KIMBERLY SCHOOL DISTRICT

INSTRUCTION 2410 (R-9)

High School Graduation Requirements

The Board shall award a regular high school diploma to every student enrolled in the district who meets the requirements of graduation established by the district. The official transcript will indicate the specific courses taken and level of achievement.

The Board shall establish graduation requirements which, as a minimum, satisfy those established by the Board of Public Education (IDAPA 08.02.03. 105, 106, 107). Generally, any change in graduation requirements promulgated by the Board will become effective for the next class to enter ninth grade. Exceptions to this general rule may be made where it is determined by the Board that the proposed change in graduation requirements will not have a negative effect on students already in grade nine through twelve (9-12). The Board shall approve graduation requirements as recommended by the Superintendent.

Graduation requirements from Kimberly High School conform to the State of Idaho Board of Education graduation requirements and exceed those requirements. The graduation requirements for receiving a diploma from Kimberly High School is 52 credits; 33 credits are required core instruction courses; the balance are electives.

The core of instruction is 33 semester credits (these credits cannot be counted more than once):

LANGUAGE ARTS – 9 credits (2 credits in the senior year) including: 

• English  8 credits
• Speech 1 credit

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION – 3 credits including: 

• Health   1 credit
• PE           2 credits

HUMANITIES - 2 credits total from the following areas:

World History, Literature, Architecture, Band, Choir, Art, Foreign Language, Philosophy, Debate

MATH - 6 credits (2 credits in the senior year)

If a senior has completed 6 credits of mathematics and has earned a “C” or higher in one of the following, College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Statistics, they may be exempt from enrolling in a mathematics course their senior year with parent approval.

SCIENCE - 6 credits including four required Laboratory Sciences.

SOCIAL STUDIES - 7 credits including: 

• Government      2 credits
• U.S. History         4 credits 

Beginning with the class of 2028: The graduation requirements for receiving a diploma from Kimberly High School are 52 credits; 34 credits are required core instruction courses; the balance are electives.

The core of instruction is 34 semester credits (these credits cannot be counted more than once):

LANGUAGE ARTS – 9 credits (2 credits in the senior year), including: 

• English 8 credits
• Speech 1 credit

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION – 3 credits, including:

• Health 1 credit
• PE 2 credits

FINE ARTS - 2 credits total from the following areas:

World History, Literature, Architecture, Band, Choir, Art, Foreign Language, Philosophy, Debate

MATH - 6 credits (2 credits in the senior year)

If a senior has completed 6 credits of mathematics and has earned a “C” or higher in one of the following:  College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Statistics, they may be exempt from enrolling in a mathematics course their  senior year with parent approval.

SCIENCE - 6 credits - 4 credits are required from at least 2 of the 4 content areas: 

physics, chemistry, earth and  space, or life science. An additional 2 credits in secondary sciences may include instruction in applied sciences,  physics, chemistry, earth and space sciences, life sciences, engineering or computer science

SOCIAL STUDIES - 7 credits, including: 

• Government 2 credits
• U.S. History 4 credits Economics 1 credit

DIGITAL LITERACY - 1 credit

ELECTIVES – 18 credits

Future Readiness Project Beginning with Class of 2028 - The future readiness project is a culminating project that demonstrates a student’s application of college and career competencies and exploration of potential  post-high school options. The project must include an experiential component, such as a work-based, service-based, research-based, or portfolio-based component in which a student demonstrates the acquisition of Idaho college and career competencies. Experiences including, but not limited to apprenticeships, internships, volunteer work and extracurricular activities related to real-world skills acquisition will count toward this requirement.

Middle School Credit

If a middle school student completes any required high school course with a grade of C or higher before entering the ninth grade, and if that course meets the same standards that are required in high school and the course is taught by a teacher certified to teach high school content who meets the federal definition of highly qualified for that course, then the student has met the high school content area requirement for such course. The student shall be given a grade for the successful completion of that course and such grade and the number of credit hours assigned to the course shall be transferred to the student's high school transcript and the student's parent or guardian shall be notified in advance when credits are going to be transcribed.

However, the student’s parent or guardian may elect to not have the credits and grade transferred to the student's high school transcript. The student still must complete the required number of credits in all high school core subjects identified above in addition to the courses completed in middle school, except those exempted by IDAPA 08.02.03.105.01.d.iii or unless the student is a participant in the Advanced Opportunities Program.

College Entrance Exam

A student is encouraged to take one of the following college entrance or placement examinations before the

end of the student’s eleventh grade year: ACT or SAT.

A student may elect an exemption in their eleventh (11th) grade year from the college entrance exam requirement if the student is:

1. Enrolled in a special education program and has an Individual Education Plan that specifies accommodations not allowed for a reportable score on the approved tests; or
2. Enrolled in a Limited English Proficient program for three (3) academic years or less; or
3. Enrolled for the first time in grade twelve (12) at an Idaho high school after the spring statewide administration of the college entrance exam; or
4. Receiving special education services through a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP), in which case the student may utilize an alternate placement exam in lieu of the SAT or ACT.
5. A parent/guardian may opt their child out of the SAT offered at Kimberly High School.

