GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Class of 2023 & Beyond

MINIMUM CREDITS NEEDED TO ATTAIN PROGRESS TOWARDS GRADUATION
Entering Grade 9; no credits needed.

Entering Grade 10; 6 credits needed.

Entering Grade 11; 12 credits needed.

Entering Grade 12; 18 credits needed.

High School Graduation 22 credits required.

Note: Students who do not attain the recommended credits will be considered “credit deficient,” that is,  those students that haven’t received the number of credits may not have enough credits to graduate with their class. To clarify, students who finish their freshman year with less than 6 credits will be  classified as a “credit deficient sophomore” for the next school year or until the required credits are  obtained (e.g. through credit recovery programs). 

EARNING CLASS CREDIT 

Class credit will be issued at the conclusion of each semester, if the student earns a passing grade in that course.  

All Otsego High School graduates have three required graduation components that must be met for graduation eligibility: 

1. Course Completion
2. Demonstration of Competency
3. Demonstration of Readiness

CORE CURRICULUM & COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS 

Any student graduating from Otsego High School will be required to complete the Core Curriculum. The  credits are as follows: 

English 4 credits (including 1 credit of ELA1 and ELA2)

Math 4 credits (including 1 credit of Algebra 2) 

Science 3 credits (1 credit of Physical Science, 1 credit of Life  Science, 1 credit of Advanced Science) 

Social Studies 3 credits (including Global Studies, US Studies  and Government) 

Fine Arts 1 credits

Health ½ credits 

Physical Education ½ credits (two semesters) or PE Exemption

Personal Financial ½ credit

Management

Electives 5 ½  credits (elective credits are in addition to the specific credits listed above)

Total 22.0 credits 

COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS (PENTA STUDENTS ONLY)

Any student graduating from Otsego High School who is attending Penta Career Center will be required to complete the core curriculum, while earning their Career-Tech Education credits. The credit expectations are as follows: 

English 4 credits (including 1 credit of ELA1 and ELA2)

Math 4 credits (including 1 credit of Algebra 2) 

Science 3 credits (1 credit of Physical Science, 1 credit of Life  Science, 1 credit of Advanced Science) 

Social Studies 3 credits (including Global Studies, US Studies  and Government) 

Health ½ credits 

Physical Education ½ credits (two semesters) or PE Exemption

Personal Financial ½ credit

Management

Electives 6 ½  credits
(elective credits are in addition to the specific credits listed above, and also may include required CTE credits for Penta program expectations)

Total 22.0 credits 

DEMONSTRATING COMPETENCY
Students will demonstrate competency in the foundational areas of English language arts and mathematics or through alternative demonstrations, which include College Credit Plus, career-focused activities, their ACT or SAT scores, or military enlistment.

COMPETENCY SCORES must be met for two Ohio State Tests: Algebra 1 &  English Language Arts 2. The competency score set by the Ohio Department of Education is 684 for both tests. All students are required to take both tests once, and if they do not earn a score that is greater than or equal to 684 they will retake the test a second time after remedial support has been made available. After a second attempt is made, if the student does not meet the competency score then the district can explore alternative options for the student to demonstrate competency.

ALTERNATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF COMPETENCY are available to students who were not successful in earning a score of 684 or better on the Algebra 1 and ELA2 OST. Students are able to meet competency through one of these three options:
OPTION 1: Demonstrate Two Career-Focused Activities

Students can demonstrate competency by meeting two of the following, and one of the two must be foundational.

Foundational
- Proficient on WebXams
- 12 point industry credential
- Pre-apprenticeship or acceptance into an approved apprenticeship program

Supporting
- Work-based Learning
- WorkKeys scores met
- Earn an Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal

OPTION 2: Enlist in the Military

Students can demonstrate competency by enlisting in a branch of the United States military. A copy of the student’s enlistment documentation must be provided to the School Counselor. 

OPTION 3: Complete College Course

Students can demonstrate competency by earning credit for one college-level math and/or college-level English course through Ohio’s free College Credit Plus program. 

