Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 7 - Education K-12
Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023
ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Appendix 7-24-A-8

Current through March 14, 2024

APPENDIX A-8 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

STANDARD 14

TRADITIONAL DIPLOMA with an ACADEMIC ENDORSEMENT

(Entering ninth graders in 2018-2019 and thereafter)

Each student graduating from a secondary school in an accredited school district will have earned the required Carnegie units as specified in the following table. Contents of each required and elective course must include the core objectives identified in the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards. Course titles and identification numbers must appear in the current edition of the Approved Courses for Secondary Schools of Mississippi. (See Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 28.2 and 28.3, State Board Policy, Chapter 28, Rules 28.2 and 28.3.) Enrollment in online courses listed in this document must have prior approval granted by the principal.

Any student who completes the minimum graduation requirements as specified below and has met requirements for each of the required high school assessments is eligible to receive a high school diploma. Students enrolled in grades 7 12 may be awarded a Carnegie unit credit provided the course content is a Carnegie unit bearing course in the current edition of the Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of Mississippi.

Beginning school year 2018-2019 and thereafter, all entering ninth graders will be required to have a minimum of 26 Carnegie units as specified below to earn a Traditional Diploma with an Academic Endorsement. The local school district may establish additional local requirements approved by the local school board as authorized under Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-7.

1Carnegie units earned for Compensatory English courses cannot be included as any of the four (4) English Carnegie units required for graduation; however, Carnegie units earned for these courses may be included in the general elective graduation requirements. Compensatory English may be taken only if a credit-bearing English course is taken in the same school year. Accelerated English 9 can be accepted in lieu of English I. Accelerated English 10 can be accepted in lieu of English II. English I is a required prerequisite course for English II. English I may not be taken after a student completes English II.

2Carnegie units earned for Compensatory Mathematics courses cannot be included as any of the four (4) Math Carnegie units required for graduation; however, Carnegie units earned for these courses may be included in the general elective graduation requirements. Compensatory Mathematics may be taken only if a credit-bearing Math course is taken in the same school year. CCR Mathematics Grade 8, Ready for High School Mathematics, and Foundations of Algebra cannot be taken after a student has received a Carnegie unit in the CCR Algebra I course. At least two (2) of the four (4) required mathematics Carnegie units must be earned in courses higher than the CCR Algebra I course. The Ready for High School Mathematics course shall only be available for 8th grade or 9th grade students. Foundations of Algebra shall only be available for 9th grade students. MYP Geometry, MYP Algebra II, IB-DP Mathematics I, IB-DP Mathematics II, IB-DP Mathematical Studies I, and IB-DP Mathematical Studies II are allowable mathematics courses higher than Algebra I for IB students. Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics I may be accepted in lieu of Algebra I. One (1) of the four (4) required Carnegie units for mathematics may be in AP Computer Science Principles. If used for a mathematics unit, AP Computer Science Principles cannot then also be used for a science or computer science unit. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.

3One (1) of the three (3) required Carnegie units for science may be in AP Computer Science Principles. If used for a science unit, AP Computer Science Principles cannot then also be used for a mathematics or computer science unit. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12. Coordinated Science I or Cambridge IGCSE Biology may be accepted in lieu of Biology. The following courses may be accepted for a science credit above Biology: Project Lead the Way Principles of Engineering; Project Lead the Way Engineering Design and Development; Project Lead the Way Human Body Systems; Project Lead the Way Medical Interventions.

4Based on the 2018 Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards for Social Studies, AP World History, DC World Civilization I, AP European History, or DC Western Civilization I may be accepted in lieu of the required World History from the Age of Enlightenment to Present course. AP United States History or DC United States History II may be accepted in lieu of the required U.S. History from Post-reconstruction to Present course. A student taking an AP or DC course in lieu of a course with a required end-of-course state test shall take the requisite MAAP test. AP Government and Politics: United States and DC American National may be accepted in lieu of the required United States Government course. IB-DP History of the Americas I may be accepted in lieu of the required U.S. History course for students enrolled in the IB program. IB-DP History of the Americas II may be accepted in lieu of the required Mississippi Studies, Economics, and/or U.S. Government courses for students enrolled in the IB program. MYP U.S. Government may be accepted in lieu of the required Government course for students enrolled in the IB program. Cambridge IGCSE American History or Cambridge International AS level history may be accepted in lieu of the required U.S. History from Post-reconstruction to Present course.

