personal curriculum to modify the Algebra II requirement delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(ii) and reduce the credit requirements for mathematics from four to three credits. A student who successfully completes his or her personal curriculum meets the requirements for high school graduation.
"Development Team" means a team that develops a personal curriculum for a student and consists of the student, the parent or legal guardian of the student, and a school counselor or principal or their designee. A school principal may add additional members to the development team as the principal deems appropriate.
A student is eligible for a personal curriculum if the student meets the following criteria:
A. The student has successfully completed the mathematics requirements delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(i); and
B. Despite the student's successful completion of the mathematics requirements delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(i), the development team determines that the student demonstrates a need to modify the requirement delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(ii) for Algebra II or its equivalent course content.
The requirements for a personal curriculum are as follows:
A. An eligible student may only modify the mathematics requirement delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(ii) for Algebra II or its equivalent course content;
B. In lieu of successfully completing Algebra II or its equivalent course content, an eligible student shall successfully complete at least one (1) credit in mathematics that shall include significant mathematics content as determined by the local school district governing board or charter school; and
C. An eligible student shall successfully complete a course in mathematics in the student's senior year.
The procedures for developing and implementing a personal curriculum are as follows:
A. The parent or legal guardian of a student, an emancipated student, or a student with permission from his or her parent or legal guardian may request a personal curriculum in a manner prescribed by the local school district governing board or charter school.
B. Upon receipt of a request for a personal curriculum made pursuant to the subsection above, the requirements for a personal curriculum, the local school district or charter school shall verify that the student successfully completed the mathematics requirements delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(i) and, upon verification, shall convene a development team.
C. The development team shall:
1. Verify that the student demonstrates a need to modify the requirement delineated in R7-2-302(1)(c)(ii)for Algebra II or its equivalent course content.
2. Identify an appropriate alternative mathematics course or courses to modify the requirement for Algebra II or its equivalent course content.
3. Develop a written personal curriculum plan that includes the alternative mathematics course or courses identified in the subsection above, the requirements for a personal curriculum, and a plan for monitoring student progress toward successfully completing the alternative mathematics course or courses.
4. In developing the personal curriculum plan the development team shall consider how the proposed modifications maintain the integrity of the high school diploma and enable the student to achieve his or her post-secondary education and career goals.
5. The development team may modify the personal curriculum plan based upon the development team's evaluation of the student's progress.
Adopted: March 2, 2010
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-203
15-341
15-701.01
15-710
15-763
A.A.C.
R7-2-302
R7-2-302.03
CROSS REF.:
IGD - Curriculum Adoption
IGE - Curriculum Guides and Course Outlines
IHAMC - Instruction and Training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
IHAMD - Instruction and Training in Suicide Prevention
IIE - Student Schedules and Course Loads
IKA - Grading/Assessment Systems
JFABC - Admission of Transfer Students