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Graduation Requirements

New Graduation Requirements for Class of 2022

In April 2018, our Board of Education approved new graduation requirements that align with the a-g requirements, beginning with the Class of 2022 (students who enter 9th grade in Fall 2018). The requirements include students taking a third year of math and a second year of language. Over the past few years, we have been moving in this direction.

  • When the Board approved the requirements in Spring 2018, 77% of the current core classes in our high schools already met the a-g requirements.
  • Only 18 freshmen sections (classes) in the entire district needed to change to align with this new policy.

Graduation Chart

What is a-g (pronounced "A through G" or "A to G")?

This is a series of 15 high school classes, designed to help prepare students for college. Classes are in seven subject areas, each represented by a letter from A to G (most often written as a-g). The UC and Cal State universities consider a-g requirements necessary for high school students in order to prepare them for four-year universities; however, a-g requirements are also considered "common core," required learning to prepare students for college or career.

  • Core courses meeting the a-g requirements are based on the Common Core State Standards, which are expected to be met by all students in California's schools.

What else should I know about graduation requirements?

  • Students who graduate before 2022 will not be affected by the new graduation requirements.
  • Students who are in the Class of 2022 and beyond will need to meet the new requirements.
  • Our special education programs will have more time to transition to these requirements.
  • Our district is working on specialist certifications for students who are interested in applying for career pathways while at the same time earning a high school diploma.
  • Students pursuing a career pathway or career technical education (CTE) can benefit from taking these classes, which provide a strong base of general knowledge beneficial to any career. Many CTE classes count toward a-g requirements.