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How to graduate high school with an accredited American High School Diploma

Updated: Sep 15

Updated: 18.01.2024 by Hanlie Wentzel


🎓GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS


In order to earn an accredited American High School Diploma and graduate, a student must meet the following criteria:


✅Earn a total of 24 high school credits (Standard Pathway) or 26 high school credits (Honors Pathway), including the minimum requirements in each subject area. ✅Complete a minimum of six credits through Acellus Academy, including one credit in each of the four core subject areas (math, science, language arts, and social studies) and two elective credits. ✅Be enrolled and active in Acellus Academy for a minimum of twelve months. ✅Be at least 16 years of age. ✅Meet all outstanding financial obligations with Acellus Academy.


📒UNITS OF CREDIT


Graduation from Acellus Academy’s high school is achieved through the earning of credits as specified in this policy. Credits for all high school courses and for graduation requirements will be awarded on a “unit of credit” basis. One “1.0 unit of credit” is equal to a year of instruction within a course. Some courses are offered to students with half credit, “0.5 unit of credit”, is equal to a semester or half a year of instruction within a course.


👩‍🎓👨‍🎓GRADUATION PATHWAYS


Two graduation pathways are available to full-time students. A standard pathway aligns to the minimum credit requirements for graduation set by the State of Missouri. This option is recommended for students that plan to attend a community college or directly enter the workforce after high school.


A more rigorous program of study is recommended for students that plan to apply to competitive four-year colleges with more stringent admissions requirements.


🎓1st Pathway: Standard High School Diploma


– English Language Arts (4.0 credits) – History / Social Studies (4.0 credits) – Mathematics (3.0 credits) – Science (3.0 credits) – Fine Arts (1.0 credit) – Health & Physical Education (1.0 credit) – Practical Arts (1.0 credit) – Electives (7.0 credits) Total: 24 credits


🎓2nd Pathway: (needed to apply for matric exemption in South Africa) High School Graduation with Honors


– English Language Arts (4.0 credits) – History / Social Studies (4.0 credits) – Mathematics (4.0 credits) – Science (3.0 credits) – Fine Arts (1.0 credit) – Language Other Than English (2.0 credits) – Health & Physical Education (1.0 credit) – Practical Arts (1.0 credit) – Electives (6.0 credits) Total: 26 credits (Min. GPA: 3.0)


‼️CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HONORS PATHWAY:


Acellus Academy’s High School Graduation with Honors pathway is recommended for students who plan to apply to competitive four-year colleges with stringent admissions requirements. This is also recommended to qualify in South Africa for a matric with exemption (per USAf’s requirements) to study a degree course at a SA university.


📚SUBJECT AREAS


A. CORE REQUIREMENTS:


1. English Language Arts (Core) Course Options: 📒4.0 Credits Required:


2. History/Social Studies (Core) 📒4.0 Credits Required:


☆Required:

  1. *United States History (1.0)

  2. *US Government and Civics (0.5)

  3. *Personal Finance (0.5)


☆Course Options:



3. Mathematics (Core) 📒4.0 Credits Required:


☆Required:

  1. Algebra I (1.0)*

  2. Geometry (1.0)*

  3. Algebra II (1.0)*


☆Course Options:



4. Science (Core) Course Options: 📒3.0 Credits Required:



Honors or AP level courses are recommended for this pathway.


B. NON-CORE REQUIREMENTS


5. Credits Fine Arts Course Options: 📒1.0 Credit Required:



6. Language Other Than English Course Options:

📒2.0 Credits Required:



Two credit units of a single foreign language are strongly recommended.


7. Health & Physical Education 📒1.0 Credit Required:



8. Practical Arts Course Options: 📒1.0 Credit Required:


CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION



TECHNOLOGY



9. Electives 📒6.0 Credits Required:


At least 1.0 credit within a core content area.


High school courses from any subject area may be used to fulfill the electives requirement, including foreign languages.


TOTAL: 26.0 Credits🏆

Note: To qualify for graduation with honors, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓


📒TRANSFERRING CREDITS


✔Credits earned while attending another high school may be transferable. ✔An official transcript will be required for the transfer of credits. ✔Only credits with a grade of C- or greater (or 70% and above) are eligible for transfer. ✔Acellus Academy reserves the right to decline the transfer of credit(s). ✔As a minimum, students must complete the entire 12th grade through Acellus Academy (minimum of 6 credits).


❗APPLYING FOR GRADUATION🙌🎊🥳🪅


Upon completion of the graduation requirements, the parent may submit a High School Graduation Application by signing in as a parent. The graduation application is located under “Progress Toward Graduation.”


Payment of a graduation application fee will be required to submit the graduation application.


A $100 processing fee is required to submit the application. Additional shipping fees may apply if the diploma will be sent internationally.


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