A student who misses the statewide administration of the college exam during the student’s eleventh (11th) grade year may instead take the examination during his or her twelfth (12th) grade year if the student:

1. Transferred to an Idaho school district during his or her eleventh (11th) grade year; or
2. Was homeschooled during his or her eleventh (11th) grade year; or
3. Missed the spring statewide administration of the college entrance exam for a documented medical reason.

PROFICIENCY AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the above credit requirements, students must participate in the 10th grade ISAT (Idaho Standards Achievement Test), defined by the State Board of Education in ELA/Literacy, Mathematics, and the Science. Kimberly School District required graduation scores will be a score of two (2) or greater on the ISAT. If a student does not attain these required scores or better, the following options for graduation shall be available:

1. A special education student would have to meet the requirements of their IEP (Individualized Education Plan) that outlines specific alternative requirements for their graduation and/or what adaptations will be made for the student when testing. If in the opinion of the IEP team the student has met their IEP requirements, a recommendation would be made to the Kimberly Board to grant a waiver of the ISAT requirement.
2. A student scoring a score of sixteen (16) or better on the ACT (American College Test) or four hundred (400) on the SAT (School Aptitude Test) or three hundred (300) on the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) in English and scoring nineteen (19) on the ACT or four hundred (400) on the SAT or three hundred on the PSAT in math, would meet (ISAT) proficiency and be eligible for a waiver to graduate from Kimberly High School if he/she had met the other graduation requirements.
3. A student who is considered an LEP (Limited English Proficient) student through a score determined on the state language acquisition test and has been in an LEP program for less than three academic years would be eligible for a waiver to graduate if he/she had met the other graduation requirements.
4. After failing to gain a proficient score on the ISAT as a junior, students who do not meet the criteria listed in A, B or C above have the option of working with teachers, the counselor and principal in developing a portfolio based on their plans following high school. If they can demonstrate skills necessary to meet the requirements of their plan including adequate progress in an ISAT prep class, they are eligible for a waiver for graduation by the Kimberly School Board.

Procedures:

Juniors who have not reached proficiency will be enrolled in an ISAT preparation program. The focus of this program will be to improve skills to reach proficiency on the ISAT during the year. This program will also be available to seniors that have not met the proficiency requirement. When a student demonstrates proficiency on the ISAT, he/she may leave the preparation program.

A senior who has not demonstrated proficiency on the ISAT by the beginning of the senior year will submit to the principal his/her request to pursue an alternative to graduation. This applies to seniors in categories A, B, C and D. This request will include the reason for the waiver. Students in Category D will also submit a summary of the efforts that the student has made to pass the ISAT, including the classes taken to improve skills, the number of times the ISAT was taken, etc.

Request for waivers for graduation in categories A, B, C and D will be presented to the School Board at the April Board Meeting by the principal. For students in category D, the request will include the completed portfolio, including documentation that verifies that the student has successfully completed the ISAT Prep courses equivalent to the 10th grade ISAT. The School Board will determine if the students are eligible to graduate. If a student passes the ISAT before graduation, the student may pursue a traditional graduation path.

The portfolio as outlined above will be reviewed and approved by the Kimberly High School English/Math Department and the Kimberly High School Administration Team. Credentialed teachers in each content area will be evaluating the portfolio in order to ensure validity. The portfolio will be aligned with the latest state standards.

Prior to applying for an alternative graduation plan, students that are identified as “at-risk” for passing the ISAT will be enrolled in a preparation course during their junior year that will help to prepare them for the ISAT test. This course will target specific skills that students are lacking.

The aim of Kimberly School District #414 is to have all students demonstrate proficiency on the ISAT. Utilizing the ISAT preparation course in order to reach proficiency on the ISAT will help motivate the students to work to their fullest potential so that they can pass the test and be exited from the preparation program. By using the Alternative Graduation Plan, students will be able to focus on sub-skills within the subject area without feeling that they have to take on the whole subject area at once.

CIVICS ASSESSMENT PROFECIENCY REQUIREMENT

Addition to the graduation requirements outlined above, students must also show a proficiency score of 70% or higher on the Civics test. Beginning in the eighth grade, students will participate in the civics assessment as outlined in Idaho Code. Students will be allowed to take the assessments in whole or in part as many times as necessary to achieve proficiency. The assessment will be administered in English. Students that have not shown proficiency by the fall semester of their senior year may be given the assessment in their native language. Students that have not shown proficiency by the spring semester of their senior year will be required to create a portfolio showing mastery of those concepts they did not pass on the assessment. The portfolio will be designed and accessed by the High School Social Studies department and administration.

These students will need to request a waiver as described above.

Alternative Programs

Credits received from an accredited secondary school, an accredited correspondence course institution, or accredited post-secondary institution will be accepted towards fulfillment of Kimberly School District graduation requirements.

