What It Takes to Earn an Ohio Diploma
Graduating Classes through 2013
There are testing requirements and curriculum requirements connected with the Ohio diploma; students
must meet both requirements in order to earn an Ohio diploma. See the two checklists below for more
information about these two diploma requirements. The third section provides information about the
Alternative Pathway for Eligibility for a Diploma.
I. Curriculum Requirements
II. Graduation Tests Requirements
For Students Who Need to Pass the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT):
A) Notify student and parents about:
Importance of earning a diploma;
Need to meet both testing and curriculum requirements to earn a diploma;
Any additional local graduation requirements;
District’s policy about participation in commencement ceremony.
B) How to access information (e.g., test blueprints, previous tests) on the Web about OGT:
• http://www.ode.state.oh.us and search keyword: OGT.
CURRICULUM STATE ADDITIONALCREDITSCREDITS HONORS
REQUIREMENTS MINIMUM LOCAL CREDITS EARNED TO DATE REMAINING DIPLOMA CREDITS
English language arts 4 units ________ _________ _________ _________
Health ½ unit ________ _________ _________ _________
Mathematics 3 units ________ _________ _________ _________
Physical education ½ unit ________ _________ _________ _________
Science 3 units* ________ _________ _________ _________
Social studies 3 units** ________ _________ _________ _________
Electives 6 units*** ________ _________ _________ _________
* Science units must include 1 unit of biological sciences and 1 unit of physical sciences.
** Social Studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government.
*** Electives units must include 1 unit or 2 half units in Business, Technology, Fine Arts or Foreign language. Source: Ohio
Department of Education (Rev. August 2008) •••• Source: Ohio Department of Education (Rev. August 2008) •••••• Graduation
C) OGT test administrations before graduation:
Spring of 10th grade
Summer between 10th and 11th grade (optional)
Fall and spring of 11th grade
Summer between 11th and 12th grade (optional)
Fall and spring of 12th grade
D) How to access previous graduation tests:
• OGT Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Science and Social Studies
• http://www.ode.state.oh.us and search keywords: released test materials.
What It Takes to Earn an Ohio Diploma
Graduating Classes of 2014 and Beyond
Students must meet both testing requirements and curriculum requirements in order to earn a diploma.
These requirements apply to students entering their freshman year in 2010 and beyond. See the two
checklists below for more information about these two diploma requirements. The third section provides
information about an alternative way to meet the testing requirements.
I. Curriculum Requirements
STATE ADDITIONAL CREDITS CREDITS HONORS
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS MINIMUM LOCAL CREDITS EARNED TO DATE REMAINING DIPLOMA CREDITS
English language arts 4 units ________ _________ _________ _________
Health ½ unit ________ _________ _________ _________
Mathematics 4 units1 ________ _________ _________ _________
Physical education ½ unit2 ________ _________ _________ _________
Science 3 units3 ________ _________ _________ _________
Social studies 3 units4 ________ _________ _________ _________
Electives 5 units5 ________ _________ _________ _________
Other requirements6
Economics and
financial literacy6 Requirement met in ______________________ class/grade level.
Fine arts6 Requirement met in ______________________ class/grade level.
1 Mathematics
units must include 1 unit of algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II.
Ohio Core allows school districts to adopt a policy that would exempt students who participate in interscholastic athletics, band
or cheerleading for two full seasons from the physical education requirement. Students must take another course of at least 60
contact hours in its place.
3 Science units must include 1 unit of physical sciences, 1 unit of life sciences and 1 unit advanced study in one or more of the
following sciences: chemistry, physics, or other physical science; advanced biology or other life science; astronomy, physical geology,
or other earth or space science.
4 Social studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government.
5 Electives units must include one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and
consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education or English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies courses not
otherwise required.
6 All students must receive instruction in economics and financial literacy during grades 9-12 and must complete at least two
semesters of fine arts taken any time in grades 7-12. Students following a career-technical pathway are exempted from the fine arts
requirement.
2 The
II. Graduation Tests Requirements
For Students Who Need to Pass the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT):
A) Notify student and parents about:
• Importance of earning a diploma;
• Need to meet both testing and curriculum requirements to earn a diploma;
• Any additional local graduation requirements;
• District’s policy about participation in commencement ceremony.
Source: Ohio Department of Education (Rev. Jan. 7, 2011)
B) How to access information (e.g., test blueprints, previous tests) on the Web about OGT:
• http://education.ohio.gov and search keyword: OGT.
C) OGT test administrations before graduation:
• Spring of 10th grade
• Summer between 10th and 11th grade (optional)
• Fall and spring of 11th grade
• Summer between 11th and 12th grade (optional)
• Fall and spring of 12th grade
D) To access previous graduation tests, go to http://education.ohio.gov and search keywords: previous OGT tests. B) How to access information (e.g.,
test blueprints, previous tests) on the Web about OGT:
• http://education.ohio.gov and search keyword: OGT.
C) OGT test administrations before graduation:
• Spring of 10th grade
• Summer between 10th and 11th grade (optional)
• Fall and spring of 11th grade
• Summer between 11th and 12th grade (optional)
• Fall and spring of 12th grade
D) To access previous graduation tests, go to http://education.ohio.gov and search keywords: previous OGT tests.
Comparison of Diplomas with Honors Criteria
Students need to fulfill all but one of the applicable criteria for the Diploma with Honors.
Subject
English
Mathematics
International Baccalaureate
Diploma with Honors for
Classes of 2012 and Beyond
***
4 units, plus the two required
International Baccalaureate
essays
4 units, including Algebra I,
Geometry, Algebra II or the
equivalent and another higher
level course or a four-year
sequence of courses that contain
equivalent content
Academic Diploma with
Honors for Classes 2011 and
Beyond
Career-Technical
Diploma with Honors for Classes
2012 and Beyond
4 units
4 units
4 units, including Algebra I,
Geometry, Algebra II or the
equivalent and another higher level
course or a four-year sequence of
courses that contain equivalent
content
4 units, including Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra II or the equivalent and another
higher level course or a four-year
sequence of courses that contain
equivalent content
Science
4 units, including physics and
4 units including biology,
chemistry
chemistry and at least one
additional advanced science ****
Social Studies
4 units
4 units
Foreign Language
4 units minimum, including at
least 2 units in each language
studied
Fine Arts
1 unit
3 units (must include no less than 2 N/A
units for which credit is sought), i.e.,
3 units of one language or 2 units
each of two languages
1 unit
N/A
Electives
N/A
N/A
4 units, including two units of
advanced science ****
4 units
Grade Point Average 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
3.5 on a 4.0 scale
4 units of Career-Technical minimum.
Program must lead to an industry
recognized credential, apprenticeship, or
be part of an articulated career pathway
which can lead to post secondary credit
3.5 on a 4.0 scale
ACT/SAT Score
[excluding scores
from the writing
sections]*
Additional
Assessment
27 ACT / 1210 SAT
27 ACT / 1210 SAT
27 ACT / 1210 SAT
Must complete criterionreferenced assessments in a
minimum of six academic
disciplines
N/A
Achieve proficiency benchmark
established for appropriate Ohio CareerTechnical Competency Assessment or
equivalent