Navigating the College Prep Diploma: Requirements and Pathways to Success

The journey toward higher education begins long before college applications are submitted. A crucial step is earning a high school diploma that adequately prepares students for the academic rigors of college. The College Prep Diploma is designed with this goal in mind, offering a curriculum focused on developing the skills and knowledge necessary for success in college-level coursework. This article provides an overview of the requirements and pathways associated with earning a College Prep Diploma, drawing upon various state guidelines and program structures.

What is a College Prep Diploma?

The College Prep Diploma track offers an academically rigorous high school education. The JMHS College Prep Diploma track, for example, offers an academically rigorous high school education. All courses in this challenging, nationally accredited college prep high school curriculum are self-paced and 100% online - with optional printed textbooks available. Academic guidance is provided by our highly trained academic advisors and state-certified teachers. The following courses are part of the College Prep Diploma track. You may earn up to 17 eligible transfer credits from your previous high school. That means you could graduate with up to $ in tuition savings! The following courses are available to students as electives. We will gladly consider any eligible transfer credits you may have from your previous high school. Why wait to earn your College Prep high school diploma?

Core Course Requirements

While specific requirements vary by state and institution, a College Prep Diploma typically includes a core set of courses designed to provide a strong foundation in essential academic areas. Common core subjects include:

English: Four units are generally required, focusing on reading, writing, language, and literature. In South Carolina, students pursuing endorsements must take English I, II, III, and IV or approved equivalents.
Mathematics: Four units are typically required, often including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher-level math course. Some states, like Arkansas, allow students to substitute a flex unit of an approved computer science course for the fourth math requirement, or even replace both the fourth math and third science requirements with two distinct, approved computer science courses.
Science: Three to four units are commonly required, including courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. South Carolina requires students pursuing endorsements to complete at least two science courses at the honors level or higher.
Social Studies: Three to four units are generally required, often including courses in U.S. History, World History, Civics, and Geography. History courses may need to be taken in a specific order, such as in Alabama.

State-Specific Requirements and Pathways

Each state has its own unique requirements for high school graduation, including those pursuing a College Prep Diploma. Here's a look at some examples:

Alabama

Alabama provides students with multiple paths to the state’s single high school diploma. All students must earn 24 credits - 21.5 of which are a required course of study. However, students can pursue an Alabama High School Diploma through multiple pathways by substituting some of the required credits with credits from career and technical education, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, postsecondary credits through dual enrollment or other state-approved courses. Regardless of the paths that students choose, they must complete four units each in core subjects (English, math, science and social studies), one unit of physical education and a half unit of health. Students must take three units of either foreign language, career or technical education or arts education. Two and a half credits of electives complete the 24-credit requirement. History courses must be taken in this order. High school students take ACT assessments or an Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program alternative. Tenth-grade students are required to take the Pre-ACT in four different subject areas: reading, math, English, and science. Eleventh-grade students are required to take the ACT with Writing in the same four different subject areas. Grade 12 students have the option to take the ACT WorkKeys in three subject areas: graphic literacy, workplace documents and applied math. The ACT WorkKeys taken by grade 12 students may be substituted with an “evidence collected or locally created” assessment. Students are also required to pass the Civics Test in the United States Government class. The state requires districts to enroll high school students in the Smart Core diploma pathway unless parents sign a waiver to opt their children out of the default curriculum, in which case they will participate in the Basic Core diploma pathway. All units in the career focus requirement shall be established through guidance and counseling at the local school district based on the contemplated work aspirations. The state requires high school students to take one digital course. Students may substitute a flex unit of an approved computer science course (any course starting with 465 or 565) for either the fourth math or third science requirement. Two distinct, approved computer science courses may replace both the fourth math and third science requirements.

Arkansas

The state requires ACT Aspire for grades nine and 10 in five different subject areas: English, reading, math, science and writing. All grade 11 students will have the opportunity to take the ACT English, reading, math and science subject tests, although participation remains optional. Students must also pass the Arkansas Civics Exam with a score of 60% or better.

Delaware

Delaware also offers optional assessments: Smarter Interim Assessment for grades nine and 10 as well as the PSAT for grade 9 and the PSAT/NMSQT for grade 11. Students may choose from five options to earn a high school diploma. The standard diploma requires students to complete at least 24 credits. Additional options include an 18-credit, Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) option, a Career and Technical Education Pathway, an International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum. Districts may use computer science courses to satisfy certain graduation requirements for math and science if students also earn the related industry certification. Students can use earned industry certifications as substitutes for certain math and science units.