Credit toward graduation requirements may be granted for planned learning experiences from accredited programs, such as summer school, university courses, correspondence courses, and online/virtual courses.

Credit for work experience may be offered when the work program is a part of and supervised by the school.

All acceptable transfer credits shall be recorded on the transcript. All grades earned, including failures and retakes, shall be recorded as such and utilized in the calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA) and class rank. Credit shall be awarded only once regardless of repetition of the course.

Class Rank (Grade Point Average)

Class Rank is compiled from semester grades as generated by PowerSchool.

Early Graduation or Flexible Schedule

A student may, at the student’s option and upon notification to the student’s school, be relieved from completing their remaining high school graduation requirements and apply for a flexible schedule or graduate early if the student:

1. Is at least 16 years of age;
2. Maintains a cumulative 3.5 grade point average;
3. Obtains permission from a parent/guardian, if under the age of 18;
4. Achieves a college and career readiness score as defined by the State Board of Education;
5. Files the following with school:
   1. Notification of their intent to take a flexible schedule OR graduate early;
   2. The student’s participation portfolio is defined in Idaho Code 33-6101 consisting of a description of student’s nonacademic and cocurricular activities including, but not limited to, student government, sports, music ensembles, theater, clubs, organizations, work, internships, and volunteering. A participation portfolio should also include any leadership positions a student holds in nonacademic activities; and
   3. An essay of at least one page explaining why the student wishes to have a flexible schedule which must include the future plans using the flexible schedule OR early graduation;
6. Completes the following:
   1. The required civics test;
   2. The economics credit, government credits, and senior project required to graduate. A student’s senior project may describe the student’s experience in achieving a college and career readiness score and a detailed explanation of the student’s future plan.

Students eligible for a flexible schedule may be relieved from high school graduation requirements in order to:

1. Take elective courses, career technical education programs, or courses selected by the student which are available within the District;
2. Participate in apprenticeships or internships;
3. Act as a tutor at any grade level; or
4. Engage in such other activities identified by the Board.

The building administrator will approve or deny the student’s flexible schedule. A student who is granted a flexible schedule must adhere to the plan submitted to the school as a part of their eligibility. Students who are under 18 may modify their plan with the approval of the student’s parent/guardian.

A student who completes all of the graduation requirements set forth by the District and the State Department of Education prior to the completion of eight semesters of school attendance in grades 9-12 may petition the Superintendent and the Board for early graduation by submitting an “Early Graduation

Application Form” to the Superintendent through the building principal. The Superintendent shall submit the application to the Board for endorsement and approval at the end of the semester preceding the requested graduation date.

Senior students who will complete all required credits and elective requirements have the option to request to graduate mid-term of their senior year. The student must complete an “Early Graduation Application Form” no later than 60 days in advance of their intended graduation date, which allows time for the application to be presented to the Board. Students who choose the mid-term graduation option may participate in all graduation activities and will receive their diploma at the same time as regularly enrolled students

The Superintendent is authorized to create any procedures necessary to assist students to achieve early graduation or flexible schedule as well as create incentives for participation in any early graduation program. Students who opt for a flexible schedule may apply for Advanced Opportunities funding Existing programs providing incentives to complete coursework early are described in Policy 2435 Advanced Opportunities.

Failure to Complete

If a student fails a class required by the Kimberly School District and/or the State Board of Education, the student must repeat the class successfully before credit will be granted.

At the beginning of a senior student’s second semester, if he/she lacks sufficient credits to graduate with his/her class, the student and/or parent should be informed in writing. The administration should attempt to supply this notification within 30 days following the end of the first semester of the student’s senior year.

Students who do not meet the necessary requirements for graduation may return to their respective high school and enroll only in the classes that they need to graduate.

CORE CURRICULUM

It is the High School Counselor’s responsibility to review records for deficiencies, educational planning, needed counseling conferences, and consultation with teachers. Starting in students’ Sophomore year, (2nd semester) if they are at risk of not graduating, the counselor shall notify parents at each semester in writing and a copy of the letter to be placed in the student’s record.

A student may be denied participation in graduation ceremonies based on their behavior if in the principal’s judgment an exclusion is warranted. Such exclusion shall be regarded as a school suspension. In such instances, the diploma will be awarded after the official ceremony has been held.

Legal Reference:

IDAPA 08.02.03.105 Graduation from High School IDAPA 08.02.03.107 High School Graduation Standards IDAPA 08.02.01.350 Early Graduation

(Effective July 1, 2000) IDAPA 08.02.01.250.02 Required Attendance (Effective for the 2016-2017 school year) Idaho Code §33-1602.7 Idaho Code 33-6102, 33-6103, 33-6104

Policy History:

Adopted on: October 19, 2000

Revised: January 28, 2003; February 2004; March 16, 2006; October 17, 2007; June 18, 2009; February 23, 2010; February 22, 2011; October 17, 2012; October 21, 2015; February 15, 2017; August 15, 2019; December 17, 2020; April 15, 2021; July 21, 2022; November 20, 2025