DEMONSTRATING READINESS
Students will demonstrate readiness for their post-high school paths by earning a minimum of two diploma seals that allow them to demonstrate important foundational and well-rounded academic and technical knowledge, professional skills, and leadership and reasoning skills. Students are able to earn multiple seals, they are required to meet a minimum of two seals and one seal must be a State seal. Local seals are determined by district, Otsego schools  defined graduation seals and descriptions are below.

• OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal
• Industry-Recognized Credential Seal
• College-Ready Seal
• Military Enlistment Seal
• Citizenship Seal
• Science Seal
• Honors Diploma Seal
• Seal of Biliteracy
• Technology Seal
• Community Service Seal (Local)
• Fine & Performing Arts Seal (Local)
• Student Engagement Seal (Local)
  

Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal: Meet the requirements and criteria established by ODE for the readiness seal, including demonstration of work-readiness and professional competencies.

Industry Recognised Credential Seal: Earn a 12-point approved industry-recognized credential or group of credentials totaling 12 points in a single career field.

College Ready Seal: Earn remediation-free scores on the ACT or SAT

Military Enlistment Seal: Show evidence of enlistment in a branch of the armed services or participate in an approved JROTC program

Citizenship Seal: A student must meet one of the following to earn the Citizenship Seal: 

• Earn a score of proficient or higher on both the American history and American government end-of-course exams; 
• Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on appropriate Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams; or 
• Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in appropriate classes taken through the College Credit Plus program.
• Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in American History or an American Government course.

Science Seal: A student must meet one of the following to earn the Science Seal: 

• Earn a score of proficient or higher on the biology end-of-course exam;
• Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on appropriate Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams; or
• Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an appropriate class taken through the College Credit Plus program.
• Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an advanced science course in grades 11 or 12. 
• Earn a score of Basic on the Science Alternate Assessment for Students with Most Cognitive Disabilities.

Honors Diploma Seal: Earn one of six Honors Diplomas outlined: Academic Honors Diploma, International Baccalaureate Honors Diploma, Career-Tech Honors Diploma, STEM Honors Diploma, Arts Honors Diploma, Social Science and Civic Engagement Honors Diploma. 

Seal of Biliteracy: Meet the requirements and criteria, including proficiency requirements on assessments in a world language and English.

Technology Seal: A student must meet one of the following to earn a Technology Seal: 

• Earn a score that is at least equivalent to proficient on an appropriate Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam; 
• Earn a final course grade that is equivalent to a “B” or higher in an appropriate class taken through the College Credit Plus program; or 
• Complete a course offered through the district or school that meets guidelines developed by the Department. (A district or school is not required to offer a course that meets those guidelines.)
• Earn B or higher in at least TWO Otsego High School technology courses: Computer, Science, Digital Communications, Video Productions, Application Design, Robotics

*Community Service Seal: A student must meet all of the following requirements:

• Completion of one comprehensive project. (Minimum of 10 Hours). It must be approved by the community service board (HS principal, HS counselors, Student Services Coordinator, or designee appointed by superintendent). 
• The project must benefit a non-profit community organization or a school, be completed outside of the school day, and must be done on a volunteer basis (no pay). This project should be independent and not be used in conjunction with another purpose.
• The student must verify his/her work by providing documented hours with verification and a student reflection presentation of their choosing to the community service board.

*Fine & Performing Arts Seal: A student must complete a minimum of four units in visual and/or performing arts; one of the two listed requirements, or a combination of both:

• Participation in a community based or school sponsored fine arts extra-curricular activities.
• Earn a C or better in a high school Fine Arts course. 

*Student Engagement Seal: Complete 4 units of participation in any combination of extracurricular activity or club. Participation is defined as full and active status for the duration of the activity as determined by the coach/advisor. (Clubs Include: DECA, FFA, Credit Union, Knights Have your Back, NHS, Student Council and or any other clubs accepted by the HS Principal).

*Indicates Locally defined seal.