Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023 › ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Appendix 7-24-A-9

Current through June 25, 2024
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS STANDARD 14
TRADITIONAL DIPLOMA with a DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC
				  ENDORSEMENT
(Entering ninth graders in 2018-2019 and
				  thereafter)
Each student graduating from a secondary school in an
				  accredited school district will have earned the required Carnegie units as
				  specified in the following table. Contents of each required and elective course
				  must include the core objectives identified in the
Mississippi College-
				  and Career-Readiness Standards.
Course titles and identification
				  numbers must appear in the current edition of the
Approved Courses for
				  Secondary Schools of Mississippi
. (See Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 28.2 and
				  28.3, State Board Policy, Chapter 28, Rules 28.2 and 28.3.) Enrollment in
				  online courses listed in this document must have prior approval granted by the
				  principal.
Any student who completes the minimum graduation requirements
				  as specified below and has met the requirements for each of the required high
				  school assessments is eligible to receive a high school diploma. Students
				  enrolled in grades 7 - 12 may be awarded a Carnegie unit credit provided the
				  course content is a Carnegie unit bearing-course in the current edition of the
Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of
				  Mississippi
.
Beginning school year 2018-2019 and thereafter, all entering
				  ninth graders will be required to have a minimum of 28 Carnegie units as
				  specified below to earn a Traditional Diploma with a Distinguished Academic
				  Endorsement. The local school district may establish additional local
				  requirements approved by the local school board as authorized under Miss. Code
				  Ann. §
									37-16-7.
CURRICULUM AREA
CARNEGIE UNITS
REQUIRED
								SUBJECTS
ENGLISH
41
English I
English II
Two (2) additional English Courses above
								English II
MATHEMATICS
42
Algebra I
Two (2) additional Math Courses above Algebra
								I
SCIENCE
43
Biology
Two (2) additional science courses above
								Biology
SOCIAL STUDIES
4
1 World
								History4
1 U.S.
								History4
½ U.S.
								Government4
½
								Economics5
½ Mississippi
								Studies6
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
½7
½ Physical Education
HEALTH
½8
½
Contemporary Health
TECHNOLOGY or COMPUTER SCIENCE
19
THE ARTS
110
COLLEGE- and CAREER-READINESS
111
ELECTIVES
8
Must Include two (2) advanced electives of
								the College Preparatory Curriculum requirements
(This information is available from Institutions of
								Higher Learning.)
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED
2812,13,14
1Carnegie units earned for
				  Compensatory English courses cannot be included as any of the four (4) English
				  Carnegie units required for graduation; however, Carnegie units earned for
				  these courses may be included in the general elective graduation requirements.
				  Compensatory English may be taken only if a credit-bearing English course is
				  taken in the same school year. Accelerated English 9 can be accepted in lieu of
				  English I. Accelerated English 10 can be accepted in lieu of English II.
				  English I is a required prerequisite course for English II. English I may not
				  be taken after a student completes English II.
2Carnegie units earned for
				  Compensatory Mathematics courses cannot be included as any of the four (4) Math
				  Carnegie units required for graduation; however, Carnegie units earned for
				  these courses may be included in the general elective graduation requirements.
				  Compensatory Mathematics may be taken only if a credit-bearing Math course is
				  taken in the same school year. CCR Mathematics Grade 8, Ready for High School
				  Mathematics, and Foundations of Algebra cannot be taken after a student has
				  received a Carnegie unit in the CCR Algebra I course. At least two (2) of the
				  four (4) required mathematics Carnegie units must be earned in courses higher
				  than the CCR Algebra I course. The Ready for High School Mathematics course
				  shall only be available for 8th grade or
				  9th grade students. Foundations of Algebra shall
				  only be available for 9th grade students. MYP
				  Geometry, MYP Algebra II, IB-DP Mathematics I, IB-DP Mathematics II, IB-DP
				  Mathematical Studies I, and IB-DP Mathematical Studies II are allowable
				  mathematics courses higher than Algebra I for IB students. Cambridge IGCSE
				  Mathematics I may be accepted in lieu of Algebra I. One (1) of the four (4)
				  required Carnegie units for science may be in AP Computer Science Principles.
				  If used for a mathematics unit, AP Computer Science Principles cannot then also
				  be used for a science or computer science unit. For approved Career and
				  Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.
3One (1) of the four (4) required
				  Carnegie units for science may be in AP Computer Science Principles. If used
				  for science unit, AP Computer Science Principles cannot then also be used for a
				  mathematics or computer science unit. For approved Career and Technical course
				  substitutions see Appendix A-12. Coordinated Science I or Cambridge IGCSE
				  Biology may be accepted in lieu of Biology. The following courses may be
				  accepted for a science credit above Biology: any AP, Cambridge, or IB-DP
				  science course, any approved dual credit natural or physical science course,
				  any MDE-approved Special Topics in Science course, Botany, Chemistry, Earth and
				  Space Science, Environmental Science, Genetics, Human Anatomy and Physiology,
				  Marine and Aquatic Science I and II, Physical Science, Physics, Zoology I and
				  II, PLTW Principles of Engineering, PLTW Engineering Design and Development,
				  PLTW Human Body Systems, PLTW Medical Interventions.
