Graduation Requirements

Requirements for a Grand Rapids Christian High School Diploma

Students must complete four full years of high school studies. Ordinarily, the senior year must be completed at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Early completion of high school is not an option, regardless of credits earned in excess of the minimum requirements. A minimum of one full year at Grand Rapids Christian High School is required for a Grand Rapids Christian High School diploma.

GRCHS students are required to take the Winterim session between semesters as part of full-year enrollment.

Students who terminate enrollment at Grand Rapids Christian High School with nineteen or more credits, at least 75% of which were earned at Grand Rapids Christian High School, may earn a Grand Rapids Christian High School diploma under arrangements made with the school.

Students in the class of 2017 must complete 24 credit hours earned in full-semester classes for graduation. Students in the classes of 2014, 2015, 2016 must complete 23 credit hours earned in full-semester classes for graduation. At least 16 of these credits must be earned in courses not considered modified courses.

All students must complete the following designated curricular core course requirements in order to earn a Grand Rapids Christian High School diploma.

INCOMING NINTH GRADERS—Class of 2017:
Must take 24 semester credits for graduation.

APPLIED BUSINESS – 1 semester
       Economics – 1 semester
BIBLE AND THEOLOGY – 4 semesters
ENGLISH – 8 semesters
FINE ARTS – 2 semesters
MATHEMATICS – 8 semesters
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH – 3 semesters
SCIENCE – 6 semesters, including 4 semesters of laboratory science
SOCIAL STUDIES – 6 semesters
         World Cultures – 1 semester
         Western Civilization – 1 semester
         American History – 2 semesters
         American Government – 1 semester
WORLD LANGUAGE – 4 semesters

INCOMING TENTH, ELEVENTH, AND TWELFTH GRADERS—Classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016:                                    
Must take 23 semester credits for graduation.              

BIBLE AND THEOLOGY – 4 semesters
COMPUTER COMPETENCY – 1 semester of Computer Applications or Economics, or passing the Computer Competency Test
ENGLISH – 8 semesters
FINE ARTS – 2 semesters
MATHEMATICS – 8 semesters
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH – 3 semesters
SCIENCE – 6 semesters, including 4 semesters of laboratory science
SOCIAL STUDIES – 6 semesters
        World Cultures – 1 semester
        American History – 2 semesters
        American Government - 1 semester
WORLD LANGUAGE – 4 semesters

Students who have completed a required course in grade 8 may be exempt from the high school requirement only if the 8th grade course experience duplicates a GRCHS course and one or more of the following has been attained:

1.    A course grade of B or better and letter of recommendation from subject teacher

2.    A satisfactory score, as determined by GRCHS, on the Grand Rapids Christian High School placement test

3.    A minimum score of 85-90% on the specific GRCHS course exam
High School credit is not given for exempted courses.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL BASIC DIPLOMA

The requirements for this diploma are the same as for a Grand Rapids Christian High School diploma with these exceptions:

•     There is not a limit to the number of credits earned in modified courses.

•     With prior approval, up to two credits may be omitted from the normal subject distribution requirement.