High school diploma
The diploma is awarded by the school in accordance with the requirements of the local state or provincial government.
Typically they include a combination of selected coursework meeting specified criteria for a particular stream and acceptable passing grades earned on the state exit examination.
Alberta is one of three provinces or territories that requires grade 12 examinations as part of the high school diploma requirement: See Standardized testing in Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut In British Columbia, the diploma is known as the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation.
Part of the evaluation of students includes standardized provincial examinations in a number of the required courses in grades 10 and 12.
Beginning in 2005–06, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination prior to graduation, which is normally first administered in the 10th grade.
[3] In Illinois, students are required to take English, mathematics, science, social science, world language, fine arts, physical education, and elective classes meeting selected criteria as part of the program of study for the High School Diploma.
Electives may include advanced courses, career and technical education (CTE), Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), dual-enrollment, or additional classes in the required subjects that meet school board requirements.
[6] To obtain a Regents Diploma, students are required to achieve passing grades on Regents Exams in Comprehensive English, any one Mathematics course, Global History, US History, any one Science, and Language Other Than English (LOTE).
[6] The subjects for which passing grades on the Regents Exams are required for the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation are Comprehensive English, all 3 Mathematics, Global History, US History, one physical Science, one life Science, and Language Other Than English (LOTE).
By Texas state law, completion of the Recommended or Distinguished programs or a program with an equivalent curriculum and level of rigor, along with suitable scores on the SAT or the ACT, is required for a student to be eligible to be considered for admission to a four-year public institution of higher education in Texas.
[10] The General Education Development (GED) credential is offered as an alternative qualification for those who did not successfully earn a high school diploma.
Examination involves taking and passing tests in four subjects: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
A Certificate of High School Equivalency is generally offered to those who successfully complete the GED.
[11][12] Also included is the Diploma Programme Core, which is composed of Extended Essay; Theory of Knowledge; and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) components.
[11][12] The IB Diploma is an internationally recognized academic school-leaving qualification that provides entry to, and in some cases, advanced standing in, university.
International schools following the British Curriculum of education may offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualification, which is considered to be at the same level, in lieu of or alongside a traditional high school diploma.
[13] The Cambridge AICE Diploma would typically be completed by the final year of high school.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is considered equivalent to 3 A Levels, and is made up of 60 credits.
[14] This qualification thus allows for a blended mix of academic studies and vocational training, to prepare students for higher education as well as the workplace.
[14] The Edexcel International Diploma would typically be completed by the final year of high school.
[15][16] Students may elect to take the Baccalauréat Franco Américain in the Literature (L), Economics (ES), and Science (S) courses of study.
[15][16] In England and Wales, the high school diploma is considered to be at the level of the GCSE, which is awarded at Year 11.
