High School Graduation Requirements

Updated with information for the 2024-25 school year.

Valley High School and Walnut Creek Campus

West Des Moines Community Schools issues two types of diplomas: Traditional forty-eight (48) credit diploma and a Core thirty-six (36) credit diploma. Students interested in learning more about the Core diploma should contact their counselor.

Honors and Scholars diplomas shall be awarded to the graduating class upon completion of the 48-credit diploma, including four (4) credits from physical education (Board Policy 505.06). One credit of physical education will be taken each year of high school. This must include all required subjects.

Diploma requests not covered by the above policy shall be submitted to the administration and Board of Directors for consideration. All courses count toward the calculation of student GPAs.

Graduation Requirements

• Language Arts (8 required credits)
• Mathematics (6 required credits)
• Science (6 required credits)
• Social Studies (6 required credits)
• Physical Education and Health (4 required P.E. credits, 1 required Health credit)
• Elective Credits

Language Arts (8 required credits)

• Language and Literature or Literature and Composition: 2 credits
• Speech Communication: 1 credit
• Fundamentals of Writing: 1 credit (waived with Lit. and Comp.)
• Language Arts elective: 3 credits (4 credits with Lit. and Comp.)
• Literature elective: 1 credit

Mathematics (6 required credits)

• Algebra I: 2 credits
• Geometry: 2 credits
• Algebra II: 2 credits
  • Eighth-Grade Algebra I C and/or Geometry C, must be taken for high school credit.
    

  Science (6 required credits)

  • Physical Science: 2 credits
  • Biology: 2 credits
  • Chemistry: 2 credits
    • Advanced Physical Science fulfills the Physical Science requirement
      

    Social Studies (6 required credits)

    • Global Geography and Culture or AP Human Geography: 2 credits
    • Economics: 1 credit
    • Government: 1 credit
    • U.S. History or American Heritage: 2 credits
      • American Heritage (4 credits) fulfills the U.S. History graduation requirement, the Literature elective requirement (American Literature), and the Language Arts elective (Intermediate Writing).
      • AP U.S. History, AP Macroeconomics, and AP United States Government and Politics may also fulfill these graduation requirements.

      Physical Education and Health (4 required P.E. credits, 1 required Health credit)

      • All students will be required to obtain credit in P.E. during each school year of attendance as a requirement for graduation. Exemptions will be granted in accordance with law and policy.
      • Students earn 1 credit per semester (1 credit per year for Early Bird PE).
      • In addition, students must take a CPR course that consists of components that could lead to CPR certification (except otherwise indicated in a student’s IEP).

      Elective Credits

      The remainder of the credits for either the Traditional or Core diploma may be earned in other areas of the school program.
      

      Additional Resources

      • Early Graduation
      • Honors and Scholars
      • Junior or Sixth-Semester Transfers
      • Off-Campus Coursework
      • Transcripts

      Early Graduation

      Students intending to graduate early must complete the early graduation form and get it to their counselor by Oct. 1 of the year/semester they intend to graduate. All graduation credits must be scheduled by the start of your final semester. No early graduation requests will be approved if these requirements are not fulfilled.

      Honors and Scholars

      Honors

      Students who earn a 3.5 GPA or higher at Valley Southwoods are eligible for participation in the Honors Diploma Program at Valley High School.

      Scholars

      Students can become a Scholar of Distinction in several academic areas.

      Junior or Sixth-Semester Transfers

      Transfer students who have successfully completed six semesters in good standing and have met the requirements from the transferring school will be graduated from Valley upon completion of Valley’s graduation requirements. The transfer student must take a normal senior schedule of five courses and physical education. Credits will be counted on the Valley High School system of awarding a diploma.

      Off-Campus Coursework

      All courses taken from any other accredited institution need prior written approval by a counselor and the principal (or designee) if they are to be included on the Valley transcript and/or counted toward graduation. Forms may be obtained in the Counseling Center.

      All courses taken from any other accredited institution need prior written approval by a counselor and the principal (or designee) if they are to be included on the Valley transcript and/or counted toward graduation. Forms may be obtained in the Counseling Center.

      Courses taken from schools other than Valley for graduation purposes may be granted approval only if a student cannot graduate by taking 10 credits and physical education their senior year. A senior student in good academic standing may have a one-course reduction in Valley courses if they wish to enroll in one or more college/university course(s).

      • The course must offer at least three (3) semester hours of credit.
      • The course will be awarded one (1) high school credit.
      • The credit will count toward high school graduation.
      • The grade earned in the course will be figured into the high school GPA.
      • The course scheduled must not interfere with the student’s Valley schedule.
      • The course must be in the curricular area only.
      • The student must take a minimum of four classes and physical education at Valley.
      • The course cannot exist in Valley’s curriculum.

      Transcripts

      All transcript requests are to be submitted online.

      Faxes, phone calls, emails, and mail will no longer be accepted.

      Some requests will incur fees that are listed on the start page of the order process.

      Currently enrolled students receive two free transcripts; each transcript requested after that is $5, plus a $3 fee per transaction, regardless of the number sent. It is advisable to have transcripts sent directly to the college office of admission; they will match it up with your application. Email verification will be sent to the student when the transcript has been processed. If the student applies using Common App or SENDedu, a transcript is uploaded and attached by the counselor, so there is no need to request a separate transcript be sent.

      At the end of the senior year, students will be assessed regarding the destination for the final official transcript. There is no fee for the final transcript; all will be sent by the third week in June. Unless there is a change in schooling plans after the student has graduated, there is no need to contact the registrar to confirm that the final transcript has been sent.