Graduation Requirements: IKF
- Instruction: I
Graduation Requirements: IKF
Graduation Requirements
In pursuit of its mission to empower every student today to take control of their future tomorrow by ensuring that all students reach their learning potential and are prepared for post-secondary enrollment, career opportunities, or enlistment in the military, 27J Schools has established the following graduation requirements for high school students.
To receive a high school diploma from 27J Schools, students must meet or exceed the district's academic standards and measures required by this policy. All students must complete 46 semester credits, 20 community service hours, and two required college and career demonstrations. Students with disabilities shall be provided access to all graduation pathways provided by this policy and shall have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma from the district.
Units of credit required for graduation
Graduation from high school in 27J Schools is achieved through the earning of semester credits. Semester credits for all high school courses and for graduation requirements will be awarded on a "unit of semester credit" basis. One "unit of credit" is equal to a semester of instruction within a course. Students may earn more than one credit during one semester for additional time spent in a course and/or demonstrating content mastered. Partial units of credit may be allowed for students enrolling at times other than the beginning of a semester or for attending a course for a period of time shorter than the full semester according to the time spent in the course and/or the content mastered. All partial credit must be approved by the principal or principal’s designee.
Credit from other institutions and home-based programs
Students entering from outside the district must meet 27J Schools’ course requirements. The principal or principal's designee shall determine whether credit toward course requirements shall be granted for courses taken outside the district.
In accordance with applicable state law, college courses completed pursuant to the student's participation in a "dropout recovery program" shall count as credit toward completion of 27J Schools’ credit requirements.
Transfer students must successfully complete a minimum of 7 credit hours on campus during their senior year to receive a diploma from a 27J Schools high school.
Courses required for graduation
Each student graduating from 27J Schools shall have earned at least 46 semester credits in the following subject areas, (33 subject area requirements and 13 electives):
|
Subject Area Requirements |
Semester Credits |
Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
|
English Language Arts |
8 |
Must include English 9, English 10, English 11, English 12, or an equivalent. |
|
Mathematics |
6 |
*Must include Integrated I Math and Integrated II Math. |
|
Science |
6 |
n/a |
|
History |
4 |
Must include an approved course to meet the state’s Holocaust and genocide studies requirement. |
|
Economics |
1 |
n/a |
|
Political Science |
1 |
n/a |
|
Health |
1 |
n/a |
|
Physical Education |
2 |
n/a |
|
Career and Technical Education |
2 |
Students may earn one credit for completing a Work-Based Learning Program internship at the rate of 60 hours per credit, up to a maximum of four Elective credits. |
|
Humanities |
2 |
May include Fine Arts, Performing Arts, World Languages, and any academic elective course. |
|
Electives |
13 |
Any course completed that does not count toward a subject area requirement is considered an Elective credit. All credits earned in excess of the required subject area courses will be counted as Elective credits. Additionally, students may earn one credit for full- or part-time paid employment (work experience) completed during a semester at the rate of 90 hours per credit, up to a maximum of four Elective credits. |
|
Total Credits |
46 |
n/a |
* Students who have passed Integrated I or Integrated II before entering high school will not receive high school credit for these courses; they will be placed in the next highest course when entering high school and are still required to earn at least 6 Mathematics semester credits.
Community service
Each student graduating from 27J Schools shall have completed a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer or community service while attending a district-managed high school.
College and career readiness
The Colorado State Board of Education has adopted state graduation guidelines that identify college and career readiness measures in English and Math. The district has selected and offers students its own measures from these state graduation guidelines.
Students must complete at least one English measure and one Math measure and meet or exceed the measure's corresponding cut score or criteria to demonstrate college and career readiness in English and Math. The district’s approved measures and cut scores are outlined as follows:
|
Measure/Demonstration |
English |
Math |
|---|---|---|
|
SAT assessment |
Score of at least 470 |
Score of at least 480 |
|
Advanced Placement (AP) exam |
Score of at least 2 on eligible AP course exam |
Score of at least 2 on eligible AP course exam |
|
Concurrent enrollment course as approved by the district and included in the student's academic plan of study or Individualized Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). |
Passing grade (D or Higher) |
Passing grade (D or Higher) |
|
Industry certificate that demonstrates academic and intellectual learning in the applicable subject area. |
Receipt of an approved industry certificate which demonstrates a student’s grade-level academic achievement and technical skill achievement. |
Receipt of an approved industry certificate which demonstrates a student’s grade-level academic achievement and technical skill achievement. |
|
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude |
Score of at least 31 |
Score of at least 31 |
In addition to the above measures that are offered by the district, 27J Schools will also accept the following measures that meet or exceed the measure's corresponding cut score or criteria as a graduation demonstration for students entering from outside the district during their sophomore year or later, or on a case-by-case basis:
|
Measure/Demonstration |
English |
Math |
|---|---|---|
|
A district capstone project that demonstrates academic and intellectual learning in the applicable subject area. |
Completion of an approved capstone which demonstrates a student’s grade-level competency in English language arts. |
Completion of an approved capstone which demonstrates a student’s grade-level competency in mathematics. |
|
ACT assessment |
Score of at least 18 on English. |
Score of at least 19 on Math |
|
Next Generation Accuplacer |
Score of at least 246 on the WR (Writing Section) |
Score of at least 255 on AR or 230 on QAS or 245 on AAF sections of the math test |
|
ACT WorkKeys Assessments |
Score of at least 3 in all assessments (Applied Mathematics, Graphic Literacy and Workplace Documents) (Bronze Level) |
|
|
International Baccalaureate (IB) exam that demonstrates readiness. |
Score of at least 4 on a district-approved studies in language and literature course |
Score of at least 4 on a district-approved mathematics course |
Exceptions to 27J Schools' required measures and cut scores/criteria
If a student has demonstrated college and career readiness by completing an assessment, or another measure, that is not included in this policy, but whose cut scores or criteria exceed the school district requirements, and that measurement is included in the state graduation guidelines, the principal or principal's designee may determine that such assessment or other measure is acceptable and meets the district's demonstration requirements.
Early graduation
The Board of Education believes that most students benefit from four years of high school experience and are encouraged not to graduate early. However, in some cases, students are ready for postsecondary education or other opportunities at an earlier age. Therefore, the principal may grant permission to students wishing to graduate early, provided the student has met all district graduation requirements in accordance with this policy.
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-1-104 (teaching history, culture and civil government) C.R.S. 22-1-104.7 (2)(a) (requirement to incorporate Holocaust and Genocide studies standards into existing course required for graduation)
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(kk) (board to establish graduation requirements that "meet or exceed" state graduation guidelines)
C.R.S. 22-32-132 (discretion to award diploma to honorably discharged veterans)
C.R.S. 22-33-104.5 (home-based education law)
C.R.S. 22-35-101 et seq. (Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act)
Approved June 14, 2016
Revised March 19, 2019
June 4, 2025
February 4, 2026