OHIO CORE

Effective with the graduating Class of 2014 (this year’s current 11th graders), new graduation requirements, known as the Ohio Core, will be in place as mandated by Senate Bill 311.

The following charts shows a comparison of current minimum Ohio high-school curriculum requirements and how they have changed under the new Ohio Core plan. Each unit equals 120 hours except for Physical Education where ½ unit equals 120 hours.

Subject / Ohio Core Requirements / Ohio Core Opt Out Requirements
English Language Arts / 4 units / 4 units
Mathematics / 4 units, including 1 unit of Algebra II or its equivalent / 3 units
Science / 3 units with inquiry-based laboratory experience including the following or their equivalent:
1 unit of physical science
1 unit biology
1 unit of advanced study in chemistry, physics or other physical science; advanced biology or other life science; or astronomy , physical geology, or other earth/space science / 3 units which shall include:
1 unit physical science
1 unit life science
Social Studies / 3 units which shall include:
1 unit of US History
1/2 unit of US Gov’t / 3 units which shall include:
1 unit of US History
1/2 unit of US Gov’t
Health / 1/2 unit / 1/2 unit
Physical Education / 1/2 unit (120 hours)
Students who participate in high school athletics, marching band or cheerleading for two seasons will be permitted to substitute 1/2 unit (60 hours) of another course of study if local board policy allows. / 1/2 unit
Students who participate in high school athletics, marching band or cheerleading for two seasons will be permitted to substitute 1/2 unit (60 hours) of another course of study if local board policy allows.
Electives / 6 1/2 units, which must consist of one or a combination of :
foreign language, fine arts (see below), business, career technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education, or English Language Arts, math, science or other social studies courses not otherwise required under the Ohio Core / 6 1/2 units
Note: 1 unit must come from either Business/Technology,
Fine Arts or Foreign Language
Fine Arts / At least two semesters or equivalent of fine arts in grades 9 through 12 are required for graduation except for certain career-technical students / None
Total / 21.5 units / 21.5 units

The Ohio core requirements for graduation are the standard expectation beginning with students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or before July 1, 2010, except for options as provided by the law as stated below. In order to attend a four-year college/university in Ohio after graduation from FairmontHigh School, students in the Class of 2014 and beyond will be required to complete the Ohio Core. The requirements for every public and chartered nonpublic shall include 20 units that are designed to prepare students for the workforce and college. Each unit equals 120 hours with the exception of Physical Education units for which ½ unit equals 120 hours.

Alternative Graduation Requirements

The Core establishes alternative methods to earn a diploma without completing the Core curriculum through 2014. The requirements are as follows:

  • The student must complete two years of high school and the student’s parent must sign a statement consenting to the child’s graduation without completing the CORE and acknowledging that the child may not be able to proceed directly to a four-year university.
  • The student successfully completes, at a minimum, curriculum prescribed in current law.
  • The student and parent, guardian, or custodian must fulfill any procedural requirements the school stipulates to ensure the student and parent, guardian, or custodian are informed of the informal consent process.
  • The student, the parent and the high school must develop a career plan for the child.
  • The student's high school must provide counseling and support for the student related to the plan.

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