Graduation Requirements

To graduate from Valley High School, you must have a minimum of 48 credits, including 4 P.E. credits. The specific requirements are as follows:

English and Language Arts

Total required credits: 8

Language and Literature Grade 9 2 credits
Speech Communication Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 1 credit
Fundamentals of Writing Grades 10, 11, or 12 1 credit
Language Arts elective Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 3 credits
Literature course Grades 10, 11, or 12 1 credit
  • Literature and Composition/Fundamentals of Writing (2 credits) fulfills the ninth-grade Language & Literature requirement and the 10th-grade Fundamentals of Writing; students must meet entrance criteria.
  • Debate I/Public Speaking (2 credits) fulfills the Speech Communications graduation requirement and the Language
    Arts elective.
  • Speech Composition (2 credits) fulfills the Speech requirement and the Fundamentals of Writing requirement.
  • Students need to verify Valley course selection to ensure that they meet Language Arts requirements for their
    post-secondary school of choice.

Fine Arts

Total required credits: 1

Fine Arts elective  Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12

Areas: Art, Drama, Music

Mathematics

Total required credits: 6, including algebra, Geometry, and algebra II

Mathematics electives Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12
  • Eighth-Grade Algebra I C must be taken for high school credit.

Physical Education

Total required credits: 4, earning half credit per semester

  • All students will be required to obtain credit in P.E. during each semester of attendance as a requirement for graduation. Exemptions will be granted in accordance with law and policy.
  • Successful completion of the four required units is mandatory during the sophomore year. Requirements can be completed by choosing from electives during the junior and senior years.

Science

Total required credits: 6

General Science Grade 9
Science electives Grades 10, 11, or 12
  • Ninth-grade biology fulfills the Physical Science requirement; students must meet entrance criteria.

Social Studies

Total required credits: 6

Social Studies electives Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 2 credits
U.S. History or American Heritage Grade 11 2 credits
Economics Grade 11 or 12 1 credit
Government Grade 12 1 credit

The information on this page has been updated for the 2019-20 school year.