CMSD/Ohio's Graduation Requirements

Requirements depend on the year of graduation

NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS CLASS OF 2018 and Beyond:

The graduation requirements for the classes of 2018 and beyond include curriculum and three options to show readiness for next steps in college and careers. Students are those who entered ninth grade for the first time in the 2014-2015 school year.

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  • Graduation Requirements

    Requires students to take and complete a minimum of 22 required credits.

    Minimum

    English language arts

    4 units

    Health

    .5 units

    Mathematics

    4 units1

    Physical Education

    .5 units2

    Science

    3 units3

    Social studies

    3 units4

    World Language

    1 unit

    Economics and financial literacy6

    .5 unit

    Fine arts6

    1 unit

    Senior Seminar

    .5 unit

    Electives

    4 units5

     

    AND
    MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE:
    1. Ohio’s State Tests
      Students earn a cumulative passing score of 18 points, using seven end-of-course state tests. To ensure students are well rounded, they must earn a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies.
      End-of-course exams are:
      • Algebra I and Geometry
      • Biology
      • American History and American Government
      • English I and English II
      Students studying Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in biology, American history or American government may take and substitute test scores for end-of-course state exams to avoid double testing. Students also may substitute grades from College Credit Plus courses in these subjects for end-of-course state exams.
    1. Industry credential and workforce readiness

      Students earn 12 points through a State Board of Education-approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and achieve a workforce readiness score on the WorkKeys assessment. The state of Ohio will pay one time for those who take the WorkKeys assessment.

    2. College admission test

      Students earn “remediation-free” scores in English language arts and mathematics on a nationally recognized college admission exam. The state of Ohio will pay one time for all 11th grade students in the classes of 2018 and beyond to take the exam free of charge.

    More information

    1 Mathematics units must include one unit of algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II. Exceptions: a) Algebra II is not a requirement for students following a career-technical pathway. However, students still must have four units in mathematics, and b) A family may decide that their child is not prepared to meet the graduation requirement for a higher level math course. Or, their child may be planning a career that does not require higher level math. Algebra II may not be a requirement for this student. Here is more information on Curriculum Choices.
     
    2 Physical Education - School districts may adopt a policy that would exempt students who participate in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading for two full seasons or an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program for two years from the physical education requirement. Students must take another course, which cannot be a physical education course, of at least 60 contact hours.
     
    3 Science units must include one unit of physical sciences, one unit of life sciences and one unit of 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. Exception: A family may decide that their student is not prepared to meet the graduation requirement for a higher level science course. Or, their student may be planning a career that does not require higher level science. Higher level science may not be a requirement for this student. Here is more information on Curriculum Choices.
     
    4 Social Studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government in three units required for the classes of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The class of 2021 will need ½ unit in world history and civilizations in their required three units as well as American history and American government.
     
    5 Elective credits 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 Other state requirements - 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. Fine arts is not a requirement for students following a career-technical pathway.
     

    7 The State Board of Education may decide to include an algebra II end-of-course examination in place of the algebra I end-of-course exam beginning for students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2016.

     

     

    Overview of Graduation Requirements from the Ohio Department of Education.

    Ohio Department of Education's Graduation Requirements webpage

    Class of 2023 and Beyond - pdf - English  |  Spanish