Diploma Requirements
2009-2010
The diploma requirements for Heritage Covenant High School have always incorporated the course requirements established by the Tennessee Department of Education. Unfortunately, in 2009, the TN DOE decided to demand a one-size-fits-all standard. This action flies in the face of the entire educational philosophy of HCS.
Below are the requirements prescribed by the Board of Directors of Heritage Covenant Schools. More information on our objections to and differences with the TN DOE’s requirements may be found on our website.
TYPES OF DIPLOMAS
DIPLOMA
The standard academic Diploma will be awarded to students who:
satisfactorily complete the specified twenty-one and a half units of study or satisfactorily complete an individualized educational program (IEP), and
score at or in excess of the 40th percentile on the A.C.T. or S.A.T. college entrance exams.
The following 22.5 units of study shall be required for graduation:
English -- 4.0 units
Mathematics -- 3.0 units
(One credit must be Algebra I)
Science -- 3.0 units
Human Society & History -- 4.5 units
1 unit of American (U.S.) History
1 unit of World History
1 unit of World Geography
.5 unit of Economics
.5 unit of American Government
.5 unit of Southern History (see note below)
Computer Keyboarding -- 0.5 unit
Lifetime Wellness -- 1.0 unit
(One semester each of Health and P. E.)
Worldview -- 0.5 unit
Electives -- 6.0 units
Also, a half-credit unit of Bible is required for every year the student is enrolled at HCHS. These are absorbed within the “Electives,” but no more that a half credit is allowed per year towards the diploma requirements.
COLLEGE PREP DIPLOMA
The College Prep Diploma will be awarded to students who:
satisfactorily complete the above requirements with courses specified below, and
the 6 units of Electives are replaced by the following:
Foreign Language -- 2.0 units
(Both units must be of the same language)
Fine Arts -- 1.0 unit
Electives -- 3.0 units
CLASSICAL STUDIES DIPLOMA
A Classical Studies Diploma will be awarded to students who
satisfactorily complete the College Prep Diploma requirements,
in addition, complete one unit of Logic, two units of Latin, and one unit of Rhetoric, and
during their Senior year present a research paper under the guidance of the HCHS administration.
HONORS
An Honors designation is given those students who earn either the College Prep or the Classical Studies Diploma and achieve a score at or in excess of the 80th percentile on the A.C.T. or S.A.T.
QUALIFYING COURSES—College Prep Diploma
English
English I, II, III, IV
Applied Communication may substitute for Jr. or Sr. English)
Mathematics
Algebra I, Algebra II
and one of the following: Unified Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus,
Calculus, Math IV, Probability and Statistics
Science
two of: Biology, Biology for Tech, Chemistry, Physics, Principles of Tech II
& additional one of the above or one of: Principles of Tech I, Physiology,
Physical Science, Ag Science, Geology,
Nutrition Sciences, Ecology.
Foreign Language
two units of: Latin, French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, or German
Arts
one of: Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Music Theory, Music History, General Music, Instrumental or Vocal Music, Art History, Dance.
NOTES: High school level courses taken before 9th grade will be credited toward a student’s diploma requirements, but are listed as a Pass (“P”) and do not figure into the high school GPA.
HCS course materials must be used to satisfy the Southern History requirement.
Beginning with the Class of 2013, all students must have completed a semester of Personal Finance.