What It Takes to Earn an Ohio Diploma

Graduating Classes through 2013

There are testing requirements and curriculum requirements connected with the Ohio diploma; students must meet both requirements in order to earn an Ohio diploma. See the two checklists below for more information about these two diploma requirements. The third section provides information about the Alternative Pathway for Eligibility for a Diploma.

I. Curriculum Requirements

CURRICULUM STATE ADDITIONALCREDITSCREDITS HONORS

REQUIREMENTS MINIMUM LOCAL CREDITS EARNED TO DATE REMAINING DIPLOMA CREDITS

English language arts 4 units

Health ½ unit

Mathematics 3 units

Physical education ½ unit

Science 3 units*

Social studies 3 units**

Electives 6 units ( required .5 Career Choices)***

* Science units must include 1 unit of biological sciences and 1 unit of physical sciences.

** Social Studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government.

*** Electives units must include 1 unit or 2 half units in Business, Technology, Fine Arts or Foreign language.

Graduating Classes of 2014 and Beyond

Students must meet both testing requirements and curriculum requirements in order to earn a diploma. These requirements apply to students entering their freshman year in 2010 and beyond. See the two checklists below for more information about these two diploma requirements. The third section provides information about an alternative way to meet the testing requirements.

I. Curriculum Requirements

STATE ADDITIONAL CREDITS CREDITS HONORS

CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS MINIMUM LOCAL CREDITS EARNED TO DATE REMAINING DIPLOMA CREDITS

English language arts 4 units

Health ½ unit 

Mathematics 4 units1 

Physical education ½ unit2 

Science 3 units3

Social studies 3 units4 

Electives 5 units5 (required .5 Career Choices) 

Other requirements6

Economics and

financial literacy6 Requirement met in _______9_______________ class/grade level.

Fine arts6 Requirement met in ______10________________ class/grade level.

1 Mathematics units must include 1 unit of algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II.

2 The Ohio Core allows school districts to adopt a policy that would exempt students who participate in interscholastic athletics, band or cheerleading for two full seasons from the physical education requirement. Students must take another course of at least 60 contact hours in its place.

3 Science units must include 1 unit of physical sciences, 1 unit of life sciences and 1 unit advanced study in one or more of the following sciences: chemistry, physics, or other physical science; advanced biology or other life science; astronomy, physical geology, or other earth or space science.

4 Social studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government.

5 Electives units must include one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education or English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies courses not otherwise required.

6 All students must receive instruction in economics and financial literacy during grades 9-12 and must complete at least two semesters of fine arts taken any time in grades 7-12. Students following a career-technical pathway are exempted from the fine arts requirement. 

Passing the OGT  in all subject areas is a requirement of both.