Graduation Requirements

All ODCS students are expected to complete the equivalent of the Ohio Core, plus four credits in Bible, and ½ credit in community service.

Students should expect to complete the following during their high school career:

English: four units
Health: one half unit
Mathematics: four units, including one unit of Algebra II or higher
Physical Education: one half unit, or equivalent*
Science: three units, including Biology, a physical science, and an advanced science**
Social studies: three units, including U.S. History, American Government (1/2 unit), Economics (1/2 unit), one history elective
Fine Arts: one unit
Bible: four units
Electives: four units, three of which are recommended to include foreign language
Additional electives are also recommended.

Please note that students who receive high school credit at the middle school level must still complete the same number of units listed above during their 9th through 12th grade year. It is expected that advanced students will progress to more rigorous classes within the framework of the required units.

High school students must have a minimum of 24.5 credits to graduate, plus they must pass any tests required by the state. For the classes of 2011 and 2012, this means the passage of the OGT. Beginning with the class of 2013, a Senior Project will also be required for graduation. The class of 2014 will be required to pass a series of state end-of-course examinations as they complete each course in the series.

*Physical Education equivalency: participation in interscholastic athletics, marching band, or cheerleading for at least two full seasons. The opt-out option cannot be used for only a partial P.E. replacement. Either the student must take all physical education coursework, or opt to completely fulfill the requirement through the equivalencies provided. However, students who wish to take the P.E. coursework in addition to meeting their requirement through the equivalencies may add these to their elective choices above the 24.5 total credit requirement. Students who use the equivalency must take one half unit of core coursework as a replacement for the P.E. credit.

**Advanced sciences include Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, AP Physics, and AP Biology.

Freshmen and sophomores who take health may defer one half unit of Bible during the semester they take health to a later year if flexibility is needed for scheduling. This does not reduce the number of Bible credits required to graduate. Each student will still be required to take a total of eight semesters of Bible coursework.

Patriot Honors Diploma
ODCS Students who wish to pursue the Patriot Honors Diploma must complete the ODCS graduation requirements, and must have completed a minimum of nine units of honors/AP level courses. Students should also have a minimum seventh semester cumulative GPA of 3.5 on their ODCS transcript.

Ohio Honors Diploma
Students who wish to pursue the Ohio Honors Diploma, will need to complete the above plus all but one of the following:

Mathematics: at least one additional unit, including at least one unit above Algebra II.
Science: a minimum total of four units, including one unit in the physical sciences, one unit in Chemistry, and two units in an advanced science.
Social studies: at least one additional unit
Foreign Language: three units, two of which must be in the same language
GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
Score of 27 or above on the ACT or a score of 1210 on the SAT (excludes writing score)

Please download the Parent/Student Handbook for complete information regarding graduation as well as all aspects of attending the Open Door Christian Schools.

ALTERNATIVE PROVISION FOR RECEIVING A DIPLOMA WITHOUT PASSING ALL FIVE OGT TESTS
A provision in state law originally enacted as part of Senate Bill 1 in 2001 is still effective. Since this provision includes a student’s high school attendance rate, it is important to share this information with your freshmen students. According to Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.615 (A), students may graduate and receive a diploma without passing all five tests of the OGT if they meet the following requirements:

• Pass four of the five tests and have missed passing the fifth test by no more than 10 points;
• Have had a 97 percent attendance rate through all four years of high school and must not have had an expulsion in high school;
• Have a grade point average of 2.5 out of 4.0 in the subject area missed and have completed the curriculum requirement in the subject area missed;
• Have participated in any intervention programs offered by the school and must have had a 97 percent attendance rate in any program offered outside the normal school day;
• Obtain letters of recommendation from each teacher in the subject area not yet passed as well as the high school principal.