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Louisiana's Graduation Options

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College & Career Diploma

Career Diploma

Career/Technical Endorsement

Academic Endorsement

Basic Core Curriculum

(Incoming Freshmen 2008-2009 and beyond)

English - 4 Units

  • English I, II, III, IV or Senior Applications in English


Math - 4 Units

  • Algebra I, Applied Algebra I or Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2
  • Geometry or Applied Geometry
  • Remaining unit from the following: Algebra II, Financial Mathematics, Math Essentials, Advanced Mathematics I, Advanced Mathematics II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, or a local math elective approved by BESE


Science - 3 Units

  • Biology
  • 1 unit from the following Physical Science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physics of Technology I
  • 1 unit from the following: Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, an additional course from the physical science cluster, or a local science elective approved by BESE
    • Students may not take both Integrated Science and Physical Science
    • Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course

Social Studies - 3 Units

  • American History, 1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government, 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise; and one of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History

**Health - 1/2 Unit


Physical Education - 1 1/2 Units

  • Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of 4 units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation
  • NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible

Electives - 8 Units


Total - 24 Units

** JROTC I & II may be used to meet the Health Education Requirements if all conditions are met. Please refer to Section 2347 of Bulletin 741.

LA Core 4 Curriculum

(Incoming Freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond)

English - 4 Units

  • English I, II, III, IV

Math - 4 Units

  • Algebra I, Applied Algebra I, or
    Algebra I - Pt. 2
  • Geometry or Applied Geometry
  • Algebra II
  • Remaining unit from the following: Financial Math, Math Essentials, Advanced Math/Precalculus, Advanced Math-Functions and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Math, or a local math elective approved by BESE

Science - 4 Units

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • 2 units of the following: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Physics I, Physics of Technology I, Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, or a local science elective approved by BESE*

Social Studies - 4 Units

  • 1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government
  • 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise
  • American History
  • 1 unit from the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History
  • 1 unit from the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, AP European History, Civics (second semester - 1/2 credit), Law Studies, Psychology, Sociology, or African-American Studies*

**Health - 1/2 Unit


Physical Education - 1 1/2 Units

  • Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of 4 units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation
  • NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible

Foreign Language - 2 Units

  • •2 units from the same foreign language or 2 units of speech

Arts - 1 Unit

  • 1 unit Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit of Art (§2333), Dance (§2337), Music (§2355), Theatre Arts (§2333), or Applied Arts*

Electives - 3 Units


Total - 24 Units
*Approved IBC-related course may be substituted for the 4th science or social studies or for the art course if the course is in the student’s career area of concentration.

English - 4 Units

  • English I, English II
  • The remaining unit shall come from the following:
    • Technical Reading and Writing
    • Business English
    • Business Communications
    • Using Research in Careers (1/2 credit)
    • American Literature
    • Film in America (1/2 credit)
    • English III
    • English IV
    • Senior Applications in English
    • A course developed by the LEA and approved by BESE


Math - 4 Units

One of the following:
  • Algebra 1 (1 unit) or
  • Algebra 1-Part 1 and Algebra I-Part 2 (2 units) or
  • Applied Algebra (1 unit)
  • The remaining units come from the following: Geometry or Applied Geometry, Technical Math, Medical Math, Applications in Statistics and Probability, Financial Math, Math Essentials, Algebra II, Advanced Math-Pre-Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, or local course(s) approved by BESE

Science - 3 Units

  • Biology
  • 1 unit from the following Physical Science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, ChemCom, Physics I, or Physics of Technology I
  • The remaining unit shall come from the following: Food Science, Forensic Science, Allied Health Science, Basic Body Structure and Function, Basic Physics with Applications, Aerospace Science, Earth Science, Agriscience II, Physics of Technology II, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Science, Biotechnology in Agriculture, Environmental Studies in Agriculture, Health Science II, EMT-Basic, an additional course from the Physical Science cluster, or local course(s) approved by BESE


Social Studies - 3 Units

  • American History
  • Civics (1/2 Unit)
  • Free Enterprise (1/2 Unit)
  • 1 unit from the following: Child Psychology and Parenthood Education, Law Studies, Psychology, Sociology, World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, Economics, American Government, African American Studies, or local course(s) approved by BESE

