Graduation will be authorized by the Board of Education, and a diploma will be granted to all students who pass the required courses as noted in the table below and have acquired 220 credits from the adopted Course of Study during grades 9-12. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony unless he/she has completed all graduation requirements satisfactorily.
Note: Meeting the high school graduation requirements does not necessarily mean meeting the A-G requirements, as additional courses may be needed.
The 220 credits shall include the following:
English – 40
Students are required to be enrolled in English courses through grade 12. Four years of English are required to graduate from the Garden Grove Unified School District. Students not proficient in English will be enrolled in an appropriate English Language Development (ELD) program. ELD students are required to take 40 credits of ELD and/or English. If a student has been enrolled solely in the ELD program he/she must successfully complete Level C.
History/Social Science – 30
The History/Social Science requirement of 30 credits includes: One year (10 credits) of World History to be taken in 9th or 10th grade; one year (10 credits) of U.S. History to be taken in 11th grade; one year (10 credits) of Civics/Economics to be taken in 12th grade.
Mathematics – 30
Students are required to complete 30 credits of mathematics which must include successful completion of Algebra 1P to graduate. Successful completion of Algebra is a State of California requirement.
Science – 20
The Science requirement is 20 credits. Students must complete 10 credits of a Life Science course and 10 credits of a Physical Science course to graduate.
Fine Arts/Applied Arts – 10
The Fine Arts/Applied Arts requirement includes 10 credits selected from the following areas: Fine arts – art, music, speech, and drama; applied arts including ROP.
Physical Education – 20
The Physical Education requirement is 20 credits to be completed in grades 9 and 10. Education Code, Section 51241, allows the principal, under special circumstances, to grant a 10th grade student exemption from courses in physical education for up to two years. For example, a 10th grade student whose program would be too restrictive to allow the selection of a desired elective may delay taking the second required P.E. class until the 11th or 12th grade. All students must successfully complete 20 credits of physical education to graduate.
Health – 2.5
The Health Education State Requirement, including Family Life (2.5 credits) is required of all students.
Electives – 67.5
The graduation requirements include successful completion of 67.5 elective credits. These electives should be selected according to the student’s Personal Learning Plan with post-high school goals in mind. These elective credits are made up from academic courses (world language, third and fourth year of science, fourth year of math, or additional P.E. fine/visual arts, and career technical education courses).
TOTAL CREDITS: 220
