Graduation Requirements

Louisiana State Department of Education
Revised Minimum Graduation Requirements
for Non-Public Schools

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

For incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond, the 24 units required for graduation shall include 16 required units and 8 elective units for the Louisiana Core Curriculum, or 21 required units and 3 elective units for the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum.

Beginning with incoming freshmen in 2008-2009, ALL ninth graders will be enrolled in the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum.

After the student has attended high school for a minimum of two years, as determined by the school, the

b) The following conditions shall be satisfied for consideration of the exemption of a student from
completing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum:

The student’s parent, guardian, or custodian shall sign and file with the school a written statement asserting their consent to the student graduating without completing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum and acknowledging that one consequence of not completing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum may be ineligibility to enroll in a Louisiana four-year public college or university. The statement will then be approved upon the signature of the principal or the principal’s designee.

The student, the student’s parent, guardian or custodian and the school counselor (or other staff member who assists students in course selection) shall meet to discuss the student’s progress and determine what is in the student’s best interest for the continuation of his/her educational pursuit and future educational plan.
During the meeting, the student’s parent, guardian or custodian shall determine whether the student will achieve greater educational benefits by continuing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum or completing the Louisiana Core Curriculum.

          The student in the Louisiana Core Curriculum may return to the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum, in
          consultation with the student’s parent, guardian, or custodian and the school counselor (or other
          staff member who assists students in course selection).

A. For incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond who are completing the Louisiana CORE 4 Curriculum, the minimum course requirements for graduation shall be the following:

ENGLISH	4 units
Shall be English I, II, and III, and English IV
MATHEMATICS	4 units
Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 2 (1 unit) Geometry Algebra II The remaining unit shall come from the following: Financial Mathematics, Senior Applications in Math, Advanced Mathematics I, Advanced Mathematics II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, or a locally initiated elective approved by BESE as a math substitute.
SCIENCE	4 units
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit of Chemistry 2 units from the following courses: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Physics I, Physics of Technology I, Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, or a locally-initiated elective approved by BESE as a science substitute. Students may not take both Integrated Science and Physical Science. Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course.
SOCIAL STUDIES	4 units
Shall be the following: ½ unit of Civics or AP American Government, ½ unit of Free Enterprise 1 unit of American History 1 unit from the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History 1 unit from the following: World History World Geography, Western Civilization, AP European History, Law Studies, Psychology, Sociology, or African- American Studies
HEALTH EDUCATION	½ unit
PHYSICAL EDUCATION	1 ½ units
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of Four units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation. NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE	2 units
Shall be 2 units in the same foreign language or 2 Speech courses
ARTS	1 unit
1 unit Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit of Art, Dance, Music, Theatre Arts, or Applied Arts
ELECTIVES	3 units
TOTAL	24 units

B. For incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond who are completing the Louisiana Core
Curriculum, the minimum course requirements shall be the following:

ENGLISH	4 units
Shall be English I, II, and III, and English IV or Senior Applications in English
MATHEMATICS	4 units
Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) Geometry The remaining units shall come from the following: Algebra II, Financial Mathematics, Senior Applications in Math, Advanced Mathematics I, Advanced Mathematics II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, or a locally initiated elective approved by BESE as a math substitute.
SCIENCE	3 units
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit from the following physical science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physics of Technology I 1 unit from the following courses: Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, an additional course from the physical science cluster, or a locally-initiated elective approved by BESE as a science substitute. Students may not take both Integrated Science and Physical Science. Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course.
SOCIAL STUDIES	3 units
Shall be American History, ½ unit of Civics or AP American Government, ½ unit of Free Enterprise, and 1 of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History
HEALTH EDUCATION	½ unit
PHYSICAL EDUCATION	1 ½ units
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of Four units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation. NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible.
ELECTIVES	8 units
TOTAL	24 units

NOTE: Where CPS Graduation Requirements exceed those of Louisiana Core Curriculum, the CPS
Requirements MUST be adhered to.

For the TOPS Core Curriculum see www.ofsa.state.la.us

Central Private School

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