Understanding the Scholar Designation on a High School Diploma

A high school diploma is a significant milestone in a student's academic journey, marking the completion of secondary education. Many states offer different diploma designations to recognize specific achievements or areas of focus. One such designation is the "Scholar" designation, which aims to acknowledge students who have pursued a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. This article delves into the definition, requirements, and implications of the scholar designation on a high school diploma.

Diploma Designations Overview

Many states provide different diploma pathways and designations to cater to diverse student interests and goals. These designations often signify the completion of specific coursework, achievement of certain standards, or acquisition of industry certifications. For example, in addition to the standard diploma, some states offer designations like "Merit," "Career and Technical," or "Advanced Academic."

Examples of State Approaches

Alabama: Provides students with multiple paths to the state’s single high school diploma. All students must earn 24 credits, with 21.5 credits in required courses. Students can substitute some required credits with credits from career and technical education, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, postsecondary credits through dual enrollment, or other state-approved courses.
Arkansas: The state requires high school students to take one digital course. Students may substitute a flex unit of an approved computer science course 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.
Delaware: 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.
North Carolina: Students in North Carolina public schools and public charter schools may earn one or more endorsements on their high school diploma. These endorsements indicate that students have completed specific course concentrations preparing them to be ready for careers and/or college. Students may earn more than one diploma endorsement. Students are not required to earn an endorsement in order to receive a diploma.

Scholar Designation: A Deeper Look

The scholar designation on a high school diploma is intended to signify that a student has completed a rigorous academic program, demonstrating readiness for college-level coursework. While the specific requirements vary by state, the general intent is to encourage students to pursue advanced coursework in core subjects.

The scholar designation on a high school diploma, available for the first time to 2014 graduates, is meant to denote that the student has taken college preparatory classes.

Florida's Scholar Designation as an Example

In Florida, for example, the requirements for earning a scholar designation are outlined in section 1003.4285 of the state statutes. To earn the Scholar designation, a student must satisfy specific requirements in mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language, and electives, in addition to the standard high school diploma requirements.

Read also: Applying for the Sterling Scholar

Specific Requirements in Florida

Mathematics: Earn one credit in Algebra II or an equally rigorous course and one credit in statistics or an equally rigorous course. Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year, pass the Geometry statewide, standardized assessment.
Science: Pass the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment and earn one credit in chemistry or physics and one credit in a course equally rigorous to chemistry or physics. However, a student enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Biology course who takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE Biology assessment and earns the minimum score necessary to earn college credit as identified pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) meets the requirement of this subparagraph without having to take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment.
Social studies: Pass the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment. However, 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 as identified pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) meets the requirement of this subparagraph without having to take 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.

Potential Issues and Criticisms

The implementation of the scholar designation has faced some criticism. Some parents and educators argue that the requirements may not accurately reflect a student's overall academic achievements. For example, some students who have taken multiple AP classes may not receive the designation if they did not take the specific end-of-course exams required.

Some would have to actually volunteer to retroactively take a test on what could be material they learned three years ago to get the designation. And the kids who push themselves hardest are going to want that designation at all costs.
One main point of contention is the fact that current seniors weren't offered end of course tests on their AP classes when they finished them in the past ? that wasn't part of their 'cohort' or the expectations set for an incoming class.

Impact on College Admissions

The actual impact of the scholar designation on college admissions is a subject of debate. Some university admissions directors have stated that the designation has little to no impact on admission decisions, as they primarily focus on courses and grades.

'No, it does not matter,' said Florida Gulf Coast University's Admissions Director Marc Laviolette. 'The state is always tinkering with the graduation programs at the high school level. As far as were concerned, at university admissions, we look at courses and grades.'

Merit Designation

In addition to the Scholar designation, some states offer a Merit designation. In Florida, to earn the Merit designation, a student must attain one or more industry certifications from the list established under s. 1003.492.

State-Specific Examples and Requirements

Many states have implemented specific requirements and assessments for high school graduation, including diploma designations. Here are some examples:

Arkansas

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. The state requires ACT Aspire for grades nine and 10 in five different subject areas: English, reading, math, science and writing.

Maryland

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 unable to meet the graduation assessment requirements through either of the previous options may do so through the Bridge Plan for academic evaluation.

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.

North Carolina

Students in North Carolina public schools and public charter schools may earn one or more endorsements on their high school diploma. These endorsements indicate that students have completed specific course concentrations preparing them to be ready for careers and/or college.Students may earn more than one diploma endorsement. Students are not required to earn an endorsement in order to receive a 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.

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.

To obtain a regular diploma, all students in grade 11 must take either the ACT or SAT. Students must also pass a United States citizenship and immigration test with a score of 70% or higher.

Texas

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.

The Role of Assessments

Assessments play a crucial role in determining whether a student meets the requirements for a particular diploma designation. Many states require students to pass end-of-course exams or achieve certain scores on standardized tests to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

Florida: 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.
Kentucky: Students in grade 11 take both the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress exam and the ACT.
Maryland: 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.
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.
North Carolina: 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: South Carolina administers the End-of-Course Examination Program assessments in four gateway subjects: English/Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

Preparing for College and Career

Diploma designations and endorsements are intended to help students prepare for college and career. By encouraging students to pursue rigorous coursework and develop specific skills, these programs aim to increase college readiness and improve career prospects.

FloridaShines: FloridaShines provides an array of academic advising, career readiness and online learning resources for students and parents. These state-funded academic advising services make it easy for high school students to prepare for college or a career after graduation by enabling them to evaluate their progress toward high school graduation, college and career readiness and Bright Futures scholarship eligibility.
Texas: 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.

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