Curriculum Requirements

  • Florida High School Graduation Requirements 

    To graduate from a Florida public high school, students must meet the specific requirements set for their graduation cohort—the year they first entered 9th grade.

     

    Graduation Pathways

    Florida students entering grade nine can pursue one of the following four options to earn a standard high school diploma:

    • 24-credit program
    • 18-credit ACCEL option (Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning)
    • International Baccalaureate (IB) program
    • Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program

    In addition, students with disabilities may qualify for alternative graduation routes outlined in Rule 6A-1.09963, F.A.C., which allow two additional options under the 24-credit program.

     

    Relevant Legislation

    Graduation requirements are defined by Florida statutes:

    • Section 1003.4282, F.S.—Standard diploma requirements (effective July 1, 2013)
    • Section 1002.3105, F.S.—ACCEL options
    • Rule 6A-1.09963, F.A.C.—Graduation requirements for students with disabilities

     

    Diploma Designations

    Students may earn additional distinctions on their diplomas:

    • Scholar Designation
    • Merit Designation Requirements for these recognitions are specified in charts by cohort year in Section 1003.4285, F.S.

     

    Transfer Students

    Students transferring from another state, country, private school, or homeschool will have transcripts evaluated under Rule 6A-1.09941, F.A.C. to determine the need for Florida End-of-Course (EOC) exams. For math assessments, refer to the state’s official chart of recognized exit exams and Algebra 1 assessment guidelines.

     

    Graduation Planning Tools

    Students and families can access free resources through FloridaShines, which provides:

    • Academic advising & graduation tracking
    • Career and college readiness tools
    • Scholarship eligibility checklists
    • Florida college/university search
    • Distance Learning and dual enrollment resources

     

    School counselors may also refer to the annually updated Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook for comprehensive guidance on postsecondary planning across the state.

     

Graduation Requirements