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Florida's Standard Diploma Requirements Academic Advisement – What Students and Parents Need to Know

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What are the diploma options?

Students must successfully complete one of the following diploma options:

  • 24-credit standard diploma
  • 18-credit Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL)
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway
  • Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) curriculum
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma curriculum

*A computer science credit may not be used to substitute for both a mathematics and science credit

** Eligible courses are specified in the Florida Course Code Directory.

What is the difference between the 18-credit ACCEL option and the 24-credit option?

  • 3 elective credits instead of 8
  • Physical Education is not required
  • Online course is not required

All other graduation requirements for a 24-credit standard diploma must be met (per section [s.] 1003.4282(3)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes [F.S.]).

What is the difference between the CTE Pathway option and the 24-credit option?

  • At least 18 credits are required
  • 4 elective credits instead of 8
  • 2 credits in CTE courses, must result in program completion and industry certification
  • 2 credits in work-based learning programs or up to 2 elective credits, including financial literacy
  • Physical Education is not required
  • Fine and Performing Arts, Speech and Debate or Practical Arts is not required
  • Online course is not required

What are the additional graduation options for students with disabilities ?

Two additional options are available only to students with disabilities. Both allow students to substitute a career and technical (CTE) course with related content for one credit in ELA IV, mathematics, science and social studies (excluding Algebra I, Geometry, Biology I and U.S. History).

  • Students with significant cognitive disabilities may earn credits via access courses and be assessed via an alternate assessment.
  • Students who choose the academic and employment option must earn at least .5 credit via paid employment.

What are the Diploma Designations?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the state assessment requirements?

Students must pass the following statewide assessments:

  • Grade 10 English Language Arts (ELA) or a concordant score
  • Algebra 1 end-of-course (EOC) or a comparative score

Refer to Graduation Requirements for Florida’s Statewide Assessments for concordant and comparative scores.

Students enrolled in the following courses must participate in the EOC assessments, which constitute 30 percent of the final course grade:*

  • Algebra 1
  • Biology 1
  • Geometry
  • U.S. History

*Special note: Thirty percent not applicable if not enrolled in the course but passed the EOC (credit acceleration program [CAP]).

What is the CAP?

The CAP program allows a student to earn high school credit if the student passes an AP examination, a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or a statewide course assessment without enrollment in the course. The courses include:

  • Algebra 1
  • Biology 1
  • Geometry
  • U.S. History

Where is information on financial aid located?

The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance administers a variety of postsecondary educational state-funded grants and scholarships. To learn more, visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

Where is information on Bright Futures Scholarships located?

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program rewards students for their academic achievements during high school by providing funding to attend a postsecondary institution in Florida. For more information, visit the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program website.

Florida Universities, colleges and careers

State University System (SUS)

Admission into Florida’s public universities is competitive. Prospective students should complete a rigorous curriculum in high school and apply to more than one university to increase their chance for acceptance. To qualify to enter one of Florida’s public universities, a first-time-in-college student must meet the following minimum requirements (credit earned by industry certification does not count for SUS admission):

  • High school graduation with a standard diploma, a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, and admission test scores meeting minimum college-ready test scores per Board of Governors Regulation (BOG) 6.008
  • 16 Credits of approved college preparatory academic courses per BOG Regulation 6.002
  • 4 English (3 with substantial writing)
  • 4 Mathematics (Algebra 1 level and above)
  • 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
  • 3 Social Science
  • 2 World Language (sequential, in the same language or other equivalents).
  • 2 Approved electives

State University System of Florida

The Florida College System

The 28 colleges of the Florida College System serve nearly 800,000 students. Colleges offer affordable, stackable, workforce credentials including certificate programs, associate in science degrees and associate in arts degrees which transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. Many colleges also offer workforce bachelor’s degree programs in areas of high demand. All Florida College System institutions have open-door admissions for students who earned a standard high school diploma, an equivalent diploma or successfully earned college credit.

Florida College System

Career and Technical Colleges and Centers

Florida also offers students 49 accredited career and technical colleges or centers throughout the state, which provide the education and certification necessary to work in a particular career or technical field. Programs are flexible for students and provide industry-specific education and training for a wide variety of occupations.

Secondary Career and Technical Education Directors

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