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Graduation Requirements

  1. FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 9 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2026-27.  Students following the Future-Ready Core of Study must pass the following 22 credits.
     
    1. Four sequential English credits which shall be:
      1. Starting with English I
      2. English II
      3. English III
      4. English IV 
    2. Four Mathematics credits which shall be either 
      1.  NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans, or
      2.  In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two additional courses identified on the NC DPI Math options chart.
    3.  Three Science credits which shall be: 
      1. a physical science course
      2.  Biology
      3. an earth/environmental science course
    4.  Four Social Studies credits which shall be:
      1. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina:  Civic Literacy
      2. Economics and Personal Finance
      3. American History
      4. World History
    5. One Health and Physical Education credit 
      1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
      2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    6.  One Computer Science credit
      1. Courses for this requirement involve the Computer Science, IT, and Technology Education area of CTE.
      2. If a student enrolls in a NC public school after completion of Grade 11 or if a student’s IEP states that the student’s disability would prevent completing this course, the student shall be exempt from this specific requirement and shall earn one additional elective credit.
    7. Two Elective credits of any combination from either: 
      1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
      2.  Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts) or
      3. World Language
    8. Three Elective credits from any subject area or cross-disciplinary course.
    9. Note:  Students entering Grade 9 for the first time in 2025-26 shall have at least one arts education course in grades 6-12. 
      1. Students must complete the standard course of study (no local electives) for a given arts education course in its entirety to satisfy this requirement. After school activities or partial courses do not fulfill this graduation requirement. 
      2. Students who transfer into a public school unit beginning in the ninth grade or later may be exempt, if such a requirement would prevent a student from graduating with the graduation cohort to which the student was assigned when transferring.
         
  2. FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 9 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021-22  Students following the Future-Ready Core of Study must pass the following 22 credits.
     
    1. Four sequential English credits which shall be: 
      1. Starting with English I
      2. English II
      3.  English III
      4.  English IV
    2.  Four Mathematics credits which shall be either 
      1.  NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans
      2.  In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two additional courses identified on the NC DPI Math options chart.
    3.  Three Science credits which shall be: 
      1. a physical science course
      2.  Biology
      3. an earth/environmental science course
    4.  Four Social Studies credits which shall be:
      1. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina:  Civic Literacy
      2. Economics and Personal Finance
      3. American History
      4. World History
    5. One Health and Physical Education credit 
      1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
      2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    6.  Two Elective credits of any combination from either: 
      1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
      2.  Arts Education or
      3. World Language
    7. Four Elective credits from the following (four-course concentration recommended): 
      1. Career and Technical Education (CTE)
      2. ROTC
      3. Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)
      4. Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and dual enrollment course
    8. Beginning in fall 2022, students entering Grade 6 and subsequently entering Grade 9 for the first time in 2025-26 shall have at least one arts education course in grades 6-12.
      1. Students must complete the standard course of study (no local electives) for a given arts education course in its entirety to satisfy this requirement. After school activities or partial courses do not fulfill this graduation requirement. 
      2. Students who transfer into a public school unit beginning in the ninth grade or later may be exempt, if such a requirement would prevent a student from graduating with the graduation cohort to which the student was assigned when transferring.