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Schools: Berkshire Jr. / Sr. High: Guidance

Criteria for Honors Diploma Class of 2011 and beyond

February 26, 2008

New Diploma with Honors criteria became effective on June 30, 2007, as a result of Ohio Core legislation passed in Dec. 2006.  The State Board of Education adopted rules containing the criteria below at it May 2007 board meeting.

Beginning with students starting high school in the fall of 2007, students must complete more intensive criteria in mathematics, science and social studies for high school academic and career-technical Diplomas with Honors.  The new Diplomas with Honors will not affect the graduating classes of 2007 through 2010.

Procedurally, the awarding of the new Diplomas with Honors has not changed.  School counselors and parents are encouraged to use the links below to direct the graduating class of 2011 and beyond in taking the appropriate coursework.

To access PDFs and Word documents outlining Diplomas with Honors criteria, go to the links listed below.  Word documents are available for schools to personalize only, for example, adding district names.  Criteria for the Diplomas with Honors may not be changed.

  • New high school academic Diploma with Honors (PDF)
  • New high school academic Diploma with Honors (Word)
  • New career-technical Diploma with Honors (PDF)
  • New career-technical Diploma with Honors (Word)
  • Comparison chart of old and new criteria for Diplomas with Honors (PDF)
  • Comparison chart of old and new criteria for Diplomas with Honors (Word)

Criteria for the Diplomas with Honors as written in the rule are located below.

The student who completes the high school academic curriculum shall meet at least seven of the eight criteria:

  1. Earn four units of English;
  2. Earn at least four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, algebra II, geometry and another higher level course or a four-year sequence of courses which contains equivalent content;
  3. Earn at least four units of science including one unit of physics and one unit of chemistry;
  4. Earn four units of social studies;
  5. Earn either three units of one foreign language or two units each of two foreign languages;
  6. Earn one unit of fine arts;
  7. Maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four point scale up to the last grading period of the senior year; or
  8. Obtain a composite score of 27 on the American college test's ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score of 1210 on the College Board's SAT verbal and mathematics sections (excluding the required writing section).

The student who completes an intensive career-technical education curriculum shall meet at least seven of the following eight criteria:

  1. Earn four units of English;
  2. Earn at least four units of mathematics which shall include algebra I, algebra II, geometry and another higher level course or a four-year sequence of courses which contains equivalent content;
  3. Earn at least four units of science including one unit of physics and one unit of chemistry;
  4. Earn four units of social studies;
  5. Earn four units in a career-technical education program that leads to an industry-recognized credential, results in an apprenticeship or is part of an articulated career pathway, which can lead to post secondary credit.  If the student's program design does not provide for any of these outcomes, then the student must achieve the proficiency benchmark established for the applicable Ohio career-technical competency assessment or the equivalent;
  6. Achieve the proficiency benchmark established for the Ohio Career-Technical Competency Assessment (available at http://www.webxam.org/info_docs.asp, with additional content) or equivalent assessment aligned with state-approved and industry validated technical standards; or
  7. Maintain an overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale up to the last grading period of the senior year; or
  8. Obtain a composite score of 27 on the American college testing service's ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score of 1210 on the college board's SAT verbal and mathematics sections (excluding the score obtained on the required writing section).

 

 

 

 

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