• School-Specific Graduation Requirements

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  • Liberty, North Side, and South Side

  • JCM Early College High

  • Madison Academic

  • Additional Requirements for all High Schools

    To earn a regular high school diploma, all students must earn 24 credits (students graduating from Madison Academic must earn 28 credits), complete four years of high school, take the ACT and required Civics exam, and have a satisfactory record of attendance and discipline.

     

    Transfer of Credits

    The number of credits for students who transfer into the Jackson-Madison County School System will be determined on an individual basis.

      

    Special Education Diploma

    A special education diploma may be awarded at the end of their fourth year of high school to students with disabilities who have (1) not met the requirements for a regular high school diploma, (2) have satisfactorily completed an individualized education program, and (3) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct. 


    Students who obtain the special education diploma may continue to work towards a regular high school diploma through the end of the school year in which they turn twenty-two years old. 

     

  • Graduation Honors and Distinctions

     

    Graduating with Honors

    Students who have met the graduation requirements and maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher will graduate with Honors.

     

    Graduating with State Honors

    Students who score at or above all of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT will graduate with honors.

     

    Graduating with State Distinction

    Students will be recognized as graduating with State Distinction by attaining a 3.0 average and completing at least one of the following:

    - Earn a nationally recognized industry certification

    - Participate in at least one of the Governor's Schools

    - Participate in one of the state's All State musical organizations

    - Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist (PSAT/SAT)

    - Attain a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT

    - Attain a score of 3 or higher on at least two advanced placement exams

    - Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcripted postsecondary credit

     

    Academic Seal

    An Academic Scholars Seal will be placed on the diploma of students with a GPA of 3.2 or greater who completes school-specific graduation requirements and successfully completes 8 honors courses to be selected from the following list of courses. A student may count only two honors courses from one technical program area to be eligible for the Academic Scholars seal (see JMCSS Board Policy 4.605 for graduation distinctions).

     

    Valedictorian and Salutatorian

    The Valedictorian and Salutatorian must meet the requirements for the Academic Scholars Seal. In addition, a student must have completed four (4) of the eight (8) high school terms in the Jackson-Madison County School System, including both terms of the senior year.

     

    Technology Scholars Seal

    A Technology Scholars Seal will be placed on the diploma of students with a GPA of 3.2 or greater and who successfully completes the requirements of the CTE focused plan of study.

     

    Community Service State Award

    The Community Service State Award will be issued to a student completing 10 hours of voluntary community service each semester of high school. This award is encouraged throughout all JMCSS high schools. This is in accordance to Senate Bill 2490.

     

    Recognition at Graduation

    All students graduating with Honors, State Honors, and State Distinction will be recognized at graduation according to JMCSS Board Policy 4.605.