5A.P. Macroeconomics, A.P. Microeconomics, DC Macroeconomics, or DC Microeconomics can be taken in lieu of the required Economics course. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.

6The Carnegie credit earned for a State/Local Government course in any other state by an out-of-state transfer student who enters after the sophomore year can stand in lieu of Mississippi Studies or Mississippi State and Local Government. If the transfer student took a State/Local Government course in a grade level that did not award Carnegie unit credit, then any other one-half (1/2) unit social studies course may be accepted. An out-of-state student who transfers after the sophomore year may substitute any other one-half (1/2) unit social studies course. IB-DP History of the Americas II is accepted in lieu of the required Mississippi Studies, Economics, and/or U.S. Government courses for students enrolled in the IB program.

7The graduation requirement for one-half (1/2) unit in physical education may include participation in interscholastic athletic activities, choral performance courses for show choir (i.e., Choral, Music-Choral-Ensembles), instrumental performance courses (i.e., Band, Music Instrumental Ensembles, Strings), dance courses or JROTC that meet the instructional requirements specified in the Fitness through Physical Education Framework and that are sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Only one (1) elective unit in physical education including participation in interscholastic athletic activities, choral performance courses for show choir (i.e. Choral, Music-Choral-Ensembles), instrumental performance courses (i.e. Band, Music Instrumental Ensembles, Strings), dance courses or JROTC that meet the instructional requirements specified in the Fitness through Physical Education Framework and that are sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association may be applied each year to the minimum 24 required Carnegie units. If a local district has graduation requirements above the state requirements, the district may award additional units as outlined in the local school board policy.

8Successful completion of JROTC I and JROTC II may be accepted in lieu of Contemporary Health to meet the graduation requirement for one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit in Health. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.

9The following courses meet the Carnegie unit requirement for Technology and Computer Science: Project Lead the Way Computer Science Essentials, Project Lead the Way Introduction to Computer Science, Project Lead the Way Introduction to Engineering Design, Project Lead the Way Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.

10The Arts refers to Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. For a listing of approved secondary course codes please refer to the arts section or the Mississippi Online Course Approval (MOCA) section of the current Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of Mississippi. The following dual credit classes: Music Appreciation, Theatre Appreciation, or Art Appreciation may be accepted in lieu of the art requirement for students. For approved Career and Technical course substitutions see Appendix A-12.

11The purpose of the College and Career Readiness Course is to provide planning and instruction for postsecondary transition. The following courses are approved substitutions for the CCR course:

1. Career and Technical Work Based Learning course

2. Dual Credit SmartStart

3. JROTC III and IV

4. Advanced Placement Capstone: Completion of both AP Seminar and AP Research or equivalent International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International Courses.

5. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior MS College and Career Readiness Seminar course for Early College High Schools.

*Additional requests for substitution must be submitted to the Office of Secondary Education for review and approval.

The CCR course may be taught in one (1) of the following sequences:

a. Senior year only

b. Junior year only

c. One (1) semester in either freshman, sophomore or junior year with the remaining semester taught in either junior or senior year

d. 1/4 Carnegie unit per year beginning with the freshman year

12Additional requirements above the Traditional Diploma Option, the 26 Carnegie units and the assessment requirements include:

* Earn an overall GPA of 2.5

* Two (2) elective courses must meet MS IHL college preparatory curriculum (CPC) requirements

* Must successfully complete one (1) of the following:

* ACT sub scores of 17 in English and 19 in Math

* Essentials of College Math or Essentials of College Literacy (in senior year)

* SAT equivalency subscore

* Must successfully complete one (1) of the following:

* One (1) AP course with a C or higher and take the appropriate AP exam

* One (1) Diploma Program-IB or Cambridge (AICE) course with a C or higher and take the appropriate exam

* One (1) dual credit course and earn a C or higher in the course

13Additional recommendations (not requirements) above 26 Carnegie units and assessment requirements include:

* For early graduation, a student should successfully complete an area of endorsement.

* Student should take a math or math equivalency senior year

14Courses designed using the Mississippi Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (MS AAAS) shall not be used as substitute courses or electives for students obtaining a traditional academic diploma with or without endorsements.