ASD Makes the Grade

Graduation

Graduation is a time to celebrate successes and new beginnings. And, when it comes to fulfilling our mission of educating students for success in life, the Anchorage School District makes the grade! Our graduates feel well prepared to face their futures in the work-force or post-secondary education Seventy-two percent of graduates give the district's academic program a grade of "A" or "B" and 79 percent rate their teachers as excellent or good. Former students named caring, knowledgeable teachers as the best aspect of their high school experience.

2008-09 graduation dates and Webcast information

Please contact the High School Education Department at 907-742-4256 or mcnaughton_kelly@asdk12.org if you have questions.

Graduation Webcasts

Loved ones who are unable to travel to Anchorage for graduation ceremonies, including military members stationed overseas, will be able to watch some of the ASD graduation ceremonies live via the Web. AT&T Alascom will provide free live Web streaming of the district's eight comprehensive high school ceremonies held at Sullivan Arena. Afterwards, the videos may be downloaded and saved to personal computers.

Go to AT&T Alascom's Web site to view the Webcasts. Look for details in the "What's New" section. See the table above for Webcast details noted with * and #.

Requirements

	Subject	Credits required
	Language Arts	4 credits (8 semesters)
	Social Studies	4 credits (8 semesters)
	Mathematics	2½ credits (5 semesters)
	Sciences	3 credits (6 semesters)
	PE/Health	1½ credits (3 semesters)
	Electives	7½ credits (15 semesters)
	Total	22½ credits
	All students must pass the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (reading, writing and math) prior to receiving a diploma, as well as fulfill ASD graduation requirements.

Language Arts — 4 credits

English 9-1, 9-2, English 10-1, 10-2, and one semester of Composition during grades 11 or 12 plus three semesters of electives in grades 10, 11, or 12.

Social Studies — 4 credits

World History 9- 1 and 9- 2, U.S. History 10- 1 and 10 -2, one semester of Alaska Studies, one semester of Economics, one semester of United States Government, one semester of a Social Studies elective. Students may waive the .5 credit social studies requirement by completion of Level III of a world language (Latin, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish); immersion students may waive the .5 social studies requirement by completion of Japanese for Fluent Speaker II or Pacesetter Spanish.

Mathematics — 2.5 credits

Five semesters of Mathematics electives. Students must complete course work containing or founded in Algebra I level math skills or demonstrate Algebra I level skills by examination.

Sciences — 3 credits

Three years (six semesters) of science credit are required. Two semesters must be life science. Two semesters must be physical science.

Physical Education/Health Education — 1.5 credits

Three semesters of physical education graduation requirements can be fulfilled by passing the required Lifetime Personal Fitness course plus .5 credit from the lifetime activity courses (noted as such in course listings) plus .5 additional credit from any physical education class.

1. Students may obtain a waiver of .25 of the physical education graduation requirement for each full season of Anchorage School District sports participation. Elective credit must be earned to replace the Physical Education/Health Education requirement that is waived. A waiver of the physical education requirement under this section does not affect the overall minimum requirements of 22.5 credits.
2. Lifetime Personal Fitness can be waived by:
   1. successful completion of a fitness and written test administered by Health and Physical Education Department; or
   2. participation in two seasons of ASAA-sanctioned extracurricular sports and successful completion of the written test administered by the Health and Physical Education Department.
3. Students may also waive physical education requirements through Credit-By-Choice, correspondence, college coursework, or field study programs.
4. A maximum of 1.0 waiver of the physical education requirement is available upon completion of 1 full year of JROTC and the subsequent summer camp.
5. Lifetime Personal Fitness, Healthy Life Skills and First Aid are not repeatable upon receiving a passing grade in a previous semester.

Electives — 7.5 credits

Fifteen semester courses have not been specified so as to provide students an opportunity to pursue individual educational goals. Electives may include additional courses in Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, World Languages, Physical Education and Career Technology.

NOTES:

A student may be considered for graduation when he or she has acquired a minimum of 22.5 credits after grade 8 in required and elective subjects. Depending upon High School Graduation Qualifying Exam results, either a diploma or certificate of achievement will be awarded.

Seniors entering the ASD for the first time may graduate by meeting requirements of their previous school when the ASD requirements create hardship.