Graduation Requirements
High school graduation requirements are highlighted in blue. Four year colleges and universities have additional admission requirements in parentheses. Please click here to go to our college planning page.
| Subject | District Requirements in blue. UC/CSU Requirements in parentheses (). |
||||||
| 10 Credits | 20 Credits | 30 Credits | 40 Credits | ||||
| English ~ Each year 9-12 40 Credits (UC/CSU requires 40) |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Math 20 Credits (UC/CSU requires 30- Algebra 1-2, Geometry, Algebra 3-4) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| World History ~ 10th grade 10 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10) |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| US History ~ 11th grade 10 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10) |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Civics/Economics~ 12th grade 10 Credits |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Foreign Language (UC/CSU requires 20 credits) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Physical Education ~ 20 Credits | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Physical Science 10 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Biological Science 10 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Fine Arts 10 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Health Science 5 Credits | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Electives 85 Credits (UC/CSU requires 10 in one of the required academic areas above) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Total Credits 230 Required for Graduation | |||||||
- PUSD Graduation and College Entrance Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
History/Social Science
30 credits (3 years), World History - 10th, US History - 11th, Civic/Economics - 12th
English
40 credits (4 years / 9th - 12th)
Mathematics requirement for graduation
20 credits (4 trimesters). Students must earn a minimum of 20 math credits and must pass Algebra 1 and 2 with a D or higher.
Biological Science Courses (Laboratory Science)
20 credits (2 years) 10 physical, 10 life
Biology 1-2, AP Biology 3-4
Biology 1-2, AP Biology 3-4
Language Other than English OR additional fine Art
5 credits (1 trimester)
Visual / Performing Arts
5 credits (1 trimester)
Physical Science Courses
Chemistry 1-2, Physics 1-2, AP Physics 3-4 C:Mechanics, AP Chemistry 3-4
Physical Education
A maximum of 40 credits of Physical Education (PE) can be earned to meet PUSD graduation requirements. The first 20 credits earned fulfill the PE requirement, and an additional 20 credits can be earned to fulfill a portion of the elective credits needed.
Athletic Exemption: Students who participate in a CIF sanctioned sport may request an athletic exemption through Del Norte Athletics Department. Upon approval from the athletic director, the exemption allows students to waive 5 physical education (PE) credits. Waiving PE credits does not reduce the total of 230 credits required for graduation. It allows students to take an elective course instead of a PE course. Students are required to submit an exemption form to athletics by deadlines posted on the Athletics website, found here. Only upon successful completion of the season, meeting the requirements specified on the form, and completion of the Athletic Exemption Form, will 5 PE credits be waived from the PE subject requirement and added to the elective requirement. Students enrolled in any PE class are not concurrently eligible for a PE waiver (Fall Sport-Trimester 1, Winter Sport–Trimester 2, Spring Sport-Trimester 3). Freshmen are not eligible for a PE waiver. Seniors are not eligible for a PE waiver trimester 3 of senior year. Dance and Cheerleading activities do not meet the requirements of school board policy governing PE exemptions.
School Service Courses
No student may take more than one school service course per trimester. A maximum of twenty (20) credits of school service may be applied toward graduation requirements. Credit limits apply for specific school service courses:
Students can earn no more than a combined total of 10 credits of Teacher/Library/Office Assistant
Students can earn no more than 10 credits of Academic Tutor
Students can earn no more than 20 credits of Vocational Learning Assistant
A maximum of forty (40) credits of school service and Work Experience may be applied toward graduation requirements.
Pass/Fail Grade
Non UC/CSU college preparatory courses can be taken pass/fail. One class per trimester can be taken pass/fail. The student must get a permission form from the registrar and turn it in within the first five days of the trimester he/she is requesting to take a class pass/fail.
Multiple Credits
A student may repeat any course for the purpose of improving the grade in that course. Students will not, however, receive multiple credit for repeating a class except in the following courses:
- English As a Second Language
- Reading Skills
- Speech Workshop
- Developmental Writing
- Yearbook
- All P.E. classes
- Journalism 2
- Work Experience
- All School Service classes
- All ROP classes
- Vocal & Instrumental
- Planning & Leadership
- Performing class in Music