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Students in Future-Ready Course of Study and Occupational Course of Study (OCS) must earn at least 22
credits to graduate with a high school diploma.
If your child is in the OCS program, graduation requirements will include employment preparation credits
and work hours.
If your student meets the requirements for the Extended Content Standards, they will receive a Graduation
Certicate, and can participate in graduation ceremonies.
Please see the chart on back for the specic course requirements with current graduation requirements. >
North Carolina High School
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a diploma or certicate, students with disabilities must meet
the state course and credit requirements that are in place the year that they
start high school. Please note that some school districts or individual schools
may have additional requirements to earn a diploma, so be sure to check in
with your child’s IEP Team or guidance counselor.
Student with
Specic Learning
Disabilities in Math
There is specic guidance for students who have been found eligible under the category of Specic Learning
Disability in the area of Mathematics if the learning disability will prevent the student from mastering Math 1.
Under General Statute 115C-81b, these students are not required to pass NC Math 1 to meet state graduation
requirements. Students receiving this exemption must still earn four mathematics credits.
Decisions on course selections for individual students are made at the local level. Check with your child’s IEP
Team if you’re concerned about math requirements and ask to discuss the options and how alternate math
courses might affect planning for college.
Three Pathways:
• Future Ready
Course of
Study
The Path to Adulthood
• Occupational
Course of
Study
• Extended
Content
Standards
The contents of this factsheet were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H235F200001. However,
those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume
endorsement by the Federal Government Project Ocer. PEATC and ECAC are not legal services agencies and cannot provide legal
advice or legal representation. Any information contained in this training is not intended as legal advice and should not be used as
a substitution for legal advice.
Empowering Families Improving Lives
907 Barra Row • Suite 103 • Davidson, NC 28036
Oce: 704- 892-1321 • Fax: 704-892-5028
Help Line: 1-800-962-6817 • Email: [email protected]
www.ecac-parentcenter.org
Below are the specic course requirements with Current Graduation Requirements.
Future Ready Course Of Study:
Leads to NC Diploma
*Students entering 9th Grade
in 2021-2022
Four Sequential English Credits
• English I
• English II
• English III
• English IV
Four Sequential Math Credits
• Math 1
• Math 2
• Math 3
• Math 4
*Courses should align with student’s post high school plans*
In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready
Core mathematics sequence, except as limited by N.C.G.S. §115C-81(b),
the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two
additional courses identied on the NC DPI Math options chart.
Three Science Credits
• Physical Science Course
• Biology
• Earth/Environmental Science Course
Four Social Studies Credits
• Founding principles of USA and NC: Civic
Literacy
• Economics and Personal Finance
• American History
• World History
One Health & Physical Education Credit
• Must successfully complete CPR and meet
Healthful Living Essential Standards as a
requirement for High School Graduation
Accommodations/Alternative assessments for students
identied by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
TWO Elective credits of ANY combination:
• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Art Education (eg., dance ,music, theater arts,
visual arts)
• World Language
Note: For clarication, possible elective combinations may include
2 World Language Credits: or CTE 1 credit and 1 Arts Education;
or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education and 1 World Language; or
combinations from A,B,C.
Four Elective Credits
FOUR-COURSE CONCENTRATION RECOMMENDED
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
• ROTC
• Arts Education (ex., dance, music, theater arts,
visual arts)
• Any other subject area or cross disciplinary
courses (eg.,mathematics, science, social
studies, English, and dual enrollment courses)
Occupational Course Of Study:
Leads to NC Diploma
*Students entering 9th Grade
in 2021-2022
Four English Credits
• English I
• English II
• English III
• English IV
Four Mathematics Credits
• Introduction to Mathematics
• NC Math 1
• Financial Management
• Employment Preparation IV: Math
(Includes 150 work hours)
Three Science Credits
• Applied Science
• Biology
• Employment Preparation I: Science (Includes
150 work hours)
Four Social Studies Credits
• Founding principles of USA and NC: Civic
Literacy
• Economics and Personal Finance
• Employment Preparation I: Citzenship 1A
(Includes 75 work hours)
• Employment Preparation I: Citzenship 1B
(Includes 75 work hours)
One Health & Physical Education Credit
• Must successfully complete CPR and meet
Healthful Living Essential Standards as a
requirement for High School Graduation
Accommodations/Alternative assessments for students
identied by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
TWO Additional Employment Preparation
Education Credits:
• Employment Preparation III: Citzenship IIA
(Includes 75 work hours)
• Employment Preparation III B
(Includes 75 work hours)
The work hours included in employment preparation I, II,
III, IV are as follows:
1. 150 hours of school based training with activities
an experiences that align with students post school
goals
2. 225 hours of community-based training
3. 225 paid employment or 225n unpaid vocational
training, internship, paid employment at community
rehabilitation facility and volunteer/community
service hours
4. Total work hours:600
Four Career/Technical Education
Elective Credits
• A Career Portifolio Complete of the Student’s
IEP objectives
Extended Content Standard
Leads to Certicate of Graduation
*Students entering 9th Grade in
2021-2022
Four ECS English Credits
• ECS English I
• ECS English II
• ECS English III
• ECS English IV
ECS Math
11th Grade Alternative Assessment
(NC EXTEND 1)
ECS Science
11th Grade Alternative Assessment
(NC EXTEND 1)
One Credit of Health/PE
Electives & Other Requirements
Elective and Career
Technical Courses
As Appropriate
** Does not participate in State CTE Post
Assessments**
11th Grade Alternative
Assessment
(NC EXTEND 1)
REV02242022
