High School : Graduation Requirements

Credits Required to Graduate Students planning to graduate from Sanborn Central High School must have successfully completed a total of twenty-two (22) academic credits on the Carnegie Unit Scale. Beginning with the Class of 2010, students are required to take the "Advanced" level of study unless the school and parents agree that it is in the best interest of the student to take the "Standard" curriculum. One (1) Carnegie Unit is given to a course that meets 250 minutes per week for a school year and one-half (1/2) Carnegie Unit is given to courses meeting for only a semester. More information about required coursework can also be found at the South Dakota Department of Education's website: www.state.sd.us/deca Classes of 2010 and After Required Courses STANDARD Graduation Requirements ADVANCED Graduation Requirements DISTINGUISHED Graduation Requirements English/Reading & Communication Art 4 credits (1.5 Writing and 1.5 Literature including .5 American Literature and .5 Speech 4 credits (1.5 Writing and 1.5 Literature including .5 American Literature and .5 Speech 4 credits* (1.5 Writing and 1.5 Literature including .5 American Literature and .5 Speech Social Studies 3 credits (1 US History; .5 US Government; .5 Geography; and .5 World History) 3 credits (1 US History; .5 US Government; .5 Geography; and .5 World History) 3 credits* (1 US History; .5 US Government; .5 Geography; and .5 World History) Mathematics 3 credits (Must include Algebra 1) 3 credits (Must include Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry) 4 credits* (Must include Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry) Science 2 credits (Minimum of 2 credits of lab science) 3 credits (Minimum of 3 credits of lab science; must include Biology and Chemistry or Physics) 4 credits* (Minimum of 3 credits of lab science; must include Biology and Chemistry or Physics) Fine Arts 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit* Health or Physical Education .5 credit .5 credit .5 credit Economics or Personal Finance .5 credit .5 credit .5 credit Required Offerings 2 credits Students must select from any combination of: a: World Language; or b. Computer Studies; or c. Approved career and technical education courses 2 credits Students must select from any combination of: a: World Language; or b. Computer Studies; or c. Approved career and technical education courses 2.5 credits a. World Language (2 years same language) - 2 credits* b. Computer Studies - .5 credit* Electives 6 credits 5 credits 2.5 credits TOTAL 22 credits 22 credits 22 credits * Denotes offerings required to meet the South Dakota Opportunities Scholarship. Meeting these course requirements are only one of several criteria to become eligible for the scholarship. South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL 13-33-19) requires all students, beginning with graduates of 2010, to complete the recommended high school program, called the "Advanced" path, but if a parent (or legal guardian) and the school agree that the student should take the "Standard" or basic curriculum, parents may sign a form that will allow the student to graduate meeting the basic high school program. Post-Secondary Requirements For entrance into a South Dakota state supported university, the following requirements apply: The courses in athematics must be in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, or other advanced mathematics. The courses in science must be in Biology, Physics and Chemistry. A third year of laboratory science and a third year of advanced mathematics is required. 1 full credit of fine arts is required. At the time of admission to a South Dakota public university, it is expected that students will have basic keyboarding skills and will have had experience in using the Internet or other wide area networks. These expectations may be met by high school course work or demonstrated by some other means. Incoming students assessed and found deficient in this area may be required to complete specific computer skills courses. The South Dakota Board of Regents has also established the following criteria in order to be admitted to a South Dakota public university: Students who do not meet the minimum course requirement in English, mathematics, laboratory science, and social studies would need to demonstrate knowledge in that area by getting a certain ACT subtest score of 17. In addition to the course requirements, students also must rank in the top 60% of their high school graduating class or obtain an ACT composite score of 18 or higher, or obtain a high school grade point average of at least a 2.6 on a 4.0 scale. The Board of Regents have also set minimum ACT scores in the English and Math subtests in order to take certain courses when they get to college. There are placement scores set for all South Dakota state supported universities. Students who wish to enroll in a course higher than indicated by their initial placement may request an exception and sit for the Compass examination. Students do not receive academic credit for any English or Math course based on Enhanced ACT or Compass scores. Enhanced ACT Score Course Placement English 1 to 17 ENGL 031/032/033 Basic English Skills* 18 to 36 ENGL 101 Composition I Mathematics 1 to 17 MATH 021 Basic Algebra* 18 to 19 MATH 101 Intermediate Algebra* 20 to 24 MATH 102 College Algebra 25 to 36 Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Calculus based on Compass scores * Does not count toward general education requirements. In other words, the student has to take the class and pay for it, but the credits don't count toward graduation. ADVICE: Students should take challenging classes in high school. They should retake the ACT if their scores are below 18 in English and below 20 in Math. The Board of Regents has its own website at www.ris.sdbor.edu for more information. Admission into post-secondary South Dakota technical institutes is based on individual program admission requirements. All applicants must submit a high school transcript and standardized test scores. Admission requirements for many technical programs exceed the requirements for university admission. Students who plan on pursuing technical education are advised to enroll in academically challenging subjects at the high school level, especially mathematics, science and computers. Technical and multi-district courses are strongly encouraged. Post-secondary credits can be earned at the high school level in most programs through articulated credit. The post-secondary technical institutes in South Dakota are Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, and Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City. Requirements for admission into the Minnesota State University System include 4 years of English (including composition and literature), 3 years of Mathematics (2 years of algebra and 1 year of geometry), 3 years of Science (1 year each of biological and physical science), 3 years of Social Science (including 1 year each of U.S. history and geography), and 3 years of Specified Electives (2 years of a single world language and 1 year of either world culture or the arts). Required Courses at Sanborn Central High School The following required courses will be taken by each Sanborn Central student during the years indicated to meet their requirements for receiving a diploma. Ninth Grade English I - 1.0 credit Algebra I or Math Skills I - 1.0 credit Physical Science with Lab - 1.0 credit Computer Applications - Civics - 1.0 credit *Electives - 2.0 credits Tenth Grade English 2 - .5 credit Speech - .5 credit Biology with Lab - 1.0 credit Algebra 2 or Math Skills 2 - 1.0 credit U.S. Geography - .5 credit World Geography - .5 credit *Electives - 2.0 credits Eleventh Grade English 3 - 1.0 credit U.S. History or AP History - 1.0 credit *Electives - 4.0 credits Twelfth Grade English 4 or AP English - 1.0 credit U.S. Government - 1.0 credit *Electives - 4.0 credits * A list of electives will be provided with registration.