Denver Public Schools
accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

High School Graduation Requirements
for the 1997&endash;1998 school year


The high school diploma awarded by the Denver Public Schools represents a high standard of quality in curriculum content, instruction, and student learning, and should be maintained as a document that reflects substantial effort by the student and the school district in preparation for the world of work or higher education.

General Information

The graduation requirements outlined in this publication become effective for freshmen students entering high school in the fall of 1997. At least four years (eight semesters) of attendance is required for students to complete grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 with two exceptions:

A high school diploma from the Denver Public Schools certifies that a student has fulfilled all graduation requirements in one of three course areas:

The Work Experience and Study and the Individualized Education Program options are available only to students with identified special education needs. A student's course of study is not reflected in a differentiated diploma, but rather in the student's transcript.

The principal may waive a given requirement if, in the principal's judgment, it is determined to be in the best educational interest of the student.

A complete set of high school course offerings with descriptions is available for review in each high school.

Core Curriculum

Language Arts 40 semester hours (4 units) shall be earned including 10 semester hours (1 unit) of literature and composition. (Introduction to Literature and Composition 1, 2). With permission of the building principal or designee, a student may substitute no more than 10 semester hours (1 unit) of Word Processing 1, 2 or foreign language courses (level 3, 4, or advanced placement). Although the language arts graduation requirement may be satisfied by one of the above substitutions, credit shall not be given in language arts but in the appropriate subject areas.

Mathematics 30 semester hours (3 units) shall be earned. Ten hours (1 unit) of algebra or its integrated equivalent and ten hours (1 unit) of geometry or its integrated equivalent are required, except that the high school algebra requirement will be waived for a student who successfully completes one year of algebra in middle school.

Such students will only be required to complete twenty semester hours (2 units) of mathematics in high school, including ten semester hours (1 unit) of geometry. In no case will students receive high school credit for courses completed in middle school.

Social Studies 25 semester hours (2.5 units) shall be earned: 10 semester hours (1 unit) in American History and 5 semester hours (.5 units) in American Government are required.

Science 30 semester hours (3 units) shall be earned and must include study of the nature of alcohol and narcotics, their effects upon the human system, and environmental concerns.

Physical Education/Dance, Citywide Marching Band, or ROTC 10 semester hours (1 unit) shall be earned.

Elective

85 semester hours (8.5 units) shall be earned.

Classroom-based Instruction Within the 220 semester hours (22 units) required for graduation, 85 semester hours (8.5 units) are available for electives. An extensive elective program is offered in the core curriculum subjects. In addition, students may choose electives in art, business/marketing, consumer and family studies, foreign language, industrial/technology, music, physical education/dance, or other special offerings.

Community-based Experience Within the 220 semester hours (22 units) required for a diploma, a minimum of 190 semester hours (19 units) shall be earned in classroom-based instruction. Students may, therefore, earn and apply a maximum of 30 semester hours (3 units) of community-based experience toward graduation requirements. These experiences may include, but are not limited to, field or service experiences, work experiences, and internships.

Grade Level Classification of Students
Effective August 1995

55 semester hours
110 semester hours
165 semester hours
220 semester hours

Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Award diploma

Transfer Students

A transfer student from outside the Denver Public Schools must meet the requirements to receive a diploma from the Denver Public Schools. All graduation requirements must be met prior to graduation, including attendance in the Denver Public Schools for at least two semesters, with a minimum of 50 semester hours (5 units) of credit earned.

Definitive Requirements

The course requirements stated here are definitive. Individual schools may not impose course requirements beyond those stated as a condition of graduation from high school.

Students with Disabilities

The following diplomas may be earned in the Denver Public Schools:

  • Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of a General Course of Study shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
  • Students with disabilities who meet the requirements of the Work Experience and Study Program shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.
  • Students with severe and profound disabling conditions that interfere with their ability to meet the requirements for either of the above courses of study and have satisfied the requirements of an Individualized Education Program shall receive a Denver Public Schools Diploma.

The course of study completed by the student will be reflected on the student's official transcript.

Total Hours

Two hundred and twenty semester hours (22 units) shall be required in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 for students to graduate from high school and receive a high school diploma. The content area requirements are as listed below.

Courses

Semester Hours Required

Units Required

Core Curriculum

Language Arts
Social Studies
Science
Mathematics
Physical Education or ROTC

Electives

 

40
25
30
30
10
85

 

4
2.5
3
3
1
8.5

Total

220

22

Denver Public Schools
900 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203
720-423-3200

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