High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school. A high school diploma is awarded after completion of courses of studies lasting four years, from grade 9 to grade 12. It is the school leaving qualification in the United States and Canada.
The diploma is awarded by the school in accordance with the requirements of the local state or provincial government. Requirements for earning the diploma vary by jurisdiction, and there may be different requirements for different streams or levels of high school graduation. Typically they include a combination of selected coursework meeting specified criteria for a particular stream and acceptable passing grades earned on the state exit examination.
Diplomas in specific jurisdictions
Canada
Each province issues their own high school diploma. As in the US, there is no federal control of education in Canada; each province is responsible for its own education system.Alberta
In Alberta, the diploma is known as an Alberta High School Diploma. The Alberta High School Diploma is issued in either English or French. Under current regulations from the Government of Alberta, students must earn a minimum of 100 Credits to obtain an Alberta High School Diploma.The 100 credits required have to include 40 credits from Grade 10, 35 from Grade 11 and 30 from Grade 12.
Individual components of the 100 Credit requirement are English Language Arts - 30 Level, Social Studies 30 Level, Mathematics 20 Level, Science 20 Level, Physical Education 10, Career and Life Management and 10 Credits in any combination from: Career and Technology Studies, Fine Arts, Second Language Courses, Physical Education 20 and/or 30 as well as 10 Credits in any 30-level course. These 30-Level courses may include 30-level locally developed courses, advanced level in Career and Technology Studies, 30-level Work Experience courses, 30-level Registered Apprenticeship Program courses, 30-level Green Certificate Specialization courses, Special Projects 30.
Alberta is one of three provinces or territories that requires grade 12 examinations as part of the high school diploma requirement: See Standardized testing in Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
British Columbia
In British Columbia, the diploma is known as the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation. The province of BC has two distinct graduation programs: the BC Certificate of Graduation and the BC Adult Graduation Diploma. Students also have the opportunity to meet their educational goals through the BC School Completion Certificate.The current Dogwood requirements have been in place since July 1, 2004. Under current regulations, students must earn a minimum of 80 credits to graduate, which must include 48 credits for required courses, a minimum of 28 elective credits, and 4 credits for "graduation transitions", a standards-based assessment evaluated by schools under BC Ministry of Education guidelines. Required courses include, among other things, language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science courses in grades 10, 11, and 12. Part of the evaluation of students includes standardized provincial examinations in a number of the required courses in grades 10 and 12. As part of the 80 credits for the Dogwood, 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level, and must include English 12 or Communications 12.
Ontario
In Ontario, the high school diploma is known as the Ontario Secondary School Diploma . The diploma is awarded to all students who complete the standard Ontario educational curriculum. The requirements for the diploma include compulsory credits in English or French, Mathematics, Science, Canadian History, Canadian Geography, Arts, Health and Physical Education, and a second language; compulsory half credits in Career Studies and Civics; one credit each from three elective groups; 12 optional credits, 4 of which may be obtained through dual-credit classes; 40 hours of community service; and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Those who leave school after completing 14 credits but prior to obtaining the diploma can obtain the Ontario Secondary School Certificate.Quebec
issued the D.E.S., formerly Quebec Certificate of Education before it changed into HS Diploma/Diplôme D.E.S. at the end of secondary V, for graduation from secondary school, a five-year school spanning secondary I to secondary V.Saskatchewan
To earn a high school diploma, Saskatchewan students are required to earn a total of 24 credits from grades 10 to 12. For a regular English program diploma, they must earn 5 credits in English Language Arts, 3 credits in Social Studies, 2 credits in mathematics, 2 credits in science, 1 credit in Physical Education/Health Education, 2 credits in Arts Education/Practical and Applied Arts, and 9 elective credits.United States
In the United States, a high school diploma is usually conferred upon the satisfactory completion of schooling encompassing Kindergarten through the 12th grade and is issued by the student's high school.Alabama
In Alabama, all students are required to earn 24 credits. The required credit distribution is: English, Math, Science, History, PE/JROTC, Health, Career Prep, CTE/arts education/Foreign language, and Electives.County schools offer Honors and AP classes.
California
In California, students are required to successfully meet the following minimum requirements to earn a high school diploma:3 years of English,
2 years of Math,
3 years of History/Social Studies including one year of U.S. history and geography; one year of world history, culture, and geography; one semester of American government and civics, and one semester of economics,
2 years of science including biological and physical sciences,
1 year of either visual and performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education, and
2 years of Physical Education.
Most schools' individual graduation requirements far outweigh the state's minimum standards.
Beginning in 2005–06, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination prior to graduation, which is normally first administered in the 10th grade. Since the 2015–16 school year, passing the California High School Exit Examination is no longer a condition of graduation from high school.
Illinois
In Illinois, students are required to take English, mathematics, science, social science, world language, fine arts, physical education, and elective classes meeting selected criteria as part of the program of study for the High School Diploma. Electives may include advanced courses, career and technical education, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, dual-enrollment, or additional classes in the required subjects that meet school board requirements. An additional requirement was a passing grade on the Prairie State Achievement Examination which was typically taken in Grade 11, prior to being discontinued in 2014.Accommodations are made for select students with unique needs. English Language Learner students may substitute English as a Second Language for English to meet the graduation requirements. Students receiving special education services may complete modified requirements according to an Individualized Education Plan.
North Carolina
In North Carolina high school students are required to obtain 24 high school credits, comprised: 4 English credits, 4 Math credits, 3 Science credits, 4 Social Studies credits, and 1 Health or Physical education credit.Foreign language credits are not generally required for graduation, but a minimum of two credits are required for admission to a UNC system university.
The state offers "foundations" courses for students struggling academically, standard classes, honors and seminar classes for academically advanced students, and Advanced Placement classes, which allow motivated and academically gifted students to obtain college credit while in high school.
The state has 133 Early college high schools which enable students to graduate high school with an associate degree in a career of their choosing offered by the college which is offering said college courses, or to transfer as juniors to a NC university or possibly earn transferable credit to an out of state or private university.
New York
In New York State, the high school diploma awarded is known as the Regents Diploma, which is earned upon successful completion of the Regents Exams in the required subjects. Two levels are offered: the standard Regents Diploma and the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. Both diplomas require 44 credits, including 8 credits in English, 8 credits in Social Studies, 6 credits in Math, 6 credits in Science, 1 credit in Health, 2 credits in Art or Music, and 4 credits in Physical Education; the Regents Diploma requires 2 credits of Secondary Language and 6 credits in Sequence Courses or Electives, while the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation requires 6 credits of Secondary Language and 3 credits in Sequence Courses or Electives.To obtain a Regents Diploma, students are required to achieve passing grades on Regents Exams in Comprehensive English, any one Mathematics course, Global History, US History, any one Science, and Language Other Than English. The subjects for which passing grades on the Regents Exams are required for the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation are Comprehensive English, all 3 Mathematics, Global History, US History, one physical Science, one life Science, and Language Other Than English. A passing score is 65 in each subject; the "With Honors" designation is added if the average score in all required exams is 90 or greater. A "Technical Endorsement" is given to students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education program who additionally complete an approved technical assessment, a work-based learning experience, and a work-skills employability profile.
Students are also able to receive a Mastery in Mathematics and Mastery in Science endorsement, as well as Seal of Biliteracy and a Seal of Civic Readiness.
As a result, the highest level of a New York State Regents diploma is with Honors, Advanced Designation, Mastery of Science, Mastery of Mathematics, with a Technical Endorsement, and both the Seal of Biliteracy and the Seal of Civic Readiness.