Alabama High School Graduation Requirements
(Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-1-02(8) (a) (b) and (c))

The Alabama courses of study shall be followed in determining minimum required content in each discipline. Students seeking the Alabama High School Diploma with Advanced Academic Endorsement shall complete advanced level work in the core curriculum. Students seeking the Alternative Adult High School Diploma shall complete the prescribed credits for the Alabama High School Diploma and pass the test of General Education Development (GED).

Credits are to be earned toward graduation according to the following conditions:

1. The Alabama state courses of student shall be followed in meeting the minimum course standards.


2. Beginning with the 9th grade class of 2009, students must pass three of the five subject-area tests of the Alabama High School Graduation Examinations (AHSGE), with two of those being mathematics and reading.


3. Students must complete all course work required by the program in which they are enrolled.


4. Students must be enrolled on a full-time basis and take eight credits each year.


5. Students are encouraged to take an English, mathematics, science, and social studies course each academic year. Students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme will not take a science course during the junior year, but they will be required to take a two-semester science course during their senior year to meet state graduation requirements.


6. Students are also required to successfully complete the following:


• Algebra I or equivalent


• Geometry or equivalent


• Health education, one credit


• Computer Applications*, 1 credit


• Fine Arts, one credit


• Physical Education/Life education, one credit


7. Students may not receive advanced credit in a summer school program or through correspondence courses.

* Students may waive Computer Applications if they successfully pass the Computer Waiver exam. Students then qualify for advanced level computer education classes.

** Students earning the diploma with the advanced academic endorsement shall successfully complete two credits in the same foreign language.