Graduation Requirements
Compiled from District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) Title 5 (Education), Chapter 22 (as of May 2007)
To receive a DCPS diploma, students who enroll in 9th grade for the first time in School Year 2007-2008 and thereafter must earn 24.0 credits (or Carnegie Units) as follows:
| Subject |
Credits
(Carnegie Units) |
| Art |
0.5 credits |
| Electives |
3.5 credits |
| English |
4.0 credits |
| Health and Physical Education |
1.5 credits |
Mathematics
(including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Upper Level Math) |
4.0 credits |
| Music |
0.5 credits |
Science
(including biology, 2 lab sciences, and 1 other science) |
4.0 credits |
Social Studies
(including World History I & II, DC History, US
Government, US History) |
4.0 credits |
| World Languages |
2.0 credits |
| Total |
24.0 credits |
Students must also meet the following requirements:
• At least 2.0 credits of the 24.0 required credits must be earned through courses that appear on the approved “College Level or Career Prep” list (AP, IB, CTE courses and college-level courses).
• 100 hours of Community Service
Academic Graduation Requirements for DCPS 23.5 Diploma
To receive a DCPS diploma, students who enrolled in 9th grade for the first time between School Year 1992-1993 and School Year 2006-2007 must earn 23.5 credits (or Carnegie Units) as follows:
| Subject |
Credits
(Carnegie Units) |
| Art |
0.5 credits |
| Career/Vocational Education |
1.0 credits |
| Electives |
4.5 credits |
| English |
4.0 credits |
| Health and Physical Education |
1.5 credits |
Mathematics
(including Algebra I) |
3.0 credits |
| Music |
0.5 credits |
Science
(including at least 1 lab science) |
3.0 credits |
Social Studies
(including World History (1.0), US History (1.0),
DC History (0.5), US Government (0.5), World
Geography (0.5)) |
3.5 credits |
| World Languages |
2.0 credits |
| Total |
23.5 credits |
- Students qualifying for the evening program high school diploma are not required to take the 1.5 credits in Health and Physical Education.
- All students must complete 100 hours of community service to receive a high school diploma.
|
