Burlington Diploma A total of 48 credits is required for graduation with a Burlington Community School District diploma. A credit represents one trimester of study meeting daily or the equivalent thereof. The amount of credit for each course is published annually. A minimum of a “D-” grade is required to earn a credit.
The following required credits must be included for a Burlington Community School District diploma:
English-Language Arts
English 1 or equivalent: 2 credits
English 2 or equivalent: 2 credits
English 3 or equivalent: 2 credits
English 4 or equivalent: 1 credit
Speech or equivalent: 1 credit
Total: 8 credits
Social Studies
World Studies or equivalent: 2 credits
American Studies or equivalent: 2 credits
Social/Behavioral Science Elective: 1 credit
Government or equivalent: 1 credit
Total 6 credits
Mathematics
Algebra I or equivalent: 2 credits
Geometry, Practical Geometry or equivalent: 2 credits
Math Elective: 2 credits
Total: 6 credits
Science
Biology or equivalent: 2 credits
Physical Science or Physics or equivalent: 2 credits
Chemistry or Practical Applications of Science or equivalent: 2 credits
Total: 6 credits
Personal Finance
Personal Finance or equivalent: 1 credit
Total: 1 credit
Physical Education/Health
Physical Education: 4 credits
Health: 1 credit
Students are required to earn a total of 5 credits in the area of physical education/health. A student who fails to successfully complete a physical education course and then subsequently is medically unable to participate in physical education shall make up the physical education course at a later time when possible.
Electives. Electives shall be chosen by the student in consultation with parents, teachers, and counselors to complete the total number of required credits for graduation.
Students Requiring Special Education. Beginning with the class of 2022, graduation requirements for special education students will include successful completion of eight credits of English, six credits of math, six credits of social studies, and six credits of science. Prior to that, graduation requirements may be altered in accordance with the students’ individualized education plan.
Pre-High School Credits. Students who complete required high school credits (e.g. Algebra) in an accredited school in the United States prior to high school will have the course recorded in the high school record, and the course will apply to the subject area credit requirement for a diploma., as well as the overall graduation requirements. The grade will be calculated in the student’s grade point average and count towards class rank.
Senior Year Plus. Credits earned in accordance with the Senior Year Plus program will be counted towards graduation. The grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript, will be calculated in the student’s grade point average, and will count towards class rank.
Transfers In. If a student has previously attended an accredited school in the United States, appropriate course credit shall apply towards graduation requirements. Grades from the prior accredited school in the United States will be recorded in the student’s transcript, will be calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average, and will apply towards class rank.
Correspondence Courses. Students may earn credits towards graduation through correspondence courses if approved in advance by the Burlington High School Principal or Director of Curriculum.
Foreign Study. Students may earn up to 12 credits towards graduation through study in a foreign country if the coursework is comparable and with approval in advance by the Burlington High School Principal or Director of Curriculum. Grades from foreign study will not be calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average, and will not apply towards class rank. The student must earn a minimum of one credit in Government and a minimum of one credit in American Studies and a minimum of one credit in Financial Literacy from an accredited school in the United States.
Legislative Page Program. Students who complete a regular session in the Legislative Page Program of the General Assembly at the state capitol will be credited 1 credit of social studies.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Prior to graduation, the district will advise students on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Early Graduation. Students are permitted to graduate at the end of a trimester or summer session provided all graduation requirements are met. Students must complete their final term in the Burlington Community School District in order to qualify for early graduation, except that a student may complete the final graduation requirements in the summer. Students graduating early will be ineligible for participation in extra-curricular activities and class activities, except that they may attend prom and commencement activities.
Competent Private Instruction. A student who received competent private instruction and showed appropriate progress in accordance with law may receive a Burlington Community School District diploma provided the student meets all of the following requirements:
1. The student must earn both the required minimum number of total credits and the required number of subject area credits by a combination of credits from competent private instruction and from completion of courses in an accredited school in the United States.
2. The student must earn a minimum of 12 credits from enrollment in an accredited school in the United States.
3. The student must earn a minimum of one credit in each of the following areas: Government, American Studies, Financial Literacy, and Halth froman accredited school in the United States.
4. The student must demonstrate proficiency in the course work accepted from competent private instruction. This may be either by demonstration of work in a portfolio or by testing as determined by the administration.
5. Grades from competent private instruction will be evaluated by the Director of Curriculum and High School Principal and only those courses that meet their approval will be included in the student’s transcript. These courses, even if approved, will not be calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average, and will not apply towards class rank.
- First Adoption:
- 1990-07-19
- Revision Adoption:
- June 30, 1993/ May 23, 1999/ January 10, 2010/ March 12, 2016/ July 17, 2016/ April 9, 2017/ August 25, 2019/ August 7, 2022/ February 12, 2023
- Reviewed Dates:
- November 14, 2021
- Legal Reference:
- Iowa Code §§ 256.7, 11, .41; 279.8; 279.61; 280.3, .14. 281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12.5