What does it take to earn an Alabama high school diploma?

With Alabama education officials considering changing high school graduation requirements, Alabama Education Lab took a look at the state’s current requirements.

Alabama currently requires 24 credits to graduate from high school, and with most schools offering a 7-period day, students can earn as many as 28 credits, Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey told board members during a discussion of possible changes to the high school diploma.

Alabama has a traditional “four by four” course requirement, meaning four courses each in English language arts, math, social studies and science. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and career tech courses can be substituted for some of those requirements.

Required classes include:

• A one-semester health education course, and
• One year of P.E., fulfilled when students take the mandated “Beginning Kinesiology” or Junior ROTC course. Marching band or athletics can be substituted.
• One year of a career preparedness course, which includes financial literacy.

In the same year, a world language requirement was dropped, replaced by a recommendation that students take two years of world language, two years of career tech or two years of arts education. Up to three credits total can be earned in these subject areas.

The state has added two graduation requirements in recent years, both of which can be waived:

• Beginning with the class of 2019, graduates are required to pass a national civics test, but there is a simple path to get out of passing the test, and state officials suspended the requirement for the class of 2020. State officials told AL.com in 2020 that 90% or more of Alabama’s seniors pass the test the first time.
• Beginning with the class of 2022, all seniors must complete the federal Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA. A waiver is available for families who don’t want their child to complete the form.

Driver education is not a graduation requirement, but all schools are required to offer a way for students to take driver education, and it counts as an elective.

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