4Based on the
2022
				  Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards for Social
				  Studies
, AP World History, DC World Civilization II, AP European
				  History, or DC Western Civilization II may be accepted in lieu of the required
				  World History from the Age of Enlightenment to Present course. AP United States
				  History or DC United States History II may be accepted in lieu of the required
				  U.S. History from Post-reconstruction to Present course. A student taking an AP
				  or DC course in lieu of a course with a required end-of-course state test shall
				  take the requisite MAAP test. AP Government and Politics: United States and DC
				  American National may be accepted in lieu of the required United States
				  Government course. IB-DP History of the Americas I may be accepted in lieu of
				  the required U.S. History course for students enrolled in the IB program. IB-DP
				  History of the Americas II may be accepted in lieu of the required Mississippi
				  Studies, Economics, and/or U.S. Government courses for students enrolled in the
				  IB program. MYP U.S. Government may be accepted in lieu of the required
				  Government course for students enrolled in the IB program. Cambridge IGCSE
				  American History or Cambridge International AS level history may be accepted in
				  lieu of the required U.S. History from Post-reconstruction to Present
				  course.
5A.P. Macroeconomics, A.P.
				  Microeconomics, DC Macroeconomics, or DC Microeconomics can be taken in lieu of
				  the required Economics course. For approved Career and Technical course
				  substitutions see Appendix A-12.
6The Carnegie credit earned for a
				  State/Local Government course in any other state by an out-of-state transfer
				  student can stand in lieu of Mississippi Studies or Mississippi State and Local
				  Government. If a transfer student enters without a State/Local Government
				  course, then any other one-half (½) unit social studies course (e.g.,
				  Civics, Law Related Education, Participation in American Democracy, Law and
				  Policy, Contemporary Issues, etc.) may be accepted excluding U.S. Government
				  and Economics. IB-DP History of the Americas II is accepted in lieu of the
				  required Mississippi Studies, Economics, and/or U.S. Government courses for
				  students enrolled in the IB program.
7The graduation requirement for
				  one-half (½) unit in physical education may include participation in
				  interscholastic athletic activities, choral performance courses for show choir
				  (i.e., Choral, Music-Choral-Ensembles), instrumental performance courses (i.e.,
				  Band, Music Instrumental Ensembles, Strings), dance courses or JROTC that meet
				  the instructional requirements specified in the
Fitness through
				  Physical Education Framework
and that are sanctioned by the
				  Mississippi High School Activities Association. Only one (1) elective unit in
				  physical education including participation in interscholastic athletic
				  activities, choral performance courses for show choir (i.e., Choral,
				  Music-Choral-Ensembles), instrumental performance courses (i.e., Band, Music
				  Instrumental Ensembles, Strings), dance courses or JROTC that meet the
				  instructional requirements specified in the
Fitness through Physical
				  Education Framework
and that are sanctioned by the Mississippi High
				  School Activities Association may be applied each year to the minimum 24
				  required Carnegie units. If a local district has graduation requirements above
				  the state requirements, the district may award additional units as outlined in
				  the local school board policy.
8Successful completion of JROTC I
				  and JROTC II shall be accepted as requirement met for Contemporary Health to
				  meet the graduation requirement for one-half (½) Carnegie unit in
				  Health. Dual credit Personal and Community Health may be accepted in lieu of
				  the graduation requirement for one-half (½) Carnegie unit in health. For
				  approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.
9For approved course substitutions
				  see Appendices A-12 and A-13.
10The Arts refers to Dance, Media
				  Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. The following dual credit classes: Music
				  Appreciation, Theatre Appreciation, or Art Appreciation may be accepted in lieu
				  of the art requirement for students. For approved Career and Technical course
				  substitutions see Appendix A-12.
11The purpose of the College and
				  Career Readiness Course is to provide planning and instruction for
				  postsecondary transition. The following courses are approved substitutions for
				  the CCR course:
1. One-credit of Career and Technical Work-Based
				  Learning
2. Dual Credit SmartStart
3. JROTC III
4. Advanced Placement Seminar or equivalent International
				  Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Courses
5. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior MS College and
				  Career Readiness Seminar course for Early College High Schools.
*An out-of-state student who transfers after the completion
				  of the first semester of their senior year may substitute any other one (1)
				  unit social studies course or a combination of one-half (½) Personal
				  Finance and one-half (½) social studies course.
The CCR course may be taught in one (1) of the following
				  sequences:
a. One (1) Carnegie unit Senior year only
b. One (1) Carnegie unit Junior year only
c. One-half (½) Carnegie unit in either freshman,
				  sophomore, or junior year with the remaining one- half (½) Carnegie unit
				  taught in either junior or senior year
d. One-fourth (¼) Carnegie unit per year beginning
				  with the freshman year
12Additional requirements above
				  the Traditional Diploma Option, the 28 Carnegie units and the assessment
				  requirements include:
* Earn an overall GPA of 3.0
* Two (2) elective courses must meet MS IHL CPC recommended
				  requirements
* Must successfully complete one (1) of the following:
* ACT sub scores of 18 in English and 22 in Math
* SAT equivalency subscore
* Must successfully complete one (1) of the following:
* One (1) AP course with a B or higher and take the
				  appropriate AP exam
* One (1) Diploma Program-IB or Cambridge (AICE) course with
				  a B or higher and take the appropriate exam
* One (1) dual credit course earning a B or higher in the
				  course
13Additional recommendations (not
				  requirements) above 28 Carnegie units and assessment requirements
				  include:
* For early graduation, a student should successfully
				  complete an area of endorsement
* Student should take a math or math equivalency senior
				  year
14Courses designed using the
				  Mississippi Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (MS AAAS) shall not be
				  used as substitute courses or electives for students obtaining a traditional
				  academic diploma with or without endorsements.