High School Planning Guide : Graduation Requirements

¹All students must also pass AIMS in reading and writing as a graduation requirement.

Arizona Instrument to Measure the Standards (AIMS) Requirement:
Per state statute (A.R.S § 15-701.01) and State Board of Education Rule (R7-7-302), students graduating after January 1, 2006 must meet the standard on the reading, writing, and mathematics portions of AIMS in order to graduate from high school or receive a diploma. Beginning in the spring of their sophomore year, all students will have the opportunity to take the AIMS tests once per semester.  For more information, please refer to the Arizona Department of Education's web page at www.ade.az.gov.

²All students must also pass AIMS in math as a graduation requirement.  Math must include- Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and one other course with Algebra II prerequisite.

³Science must include-one credit from three of the following: Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Earth Science.

⁴All students must take the following courses in order to meet the Social Science graduation requirement:
     a. World History/World Geography (2 semesters)
     b. American and Arizona History (2 semesters, Junior year)
     c. American and Arizona Government (1 semester, Senior year)
     d. Economics/Free Enterprise (1 semester, Senior year)

⁵One credit of Fine Arts is required for these diplomas

⁶Electives include CTE courses found on pages 13-31.

⁷There are a total of seven (7) elective credits, two (2) must be in World Languages and one (1) must be in PE.

⁸There are a total of nine (9) elective credits, two (2) must be in World Languages and one (1) in PE.  The
District recommends that students take additional science, social studies and World Language courses.

⁹Physical Education is an SUSD requirement.  The Governing Board has approved guidelines for waiving this requirement.  See the Physical Education section of this guide and consult a counselor for a complete explanation of this option.

Computer Basics: All students who did not meet the computer proficiency requirement at an SUSD middle school will be required to pass a District high school proficiency test for computer skills or successfully complete the Computer Basics course.  The Computer Basics course, described in the Career and Technical Education section of this planning guide, will count for 1/2 credit of Career and Technical Education.  Transfer students must meet the requirements by passing the high school computer basics proficiency exam or by taking Computer Basics. The computer basics exam is given three times per year at each comprehensive high school.  Students are allowed to take the high school proficiency exam up to three times over the course of high school. If the student fails the exam after the third attempt, the student must enroll in the Computer Basics class. The student must pass both the written and timed keyboarding sections during a single test administration to pass the proficiency exam. A study guide for the proficiency exam may be obtained by contacting the CTE Department at 484-6839.