**Health - 1/2 Unit


Physical Education - 1 1/2 Units


Career and Technical Education - 7 Units

  • Education for Careers or Journey to Careers
  • 6 credits required for a career Area of Concentration

  • Total - 23 Units

TOPS Opportunity

  • 4 Units of English
  • 3 Units of Math
  • 3 Units of Science
  • 3 Units of Social Studies
  • 1 additional unit of Math or Science
  • 1/2 Unit of Health
  • 1 1/2 Units of PE
  • 1 Unit of Fine Arts
  • 2 Units of Foreign Language
  • 1/2 Unit of Computer-Related Course
  • 4 Optional Electives

TOPS Tech

  • 4 Units of English
  • 3 Units of Math
  • 3 Units of Science
  • 3 Units of Social Studies
  • 1/2 Unit of Health
  • 1 1/2 Units of PE
  • Other Required Credits: Option 1 (4 Credits) OR Option 2 (6 credits)


LA Core 4 (2011-2012)

  • 4 Units of English
  • 4 Units of Math
  • 4 Units of Science
  • 4 Units of Social Studies
  • 1/2 Unit of Health
  • 1 1/2 Units of PE
  • 1 Unit of Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit of Art, Music, Dance, or Theater
  • 2 Units of Speech or
  • Foreign Language
  • 3 Electives including Computer-Related Course


High School Area of Concentration

Students must complete four elective credits in an area of concentration and two related elective credits. The areas of concentration shall be developed locally and approved by BESE.

GEE

Pass all four components with a score of Basic or above OR one of the following combinations with the English Language Arts score at Basic or above:
  • Approaching Basic, 1 Mastery or Advanced, Basic or above in the remaining two
  • Approaching Basic, 2 Mastery or above

GPA/ACT

TOPS Opportunity GPA (2.5); ACT of 20 (or state average) or Silver Level on WorkKeys

Other Performance Indicators

  • BESE-approved IBC; OR 3 college hours in a career technical area that articulate to a postsecondary institution, either by actually obtaining the credits and/or being waived from having to take such hours; AND
  • A minimum of 90 work hours of work-based learning experience OR a Senior Project related to student's area of concentration with 20 hours of related work-based learning and mentoring

TOPS Opportunity

  • 4 Units of English
  • 3 Units of Math
  • 3 Units of Science
  • 3 Units of Social Studies
  • 1 additional unit of Math or Science
  • 1/2 Unit of Health
  • 1 1/2 Units of PE
  • 1 Unit of Fine Arts
  • 2 Units of Foreign Language
  • 1/2 Unit of Computer-Related Course
  • 3 1/2 Optional Electives

LA Core 4 + (2011-2012)

  • 4 Units of English
  • 4 Units of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and one of: Advanced Math I or II, Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Probability & Statistics, or Discrete Math)
  • 4 Units of Science (Biology, Chemistry, one Advanced Science, and one other Science)
  • 4 Units of Social Studies
  • 1/2 Unit of Health
  • 1 1/2 Units of PE
  • 1 Unit of Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit of Art, Music, Dance, or Theater
  • 2 Units of Foreign Language
  • 3 Units of Electives

High School Area of Concentration

Students satisfy this requirement by completing the Core Courses listed above.

GEE

Pass all four components with a score of Basic or above OR one of the following combinations with the ELA score at Basic or above:
  • Approaching Basic, 1 Mastery or Advanced, Basic or above in the remaining two
  • Approaching Basic, 2 Mastery or above

GPA/ACT

TOPS Opportunity GPA (2.5); ACT of 23

Other Performance Indicators

  • Senior Project OR
  • 1 Carnegie unit in an AP course with a score of 3 or higher on the AP exam OR
  • 1 Carnegie unit in an IB course with a score of 4 or higher on the exam OR
  • 3 college hours of non-remedial, articulated credit in core area (Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, or ELA)

AP: Advanced Placement
BESE: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
ELA: English Language Arts
GPA: Grade Point Average
IBC: Industry-Based Certification
LEA: Local Education Aagency
PE: Physical Education
TOPS: Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program for Students

 


Requirements for Incoming Freshmen prior to 2008-2009
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