Advanced Studies Diploma: Graduation Requirements

News & Announcements

On August 28, 2024, the Board of Education reviewed and adopted the updated Approved Courses to Satisfy Graduation Requirements for the Standard, Advanced Studies, and Modified Standard Diplomas in Virginia Public Schools. The document includes the following changes:  

• SCED codes in mathematics updated to reflect the National SCED code database,  
• Clarified language on page 17 regarding provisions in Economics and Personal Finance for students with disabilities,  
• Added a table to reflect courses that can be used to meet the physical education requirement for graduation, including the addition of JROTC and Unified Physical Education as substitute courses for 9th and 10th grade physical education, and  
• Minor changes to improve accuracy, readability, and formatting. 

Division leaders should review this document and work with principals, school counselors, and student information systems staffing to update current SCED codes for courses and to plan for any changes to a division’s Program of Studies as a result of these updates.  

For students entering the ninth grade in 2018-2019 and beyond

The graduation requirements for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2018-2019 and beyond are prescribed by the Board of Education in section 8VAC20-131-51 of the Standards of Accreditation (SOA).  Additional clarification on some provisions of the Standards of Accreditation, including graduation requirements, is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC-20-131) (Word).

To graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma, a student must earn at least 26 standard credits and 5 verified credits. Standard credits are earned by successfully completing required and elective courses; verified credits are earned by successfully completing required courses and passing associated end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the state Board of Education. More information on standard credits, verified credits, and locally awarded verified credits can be found on the Credits for Graduation webpage.

• Approved Courses (Word)

Please note: Your school counselor can tell you which courses are offered by your school to fulfill the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma.

Additional Requirements for Graduation

• AP, Honors, IB, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, or CTE Credential -  Students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by Board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential approved by the board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.

• Virtual Course - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a non-credit-bearing course or a required or elective credit-bearing course that is offered online.  Guidance on this requirement is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC20-131) (Word).

• First Aid, CPR, and AED Training - Students shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that documents that they cannot successfully complete this training shall be granted a waiver from this graduation requirement, as provided in 8VAC20-131-420(B).

• Demonstration of the 5 C’s – In accordance with the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, students shall acquire and demonstrate foundational skills in Virginia’s 5 C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.
  
  

For students who entered the ninth grade in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018

The graduation requirements for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018 can be found in section 8VAC20-131-50 of the SOA.  To graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma for students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in 2011-2012 through 2017-2018, a student must earn at least 26 standard units of credit and at least 9 verified units of credit.

• Approved Courses – Effective for Students Who Entered Ninth Grade for the First Time in 2010-2011 and Beyond (Word)

Resources

• Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8VAC20-131)
• Credits for Graduation webpage
• IB Science Courses and Graduation Requirements document
• Sequential Elective Temporary Flexibility - Superintendent's Memo #067-21
• Emergency Guidelines for Locally-Awarded Verified Credits