Graduation Requirements

Beginning with the class of 2004, students must complete 22.5 credits and pass the state-mandated High School Graduation Qualifying Exam to receive a diploma. Seniors who do not pass the exam will receive a certificate of attendance. Please contact your counselor with any specific questions.


* Each student must accumulate 22.5 credits to graduate from A.J. Dimond High School.

REQUIRED COURSES

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.

Social Studies – 4 credits
History 9-1, 9-2, History 10-1, 10-2, one semester of Social Science, one semester of an Area Study, one semester of Economics, one semester of U.S. Government. Beginning with the class of 2006, one semester of Alaska Studies is required. Alaska Studies will replace one of the elective choice within the existing Social Studies requirements; students will be allowed to select one elective semester course from the area studies, geography, history or the social sciences to fulfill their final .5 credit social studies requirement. Three years (six semesters) of single world language may waive the additional .5 credit social studies replacement.

Mathematics – 2.5 credits


Five semesters of Mathematics electives. Students must complete coursework 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 in life science. Two semesters must be in 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 course plus .5 additional credit from any physical education class.
a) 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.
b) 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.
c) Students may also waive physical education requirements through Credit-By-Choice, correspondence, college coursework, or field study programs.
d) A maximum of 1.0 waiver of the physical education requirement is available upon completion of one full year of JROTC and the subsequent summer camp.
e) Lifetime Personal Fitness, Healthy Life Skills and First Aid are not repeatable upon receiving a passing grade in a previous semester.
Lifetime Personal Fitness Test Out Movie (requires QuickTime)

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.