Graduation Requirements
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Minimum Credit Requirements
Credit is earned for passing work at the end of each semester of study. Most courses, unless stated differently, are assigned one credit per semester. Forty-one (41) credits are required for graduation.Graduation and course requirements are listed below:
Semesters,Years,Content Area
Requirement
Applied Arts
One semester
English
Four years
Fine Arts
One semester
Health
One semester
Science
Two years
Mathematics
Three years, including Algebra and Geometry
Physical Education
Eight semesters, unless one semester is a health class
(Fine Arts Dance may always be taken in addition to P.E. Dance taken during sophomore year will fulfill one credit in P.E. and one credit in Fine Arts)
Social Studies
Two years
(Including one year of U.S. History and Civics)
Traffic Safety
One semester
(A student may substitute Traffic Safety with the completion of a private traffic safety course)
World Language
At least two years of the same World Language.
Other Graduation Requirements:
Computer Literacy
These courses fulfill the Computer Literacy requirement:
Honors Business Incubator
Graphic Design
AP Computer science A
AP Computer Science Principles
Perspectives in World History
World History
Constitution
This requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing the Constitution unit in U.S. History or American Studies or by passing a separate examination.
Consumer Education
Students at DHS can meet this state requirement by earning credit in any of the following courses:
Introduction to Business
Economics
Advanced Placement Economics
Consumer Economics
Contemporary Living
Consumer Math Foundations
General Work Study
Business Math
Dance/Physical Education Option
Fine Arts Dance may always be taken in addition to P.E. During a student’s sophomore, junior and senior years, it may be taken instead of P.E. During sophomore year, a full year of dance fulfills both the P.E. and Fine Arts requirements.
Health/Physical Education Option
The district allows students to be released from one semester of Physical Education during the school year (not Summer School) during the sophomore year when students are required to take Health Education. This reduces the total number of Physical Education credits required for graduation from eight (8) to seven (7). Students may choose to take this semester of Physical Education as an elective and count that credit toward the total required for graduation, but cannot substitute it for Physical Education courses in the junior and/or senior year.
Interscholastic Athletics/Physical Education Option
Juniors and seniors who participate on an interscholastic sport may opt to be released from Physical Education while their sport is in season. Partial credit will be given: for each 22 school days of enrollment in Physical Education, 25 credits will be awarded. Application for this option must occur prior to the end of the second week of school for the fall season and/or the need of the second week following the first practice session for all other seasons.
Traffic Safety
Students must successfully complete this non-credit course or show evidence that they have taken it privately.
