State Diploma Designations
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Students who earn a high school diploma can also earn diploma seals: a Scholar designation or a Merit designation. Students will also have the opportunity to earn Pinellas County Schools Advanced Scholar designation. Students may earn any or all of these designations, but they are not required to do so in order to graduate from high school.
Merit Designation
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Merit Designation Requirements
In addition to the requirements for a standard diploma, students seeking a state Merit designation must earn one or more industry certifications from a list approved by the state.
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Technical/College Pathway (Merit) Sample 4-Year Course of Study
This course of study offers the opportunity for students to challenge themselves in specific academic and elective areas of interest, earn nationally recognized industry certifications, and pursue entry into a post- secondary technical school or state college.
9th Grade
- English 1 or English 1 Honors
- Algebra 1, Geometry or Geometry Honors
- Social Science or Social Science Honors
- Earth Space Science or Biology 1 Honors
- Fine, Performing or Practical Arts elective
- World Language 1, 2 or 3
- Career/Technical Education Course
10th Grade
- English 2 or English 2 Honors or Access English 1/2
- Geometry, Geometry Honors, or Algebra 2 Honors
- World History, World History Honors, or Advanced Placement World History
- Biology 1 or Biology 1 Honors, Chemistry 1 or Chemistry 1 Honors
- World Language 1, 2 or 3
- H.O.P.E (PE/Health)
- Career/Technical Education Course
11th Grade
- English 3, English 3 Honors, Composition 1, or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
- Algebra 2 , Algebra 2 Honors, Pre-Calculus, or Advanced Placement Statistics
- US History, US History Honors, or Advanced Placement US History
- Marine Science, Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry 1 , Physics 1, or Advanced Placement Science
- Career/Technical Education Course or PTEC Dual Enrollment Courses
- 2 Electives or World Language 2, 3 or 4
12th Grade- English 4, English 4 Honors, Composition 1 & 2, or Advanced Placement English 4
- Pre-calculus, College Algebra, or Advanced Placement Math
- US Government, US Government Honors, or Advanced Placement US Government
- Economics, Economics Honors, or Advanced Placement Macro/Micro Economic
- Chemistry, Chemistry Honors, Physics, Physics Honors, or Advanced Placement Science
- Career/Technical Education Courses or PTEC Dual Enrollment Courses
- 2 Electives
Scholar Designation
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Scholar Designation Requirements
In addition to the requirements for a standard diploma, students seeking a state Scholar designation must satisfy specific course and testing requirements:
- Mathematics
- Earn one credit in Algebra II
- Earn one credit in Statistics or an equally rigorous course
- Pass the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment.
- Science
- Pass the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment
- A student enrolled in an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced International Certificate of Education Biology course who takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE Biology assessment and earns the minimum score necessary to earn college credit will meet the requirement without having to take the Biology I EOC assessment.
- Earn one credit in Chemistry or Physics
- Earn one credit in a course equally rigorous to Chemistry or Physics
- Pass the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment
- Social studies
- Pass the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment
- A student enrolled in an AP, IB, or AICE course that includes United States History topics who takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE assessment and earns the minimum score necessary to earn college credit will meet this requirement without having to take the United States History EOC assessment.
- Pass the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment
- Foreign language
- Earn two credits in the same foreign language
- Electives
- Earn at least one credit in an Advanced Placement, an International Baccalaureate, an Advanced International Certificate of Education, or a dual enrollment course.
- Mathematics
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College Pathway (Scholar) Sample 4-Year Course of Study
This course of study includes a rigorous level of required and elective courses that best prepare students for entry into a college or four year university both in and out of state.
9th Grade
- English 1 or 2 Honors
- Algebra 1 or Geometry Honors
- Social Science Honors or Advanced Placement Human Geography
- Earth Space Science or Biology 1 Honors
- World Language 1, 2, or 3
- Fine, Performing or Practical Arts elective (including many options in Career/Technical courses)
- Elective
10th Grade
- English 2 or 3 Honors
- Geometry Honors or Algebra 2 Honors
- World History, World History Honors, or Advanced Placement World History
- Biology 1 or Biology 1 Honors, Chemistry 1 or Chemistry 1 Honors
- World Language 2, 3 or 4
- H.O.P.E. (PE/Health)
- Elective
11th Grade
- English 3 or 4 Honors, Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, or Dual Enrollment Composition 1
- Algebra 2 Honors, Pre-Calculus, or College Algebra
- US History Honors or Advanced Placement US History
- Chemistry 1 Honors, Physics 1 Honors, Marine Science Honors, Anatomy & Physiology Honors, or Advanced Placement Science
- World Language 3, 4 or 5
- 2 Electives
12th Grade- English 4 Honors, Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, or Dual Enrollment Composition 1 or 2
- Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, or Advanced Placement Calculus
- US Government, US Government Honors, or Advanced Placement US Government
- Economics, Economics Honors, or Advanced Placement Macro/Micro Economics
- Physics Honors, Anatomy & Physiology Honors, or Advanced Placement Science
- World Language 4 or 5, or Advanced Placement World Language
- 2 Electives
Advanced Scholar Designation
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Advanced Scholar Designation Requirements
Students who meet all of the requirements for the state's Scholar diploma designation and earn a score of 3 or better on three Advanced Placement examinations will be eligible for the district’s Advanced Scholar seal. They will also be eligible for recognition by the College Board.
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Advanced Scholar Pathway Sample 4-Year Course of Study
This course of study includes a rigorous level of required and elective courses that best prepare students seeking admittance to competitive four-year universities both in and out of state. This includes all students pursuing an AICE and IB diploma.
9th Grade
- English 1 or 2 Honors
- Advanced Placement Human Geography
- Geometry Honors or Algebra 2 Honors
- Biology 1 Honors
- World Language 1, 2 or 3
- Fine, Performing or Practical Arts elective (including many options in Career/Technical courses)
- Elective
10th Grade- English 2 or 3 Honors, or Advanced Placement English 3 Language and Composition
- Advanced Placement World History
- Algebra 2 Honors or Pre-Calculus
- Chemistry 1 Honors or Physics 1 Honors
- World Language 2, 3 or 4
- H.O.P.E. (PE/Health)
- Elective
11th Grade- English 3 or 4 Honors, or Advanced Placement English 3 Language and Composition, or Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
- Advanced Placement US History
- Pre-Calculus , Advanced Placement Calculus, or Advanced Placement Statistics
- Advanced Placement Chemistry, Advanced Placement Biology, Chemistry 1 Honors or Physics 1 Honors
- World Language 3, 4 or 5, or Advanced Placement World Language
- 2 Electives
12th Grade- English 4 Honors, Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, or Dual Enrollment course
- US Government Honors or Advanced Placement US Government
- Economics Honors or Advanced Placement Micro/Macro Economics
- Advanced Placement level math or upper level college math (placement test required)
- Advanced Placement Science
- World Language 4 or 5, or Advanced Placement World Language
- 2 Electives