Florida

To graduate, high school seniors must pass the grade 10 English Language assessment or obtain a concordant score on the ACT/SAT. Both ninth and 10th graders must take Florida Standards Assessments in English Language Arts reading and writing. History End Of Course tests, which constitute 30% of final course grades. State Board Rule 6A-10.0315, establishes the test scores used to determine whether a student is ready for college-level coursework. If a student does not meet the state established cut score, this indicates that additional preparation may be necessary before entering college-level courses. Assessments used to help determine readiness include the SAT, Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading, and ACT exams. Each exam counts for 20% of the final course grade. Middle grades students who take high school courses also sit for EOCTs. Students must complete at least 22 units to earn a standard high school diploma. History. Students must also pass a Civics test.

Kentucky

Grade 10 students may be administered the ACT depending on available state funding. Students in grade 11 take both the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress exam and the ACT. Twelfth grade students who do not meet ACT benchmarks must take the KYOTE, or Kentucky Online Testing in designated subjects. Students enrolled in CTE courses may take the KOSSA or Kentucky Occupational Skills Standards Assessment after completing two credits as well as the ACT WorkKeys upon enrolling in a third CTE credit in an approved career pathway.

Louisiana

Louisiana students may choose from two high school diploma pathway options: the Taylor Opportunity for Students University diploma pathway or the Jump Start TOPS Tech Career diploma pathway. The Taylor University Pathway, requiring 24 credits, rewards students for completing more rigorous options such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses. All Louisiana’s ninth and 10th grade students will take common foundational coursework, irrespective of the diploma pathway they ultimately receive. U. S. Students may earn a Community Service Endorsement for completing a minimum of 80 hours of community service hours by graduation. History.

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Maryland

Student scores on EOC tests count toward a student’s final course grade. Students in grade 11 must also take the ACT. All graduating high school students must complete the FAFSA. To earn a standard high school diploma, students must complete at least 21 credit units as well as a 75-hour service-learning experience or a locally designed program in student service that has been approved by the state superintendent. Maryland requires students to take and pass end-of-course tests called the Maryland High School Assessments in four subjects: PARCC English I, Algebra I, Maryland Integrated Science and MHSA Government. Students entering the ninth grade in the 2019-20 school year must earn passing scores of 725 on both the English 10 and Algebra I assessments. In the 2018-19 school year, students were required to participate in the no-fault operational test for the HS MISA, or Maryland Integrated Science Assessment, if they had met their determination of readiness for the HS MISA or if they had not met their science assessment required by participation in the 2017-18 administration of HS MISA. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, students are required to pass the HS MISA. Students may also meet the assessment graduation requirement through a “combined score option.” Students unable to meet the graduation assessment requirements through either of the previous options may do so through the Bridge Plan for academic evaluation. For further information, please see the Maryland High School Graduation Requirement FAQs. Students pursuing a Traditional High School Diploma should identify an endorsement before entering the ninth grade from these three options: Career and Technical, Academic or Distinguished Academic. Students who earn an academic or distinguished academic diploma endorsement from a public high school will be accepted into any of the state’s public universities. Endorsement requirements can only be changed with parental permission.

Mississippi

Mississippi administers the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program and Subject Area Testing Program, Second Edition and the ACT to high school students in their junior year. History assessments. Subject area test scores will constitute 25% of a student’s final grade. Beginning with school year 2016-2017, all students enrolled in a course for the first time that has a corresponding SATP exam must participate in the assessment in order to earn the Carnegie Unit. State Board Policy 3804 allows students to satisfy assessment requirements through alternative means, such as qualifying ACT sub-scores, earned college credit, or an earned industry certification. Students must complete at least 22 units from the Future-Ready Core course of study to earn a standard high school diploma, in addition to any local requirements. Students with disabilities who are specifically identified for the program may pursue the Occupational Course of Study.

North Carolina

North Carolina requires students enrolled in NC Math I, Biology I, English II and NC Math III to take end-of-course exams in these subject areas. The PreACT is administered to 10th graders in four subject areas: English, math, reading and science. Students in grade 11 are required to take the ACT in English, math, reading, science and writing. Students concentrating in Career and Technical Education are required to take the ACT WorkKeys. Those who achieve qualifying scores can earn a North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate. Students must complete at least 23 units to earn a standard high school diploma.

