Susan Moore High School
Diploma Options
&
Graduation Requirements
Lisa Meeder– Sr. High Counselor
Teri Dunn – Jr. High Counselor
ALABAMA’S “FIRST
CHOICE “
Higher Standards Mean A
Brighter Future
Alabama’s “First Choice”
offers two diploma
options:
• Option #1 – The Alabama High
School Diploma
• Option #2 – The Alabama
Occupational Diploma
Diploma Option #1
The Alabama High School Diploma
• The Alabama High School Diploma is
available with various endorsements.
• Under FIRST CHOICE, all students
entering high school will be automatically
enrolled to pursue the Advanced Academic
Endorsement
Endorsement # 1
The Alabama High School Diploma
with ADVANCED ACADEMIC
ENDORSEMENT
*Pass all standard coursework- 4 credits in English,
science, history & math through Algebra II with
trigonometry).
*Earn two consecutive credits of a foreign language.
*Pass end of course exams.
*Earn 24 total credits
Endorsement #2
The Alabama High School Diploma
with ADVANCED CAREER &
TECHNICAL ENDORSEMENT
*Pass the same coursework as the Advanced Academic
Endorsement with the exception of foreign language.
*Earn 3 advanced career & technical courses
* Pass end of course exams.
*Earn 24 total credits
Endorsement # 3
The Alabama High School
Diploma with CAREER &
TECHINCAL ENDORSEMENT
*Pass all standard coursework –
including 4 credits in
standard English, standard science (biology, anatomy,
environmental science and physical science), math and history.
*Pass 3 career & technical courses
* Pass end of course exams.
*Earn 24 total credits
The Alabama High School
Diploma with NO
ENDORSEMENT
* Pass all standard coursework-
including
4 credits in standard English, standard science (biology, anatomy,
environmental science and physical science), math and history
* Pass end of course exams.
* Earn 24 Credits
Diploma Option #2
THE ALABAMA OCCUPATIONAL
DIPLOMA (AOD)
The recipients of this diploma are students with some
form of a learning disability and have an individualized
education plan (IEP). The AOD is recognized by nondegreed certification programs & some community
colleges.
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
Preparing Students Today for
Success Tomorrow
REQUIREMENT #1:
A student must earn a total
of 24 credits
How does a student
earn a credit?
Earning Credits:
• Credits are earned by semester per subject.
(1st semester = 1st & 2nd nine weeks grade averaged with semester exam
per subject; 2nd semester = 3rd & 4th nine weeks grade averaged with
the semester exam)
* A student must earn a 60 (or higher)
semester average to earn a half credit per
subject.
* Once a student has earned a 60 or higher for
semester 1 & 2 for a specific subject, then he
has earned a credit for that subject.
24 TOTAL CREDITS ARE
REQUIRED
4 Credits - Math
4 Credits - English
4 Credits - Science
4 Credits – Social Studies
1 Credit – L.I.F.E PE
.5 Credit –Computer Applications
.5 Credit – Fine Arts
.5 Credit- Health
5.5 Credits – Electives - the diploma endorsement you
choose will determine some electives you will be
required to take. (Ex. 2 years of a foreign language,
career technical courses)
What is a grade point
average?
• A numeric grade point average is on a
100 point scale.
• A standard grade point average is on a
4.0 scale.
• NOTE: Blount County Schools offer
weighted grades/credit for advanced,
honors, college dual enrollment and AP
core classes.
Weighted VS. Unweighted
credit
• Advanced and honors’ core courses have a 1.15
weighted multiplier.
• AP (Advanced Placement) and college dual enrollment
courses have a 1.25 weighted multiplier.
• Example: A student makes a 90 for the semester in
honors’ biology.
Numeric (weighted) credit - 90 X 1.15 = 103.5
Standard (weighted) credit – 4.0 X 1.15 = 4.6
Numeric (unweighted) credit – 90
Standard (unweighted) credit – 4.0
What is a Standard Grade
Point Average?
continued
Unweighted Standard GPA
• A = 4.0
• B = 3.0
• C = 2.0
• D = 1.0
Weighted Standard GPA
A = 4.0 X 1.15 or 1.25
B = 3.0 X 1.15 or 1.25
C = 2.0 X 1.15 or 1.25
D = 1.0 X 1.15 or 1.25
IMPORTANT!
• Valedictorian (1st) , Salutatorian (2nd) or
Historian (3rd) positions are determined
by a weighted cumulative grade point
average after the first semester of
twelfth grade. In order for a student
to be one of these three ranks, a child
must receive an Alabama High School
Diploma with an Advanced Academic
Endorsement (and take all advanced
classes)
Registration forms are due by
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 to
your homeroom teacher! Be
sure to get your registration
form before you leave.
8th Grade Page