Unless otherwise exempted, each student must successfully accomplish the following in order to graduate from high school.
1.
Complete all District graduation requirements that are in addition to the State requirements.
1.
All students are subject to the 22-credit graduation requirement.
2.
All students must be enrolled in a minimum of six contact periods.
Lunch periods are not considered a contact period. All students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 full credit academic courses.
3.
Students must pass, two semesters of English 1 and two semesters of
English 2. All students must enroll in and pass Communicating. All students must enroll in and pass English 3 or Tech Prep English 3.
Twelfth grade students need one more credit of English, one-half of which may come from the Speech & Theater Department. It is strongly recommended that students taking technical courses or students who plan to attend a technical college take Tech Prep English 4.
4.
JROTC is an elective credit in Science; however, it cannot be used to fulfill the required science for graduation. One year of JROTC will waive one semester of required Physical Development.
5.
A maximum of two Physical Development credits may be counted toward the 22 units required for graduation.
6.
Credit earned in a community college may be accepted toward high school graduation if prior approval has been obtained from the high school principal.
7.
Credit earned in correspondence courses may be accepted toward high school graduation if prior approval has been obtained from the high school principal.
8.
Credit earned in military service may be accepted toward high school graduation.
9.
Credit earned while institutionalized may be accepted toward high school graduation.
2.
Complete all courses as provided in The School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-22, according to the year in which a student entered the 9 th
grade.
3.
Complete all minimum requirements for graduation as specified by the Illinois
State Board of Education rule, 23 Ill. Admin. Code 1.440.
4.
Pass an examination on patriotism and principles of representative government, proper use of the flag, methods of voting, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
5.
Take the Prairie State Achievement Examination, unless the student is exempt according to 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64.
The Superintendent or designee is responsible for: (1) maintaining a description of all course offerings that comply with the above graduation requirements, (2) notifying students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) of graduation requirements, (3) developing the criteria for determining when a student accomplishes number 5 as well as a method for

recording that fact in the student’s school record, and (4) taking all other actions to implement this policy.
In addition, no student shall receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination on patriotism and principles of representative government, proper use of the flag, methods of voting, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Building
Principal is responsible for notifying students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) of the
District’s graduation requirements.
Early Graduation
The Superintendent or designee shall implement procedures for students to graduate early, provided they finish 7 semesters of high school and meet all graduation requirements.
Certificate of Completion
A student with a disability who has an individualized education program prescribing special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the student’s 4 years of high school, qualifies for a certificate of completion after the student has completed 4 years of high school. The student is encouraged to participate in the graduation ceremony of his or her high school graduation class. The
Superintendent or designee shall provide timely written notice of the requirement to children with disabilities and their parent(s)/guardian(s).
Veterans of World War II or the Korean Conflict
Upon application, an honorably discharged veteran of World War II or the Korean
Conflict will be awarded a diploma, provided he or she: (1) resided within the area currently within the District at the time he or she left high school, (2) left high school before graduating in order to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, and (3) has not received a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
In the 2006–2007 school year, the Alton High School graduation requirements were revised to meet the expectations of :

1.
Illinois State requirements (Public Act 94-0676 SB 575)
2.
2004-2005 Alton High School Graduation Requirement Committee
3.
School Improvement Team Planning Retreat from May 12 & May 13, 2006
The following rationale regarding the revisions of the Alton High School graduation requirements have been provided :
1.
Students are subject to the 22-credit graduation requirement.
2.
All sophomores are required to take a full year of English. Exposing sophomores to a full year of English will better prepare them for when they take the PSAE their junior year.
3.
3 credits of math are required for graduation. This will bring Alton High
School into alignment with the Illinois State mandates (Public Act 94-0676-SB
575).
1.
Freshman must take Math that consists of Algebraic/Geometrical concepts.
4.
Social Studies elective must consist of Geography or World History. It is our belief that in today’s world, students need to have more exposure and be educated to other cultures around the world.
5.
American Minorities will be dropped as a freshman course and will be developed into an upper level course with more rigor – African American
History Honors.
1.
Freshman students would be moved into Geography, which will help them focus on skills needed in using charts and graphs for improvement on the PSAE.
6.
Increase Science credits from 1.5 to 2 credits and make Biology 1 a required class. Science will be a focus on the future PSAE. Exposing students to these concepts during their first three years before they take the PSAE will be instrumental in their success on the test.
1.
A Science Survey Course has been developed and implemented for freshman and sophomores. This course is a yearlong course consisting of particular aspects of science related to the science subject matter covered on the PSAE (since moved to the second semester of the junior year in ’07-’08).
7.
The Career Development course for a 1/4 credit will connect with the 1/4 credit of Auto Safety. This is due to Consumer Education increasing to a 1/2 credit.
The Career Development course is an instrumental part of the Smaller Learning
Community initiative involving Career Academies.
8.
Students will take Consumer Education in their junior/senior year and change from a 1/4 credit to a 1/2 credit. Moving Consumer Education to the junior and

senior year is more applicable because many of the students are becoming involved in many of the issues covered in Consumer Education.
9.
Physical Education:
1.
Freshman will take PE in one of the first two semesters. Freshman will not be permitted to take PE in the summer before their freshman year, unless they are in Marching 100 or a specific sport PE class.
2.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors can take PE class in summer school before that year or in the 1 st
/2 nd
semester of that year.
3.
More than 3 semesters can be taken, but only 1.5 credits will count towards graduation.
4200 Humbert Rd., Alton, IL 62002Phone: 618-474-2700 Fax: 618-463-2092