Oklahoma

The College-Preparatory/Work-Ready curriculum is Oklahoma’s default diploma path. Parents or guardians may waive this curriculum if they wish, which places their students onto the Core diploma path. Regardless of the path chosen, all students must complete a personal financial literacy passport requirement as well as a CPR/AED requirement. History, in compliance with ESSA and aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards. History content, both aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Grade 11 students also take either the ACT or SAT with writing sections. Students must complete at least 24 units to earn a standard high school diploma. In order to receive a high school diploma from Moore Public Schools, the student must successfully complete the following required courses plus eight and one half units (seventeen semesters) of electives. In accordance with H.B. Every year, each 9-12 grade student will be enrolled in an ICAP Canvas course designed to walk them through the components listed above. The spirit of the Individual Career & Academic Planning process is not just a list of tasks, it is that of a school and district-wide culture designed to help students prepare for life beyond high school. As you have questions, please reach out to your teachers, Career Specialists, Counselors and Principals. • Achieve a satisfactory (or advanced) score, or its equivalent, on all exams required through the Oklahoma School Testing Program (not to include tests designed to be predictive of college success, i.e. C. Students must have scores on all exams required through the Oklahoma School Testing Program on their transcripts in order to graduate. A.

South Carolina

Students may earn one or more endorsements - or Seals of Distinction - in pathways approved by the state board of education, and school districts may apply to have additional endorsements approved. To do so, students must meet all the requirements for earning a South Carolina high school diploma and must take English I, II, III and IV or their approved equivalents or higher-level courses. Complete at least two science courses at the honors level or higher. Arts Specialization: Complete four elective courses in areas of the arts, including two courses at the honor or AP/IB levels. World Language: Complete a four-course concentration in a language other than English and/or demonstrate proficiency at the “Intermediate Low” or higher level on the American Council for Teaching of Foreign Language or by earning benchmark scores on designated exams. South Carolina administers the End-of-Course Examination Program assessments in four gateway subjects: English/Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Gateway courses include Algebra 1, Intermediate Algebra, Biology 1, English I and II, United States History and the Constitution, and other approved courses with corresponding academic standards. End-of-course assessments count as 20% of final course grades. Tenth grade students must be offered one or more of the following: the PSAT, the PreACT and ACT Aspire. Students in their junior year are required to take the Ready to Work and Essential Soft Skills assessments that measure career readiness and skills development. If necessary, students may retake one or more portions of the Career Readiness Assessments in grade 12. Students in grade 11 must also be offered the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT at no cost. The writing portion of the ACT is not optional.

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Tennessee

A public high school student may complete an early high school graduation program and be eligible for unconditional entry into a public two-year institution of higher education or conditional entry into a public four-year institution of higher education if the student meets the requirements of T.C.A. Students may earn a Seal of Biliteracy when they demonstrate a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. English learners may also earn the Seal of Biliteracy for demonstrating English Proficiency. Demonstrate proficiency in the chosen language by meeting benchmark scores on approved assessments of language proficiency. Students may graduate with state distinction when they demonstrate skills and knowledge that may include forensics, mock trial, and career and technical student organizations. History and Geography.

Texas

Exam results must count for some percentage of a student’s final course grade. Passing the EOC exams is not required to graduate from high school. To obtain a regular diploma, all students in grade 11 must take either the ACT or SAT. Civics test in high school. Students must also pass a United States citizenship and immigration test with a score of 70% or higher. Students must complete 22 credit hours to earn a Foundation High School Diploma. Under House Bill 5, students are required to choose an endorsement upon entering ninth grade and must complete four credits in one of five areas: STEM, business and industry, public services, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary studies. Students and families may opt out of additional requirements after completion of the sophomore year and after consultation with high school counselors. Students who complete the Foundation Program, with or without an endorsement, are eligible for general admission to a Texas public 4-year institution. Graduates can earn the distinguished level of achievement designation by completing 26 credits including four credits in math (including credit in Algebra II), four credits in science, and completion of curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement. House Bill 5 requires the development of performance acknowledgments - awards that students may earn by completing certain programs of study or for receiving credit toward future college and career opportunities. History. STAAR English III and Algebra II are available for districts to administer as optional assessments. House Bill 5 requires districts to partner with at least one postsecondary institution to develop and provide college preparatory courses designed for high school seniors whose performance on an EOC assessment, college admissions or placement exam (e.g., ACT/SAT or Texas Success Initiative Assessment), or on coursework, does not meet college readiness standards. Students who successfully complete a college preparatory course are eligible to enroll directly, without remediation or further assessment, in college-level coursework in the associated content area at the partnering postsecondary institution.

