Graduation Requirements

A total of 25.50 credits are required to graduate from Valders High School. This total includes a minimum of:

• 4 credits English
• 3 credits Social Studies
• 3 credits Mathematics
• 3 credits Science
• 1.5 credits Physical Education
• 0.5 credit Health

All students are expected to complete an Academic Career Plan (ACP) as a requirement for graduation. ACP is both a process and product through which students engage with their parents and other appropriate adults to create a vision for the future, setting personalized career goals to align with education and training. The process recognizes that a student’s interests and strengths vary and change over time, requiring frequent re-evaluation and explorative opportunities. The product is the documentation of the evaluative and reflective opportunities, documenting student activities, accomplishments, and reflection to reveal multiple routes to success after high school.

Please Note:

• In order to be granted a high school diploma, a student must also successfully complete a civics assessment.
• A student may be denied participation in graduation activities for disciplinary reasons and for non-payment of fees.

Early Graduation

It is the goal of the Valders School District to help our students develop to their  fullest potential. We acknowledge that to do this, some students may request early graduation if the requirements for graduation have been met. Early graduation is a privilege. Valders High School offers abundant academic and co-curricular programs for students, and it is hoped that the majority of students will take advantage of these opportunities during their four-year, eight-semester high school careers. Before a student can graduate, s/he must have met all the requirements prescribed by Valders High School for such graduation. Graduation may be granted at the end of seven (7) semesters with the approval of the School Board. Students who have the desire to graduate early must comply with the following guidelines and policies:

1. The senior student and his/her parents must file a letter of intent with the high school principal by the third Friday of September.
2. By the end of his/her junior year, the student and parents are to meet with a school counselor and establish an educational plan that will enable the student to complete all required courses by the date of early graduation. Furthermore, these plans should include realistic post-graduation plans that best meet the student’s unique abilities and situation.
3. The student shall appear before the Board at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting no later than November of the senior year. The School Board shall decide whether or not to approve the student’s request for early graduation. The decision of the School Board is final.