Graduation Requirements

The basic graduation requirements are listed below. A student must earn a minimum of 270 credits in order to graduate.

40 Credits - English

• Freshman English A and B-10 credits
• Sophomore English A and B-10 credits
• Jr English A and B-10 credits
• Sr. English-5 credits
• Speech-5 credits

40 Credits - Math

• Math Integrated 1A, 1B, 1C-15 credits
• Math Integrated II A and B-10 credits
• Math (2 math classes) 10 credits could include Integrated III A and B, Algebra 2 A and B, or Intermediate Algebra A and B
• Math Elective-5 credits (This could include Consumer Math, Trigonometry, and Functional Analysis)
• Upper level classes provide other options

30 Credits - Science

• Intro to Chem and Physics-10 credits
• Biology A and B-10 credits
• Chemistry A and B-10 credits
• Upper level classes provide other options

30 Credits - Social Studies

• Global Studies A and B-10 credits
• Modern American Studies A and B-10 credits
• American Government-5 credits
• Geography or other elective-5 credits

20 Credits - Foreign Language

• Two years of a foreign Language is the minimum requirement. Students can earn Foreign Language credit in middle school. Students are required to take Level 1(A and B) and Level 2 (A and B)

10 credits - Fitness

5 credits - Health

10 credits - Fine Arts

15 credits - Careers

70 credits - General Electives

270 TOTAL REQUIRED TO GRADUATE

Additional Requirements

• Career Portfolio
• Community Service-20 hours

CREDIT EARNING OPTIONS:

1. Credit from other high schools:
   New students who wish to register at Durango High School must furnish an offi cial transcript from the previous school attended.
2. Up to 20 correspondence course credits (2 carnegie units) will be allowed with prior approval of the principal or his designee.
3. Credit from participation in interscholastic sports: During their high school career students may earn a maximum of 10 fi tness or general elective credits when they complete 2 seasons of a sport.

Seniors taking correspondence courses to fulfi ll requirements must complete them by May 1st of their senior year in order to participate in graduation ceremonies. Students who are graduating early must complete correspondence courses by the end of the trimester in which they plan to fulfi ll graduation requirements.

FAILED COURSES

Students who have failed one or more courses and who would like to make up credits have several sources from which to choose: summer school, correspondence courses, Pueblo Community College, Fort Lewis College, and DHS programs.

Senior Specifics

CEREMONIOUS GRADUATION CANNOT OCCUR IF ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MET.

In order to earn a DHS diploma, a senior must be in attendance at least one trimester of his/her senior year.

Any student considering early graduation should discuss the advantages and disadvantages
with his/her parents and counselor. A student must complete the following steps:

1. Complete an Early Graduation Application and a graduation contract with an academic counselor to verify that the student is eligible for the Early Graduation Program.
2. Type a letter of intent, addressed to the principal, to graduate early listing specifically the reasons for choosing this alternative.
3. Return the applicaiton, contract, and letter of intent by September 26th to the Counseling Center.
4. Be in good academic standing and passing all his/her classes during last trimester.

Beginning with the Class of 2004, DHS will recognize as Honor Graduates those students whos GPA is 4.0 or higher.

Detailed information is available through the Counseling Office.

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