Virginia

Students must earn at least 22 standard units to earn a Standard Diploma. To receive an Advanced Diploma, students must earn four additional standard units. All students must complete at …

Indiana

In alignment with new Indiana Department of Education diploma requirements, IUHS is implementing two new diploma options for diploma seeking students as of July 1, 2025. Details about these new options can be seen here. IUHS students who joined the Diploma program before July 1, 2025 can select from any of three diploma options, all of which lead to an accredited diploma. The option you select determines the requirements you have to fulfill. The college prep diploma is recommended for students planning to attend college.

Oklahoma (Continued)

B. Students demonstrating competency in district designated curriculum areas shall receive credit for the appropriate course(s). Competency in the curriculum areas designated for proficiency testing shall be demonstrated when a student completes an assessment or evaluation appropriate to curriculum area with at least 90% accuracy. Examples of assessments may include portfolio, criterion-referenced test, thesis, project, product or performance. A. At least 2 units of the last 3 units of course work shall be completed in attendance in the accredited high school from which the individual expects to receive his/her diploma. B. C. D. The valedictorian will be the top ranked student based on the grade point average of all courses taken for high school credit through the first semester of 12th grade.

Pennsylvania

For the purposes of federal accountability, students enrolled in Commonwealth public schools must participate in the Keystone Exams (end-of-course assessments in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology). Proficiency in all three Keystone Exams was also intended to serve as a statewide requirement for graduation beginning in 2017; however, the legislature enacted a series of moratoriums on the use of Keystone Exam Proficiency as a graduation requirement so that the Department of Education might put forth alternate recommendations which more fully illustrated college, career, and community readiness. Students who do not demonstrate proficiency or attain a minimum composite score on the three Keystone Exams may demonstrate their proficiency on the Keystone-related content by meeting locally established, grade-based requirements. That demonstration of proficiency, in combination with student artifacts and/or student performance within another program, course, or assessment, may satisfy statewide requirements under the new Pathways to Graduation. In select circumstances, a chief school administrator may choose to waive pathway-specific requirements; however, excessive utilization of this prerogative may subject the local education agency to corrective action. NOTE: Students who have meet statewide requirements (minimally, by qualifying for waiver) but cannot meet local graduation requirements due to education instability may qualify for a Keystone diploma.

Assessments and Examinations

Many states require students to participate in standardized assessments to measure their academic progress and college readiness. These assessments may include:

ACT/SAT: These college entrance exams are widely used for college admissions and may also be used to assess high school students' readiness for college-level coursework.
End-of-Course (EOC) Exams: Many states administer EOC exams in core subjects to assess students' mastery of the curriculum. For example, North Carolina requires students enrolled in NC Math I, Biology I, English II and NC Math III to take end-of-course exams in these subject areas. South Carolina administers the End-of-Course Examination Program assessments in four gateway subjects: English/Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
State-Specific Assessments: Some states have their own assessments to measure student achievement. For example, Maryland requires students to take and pass end-of-course tests called the Maryland High School Assessments in four subjects: PARCC English I, Algebra I, Maryland Integrated Science and MHSA Government.
Pre-ACT/PSAT: These assessments are often administered in 10th and 11th grade to help students prepare for the ACT and SAT. The PreACT is administered to 10th graders in North Carolina in four subject areas: English, math, reading and science.

Electives and Endorsements

In addition to core courses, students typically have the opportunity to choose elective courses to explore their interests and prepare for specific career paths. Some states also offer endorsements or seals of distinction to recognize students who have completed a rigorous course of study in a particular area. For example, in Texas, students are required to choose an endorsement upon entering ninth grade and must complete four credits in one of five areas: STEM, business and industry, public services, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary studies. In South Carolina, students may earn one or more endorsements - or Seals of Distinction - in pathways approved by the state board of education.

Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement

Many students pursuing a College Prep Diploma take advantage of dual enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses to earn college credit while still in high school. These programs allow students to experience college-level coursework and potentially reduce the time and cost of their college education. Louisiana's Taylor University Pathway, for instance, rewards students for completing more rigorous options such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses.

Online College Prep Diploma Programs

The JMHS College Prep Diploma track offers an academically rigorous high school education. All courses in this challenging, nationally accredited college prep high school curriculum are self-paced and 100% online - with optional printed textbooks available. Academic guidance is provided by our highly trained academic advisors and state-certified teachers. The following courses are part of the College Prep Diploma track. You may earn up to 17 eligible transfer credits from your previous high school. That means you could graduate with up to $ in tuition savings! The following courses are available to students as electives. We will gladly consider any eligible transfer credits you may have from your previous high school. Why wait to earn your College Prep high school diploma?

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