Accelerated Diploma Option
Orange County Schools (OCS) engages, challenges, and inspires every student to reach their maximum potential. As such and in accordance with NC House Bill 259 and the NC State Board Policies GRAD-004, GRAD-001 and GRAD-006, high school students who are at least 16 years of age and desire to graduate after three years with 22 credits in the Future-Ready Course of Study will be allowed to do so.
Orange County Schools values the full high school experience and believes it is an opportunity for students to maximize academic success, explore extracurricular interests, and prepare for a variety of post-secondary options. Therefore, OCS has traditionally and will continue to strongly recommend all students earn a minimum of 28 credits for high school graduation.
This opportunity will become available to all students who will be 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students in the 2024-2025 school year. Per House Bill 259, students may only take advantage of this accelerated pathway to graduation if they meet the state’s minimum graduation requirements:
- If the student plans to graduate on the accelerated graduation pathway in three years with 22 credits, students must complete and sign an OCS Accelerated Graduation Pathway Request Form.
- The OCS Accelerated Graduation Pathway Request Form must also be signed by the student’s parent or legal guardian unless the student is at least 18 years of age or has been emancipated in accordance with Chapter 7B, Article 35 of the NC General Statutes.
- The student must be at least 16 years of age at the time of their requested graduation date and have been in high school for three years.
- The student and parent/guardian (unless 18 years of age or older or emancipated) must meet with an administrator and discuss:
- Plans for transitioning into higher education, employment, or enlistment in the armed forces;
- Discontinued access to high school services and programming, including extracurricular activities and athletics; and
- School support structures will no longer be available to the student, such as school nutrition, school counseling services, school social work services, Exceptional Children Services, dual enrollment courses, or English Language Development support.
- The student’s high school must verify the student has completed the minimum graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education and submit the OCS Accelerated Graduation Pathway Request Form on behalf of the student to the superintendent for final approval. These forms will be due by April 15th for Spring Graduation.
- The superintendent shall approve the request upon verification of the student’s eligibility and compliance with the above procedures no later than 45 school days after receipt of a request. If the request is approved before the first day of classes, the student may elect to graduate immediately or graduate at the end of the semester. Graduation ceremonies will not be held until the end of the school year.
- If the student submits the request after the first day of school, the student shall be required to complete the current semester, unless the superintendent approves an early graduation.
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Recommended Course Progression
Students choosing to be part of an accelerated pathway must have an accelerated learning plan that both the student and parent/guardian will agree to before Grade 9. Students may withdraw from this pathway prior to completion with written communication to the school (principal and school counselor) from the parent and student. Students must also meet the other requirements for high school graduation as outlined in State Board of Education policy GRAD-009, including arts content and CPR.
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For more information regarding the Accelerated Graduation option, please contact your school counselor.