School Counseling Services
Graduation Requirements and 4-Year Planning
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (2020-2023)
A student must earn a minimum of 43 credits as specified in the table below to be eligible for an OPRFHS diploma. A credit is granted for any credit-bearing semester course in which a student earns a passing grade. A student must enroll in at least 5 full-credit courses per semester to be considered a full-time student. Requirements may be altered for Special Education students according to the provisions of their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Summer field courses may not be used to satisfy any specific graduation requirement; they may be used only to satisfy the elective requirement.
| Subject | # of Credits | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| English | 8 credits | State requirement |
| Mathematics | 6 credits | State requirement - 2 algebra credits, 2 geometry credits, and 2 other math credits |
| Science | 4 credits | State requirement - 2 credits must be in a laboratory science |
| History | 4 credits | State requirement - 2 world history credits and 2 american history credits |
| Civics | 1 credit | **State requirement beginning with the Class of 2020. Civics must be taken at OPRFHS. Students must also pass the Consitutition test within the Civics class. |
| World Lang/Culture | 1 credit | |
| Fine/Performing Arts | 1 credit | |
| Applied Arts | 1 credit | |
| Computer Proficiency | 1 credit | |
| Financial Literacy | 1 credit | Financial Literacy or AP Economics fulfill this requirement |
| Driver Ed/Safety Ed | 1 credit | Students who take Driver/Safety Ed. outside of the Semester 1 or 2 of the regular school year at OPRFHS must take an additional PE elective credit. |
| Health Education | 1 credit | State requirement - Health Education is taken during the freshman year at OPRFHS as part of the freshman year core P.E. program |
| Physical Education | 6-7 credits |
*7 credits of PE are required for the class of 2020.
*6 credits of PE plus 1 Health and 1 Driver Ed are required for the Class of 2021 and beyond. Students shall be enrolled in a PE, Health or Drivers Ed/Safety Ed for every semester while in attendance at OPRF. A 7th credit of PE is required of students who take Driver/Safety Ed outside of the traditional school day of the regular school year. Students who receive a PE exemption need 1 additional elective credit for each exception. |
| Electives | 7 credits | May be increased due to reasons described above. |
| TOTAL | 43 Credits | *Denotes a state requirement; **Denotes a state requirement starting with the Class of 2020. |
NON-CREDIT STATE REQUIREMENTS
- SAT Exam. The state requires students to take the SAT to receive a diploma. (See State Tests section of this catalog.)
- Writing-Intensive Courses: 4 credits: Two credits of writing-intensive coursework must be earned in English, and the other 2 credits may be earned in English or in any other subject in a course deemed writing intensive. The total number of credits required for graduation is not increased by the writing-intensive course requirement. All English courses are deemed writing intensive.
- Courses that satisfy the World Languages/Culture requirement: All World Languages courses except Etymology; the following History Division courses: Global Studies, Asian Studies, African History, Latin American History, Modern Middle Eastern History A, and AP European History.
- Courses that satisfy the Fine and Performing Arts requirement: All Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre/Broadcasting courses.
- Courses that satisfy the Applied Arts requirement: All Family and Consumer Science, Technology and Engineering, and Business Education courses except Financial Literacy. Computer Applications, and Computer Applications A satisfy the Applied Arts requirement only if the student has met the Computer Proficiency requirement by successfully completing Applied Keyboarding/Introductory Microsoft Office.
- Courses that satisfy EITHER the Fine and Performing Arts requirement OR the Applied Arts requirement: Introduction to Broadcasting, Radio/Sound Production, Television Production, Newscene, Theatre Technology and Design, Tabula/Photo Design Publication, Directing Workshop.
- Courses that satisfy the Computer Proficiency requirement: Applied Keyboarding/Introductory Microsoft Office, Computer Applications, Computer Applications A, AP Computer Science Principles, Student Helpdesk Internship.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 4-YEAR PLAN
Through the Family Access Portal in Skyward, parents and students have the ability to create a 4-year plan based on graduation requirements. The 4-year plan tool is located under the “Career Plan” tab.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
Students planning to attend college should be aware that college admissions requirements may differ from and often exceed the requirements for graduating from high school. Although admissions requirements vary among colleges and universities, students planning to attend college should consider the following recommendations:
- Four (4) years of English
- Four (4) years of Math
- Three (3) years of History/Social Science
- Three (3) years of Laboratory Science
- Two years (2) of a World Language
Counselors discuss college admissions requirements along with academic demands as they help students identify colleges and universities to which they would like to apply. Students will find specific admissions information on college websites. In addition to a student’s specific high school courses and credits, other principal factors in considering an applicant for admission to college include:
- The rigor or difficulty of a student’s high school program
- High school grades
- Test results, including the ACT, SAT, and Advanced Placement tests
- Personal qualities, such as motivation, enthusiasm for learning, social adjustment, emotional, maturity, integrity, responsibility, special aptitudes and skills, achievement, and leadership
- Co-curricular activities and athletic participation, which demonstrate involvement in the life of the school and/or the community