Students must complete 220 credits (44 classes over a four year period) to earn their high school diploma; including subject requirements in English, mathematics, science, social science, world language OR fine arts, health, college and career planning (for the class of 2012 and beyond),  reading (if not tested out) and physical education.  In addition, students must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) in English and mathematics.  Students will earn 5 credits per class with a passing grade of A, B, C, or D.   Classes where students receive a grade of “F” must be repeated in order to earn the credits needed to graduate and earn a diploma.

• 4 years English
• 2 years Mathematics (to include Algebra I)
• 2 years Science (one life and one physical)
• 3 years Social Science
• 1 year Fine Art OR 1 year World Language
• 2 years Physical Education
• 1 semester Health
• 1 semester of College and Career Planning (Class of 2012 and beyond)
• 1 semester Reading (if not tested out)
• 75 Elective Credits (70; if took reading)
• CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam
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• For detailed information regarding CUSD graduation requirements please see SJHHS Curriculum Guide

The CAHSEE consists of two parts: English-language arts and mathematics. 

One part of the CAHSEE adresses state English-language arts content standards through grade ten, including reading and writing.  The reading section covers vocabulary, informational reading, and literary reading.  The writing section covers writing strategies, writing applicaitons and writing conventins.

The other part of the CAHSEE addresses state mathematics content standards in grades six and seven and Algebra I, including the following:  Statistics, data analysis and probability, number sense,  measurement and geometry, Algebra and functions, mathematical reasoning and Algebra I.

Students must demonstrate computational skills and a foundation in arithmetic, including working with decimals, fractions, and percentages.  

The score range for CAHSEE is 275 to 450; a passing score is 350.

Students take the CAHSEE for the first time during March of their sophomore year.  Student's who pass both parts (English language art and mathematics) have met their requirement of completion for the state. Students who do not pass one part or even both parts during that first administration of the exam will re-test during their junior and senior year until they pass.  CAHSEE prep classes will be available to these students. 

Grading in high school is based on a semester system:

1) Fall semester (runs from September through January); and, 

2) Spring semester (runs from February through June). 

Within each semester, progress grades will be posted and mailed home to parents at the end of 6 weeks and again at 12 weeks.  Final grades for the semester (18 weeks), which are those posted after final exams, will become part of the student’s official high school transcript.

CUSD and SJHHS offer several options for remediation to regain status toward graduation and earn a diploma should a student fail a class (grade of F):

Summer School:  Student can remediate 10 credits (5 credits from fall semester/5 credits from spring semester). Student must see their Academic Advisor when summer school applications are available to register.  Enrollment is based on date/time that completed application was submitted.

Academic Intervention Class:  Students who are severly credit deficient will be placed in the Academic Intervention class depending on space availability.  Students who complete this class successfully will receive 5 elective credits in addition to credits received by completing classes which they previously failed.  Students enrolled will regain credits by taking courses online.

Learning Center: At the age of 16, students can enroll in Learning Center (Adult Ed) to remediate classes/credits. The student must be enrolled in 6 classes at their home school during the day to qualify.  To enroll, student must obtain referral forms from their Academic Advisor.

Additional Classes During Grade 11 and 12:  If students are not on track to graduate (120 credits completed by the end of 10th grade), the Academic Advisor will enroll students in 6 or sometimes 7 classes to ensure credit completion for graduation.  Typically, if students in grades 11 and 12 are on track to graduate they have the option enrolling in 5 classes (as opposed to 6 or 7).