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Graduation Requirements

A minimum of 16 academic credits is required for graduation from Walnut Hill, with a minimum of 4 academic credits to be completed each year at the School.

Academic requirements are as follows:

  • English 4 credits, one in each of four years
  • Mathematics 3 credits and completion through Math 2 or equivalent
  • History 2 credits, one of which must be in United States History
  • Science 2 credits in laboratory science
  • World Language 3 credits in the same world language or equivalent (details below)

A Walnut Hill diploma is awarded to students in good standing upon completion of a four-year high school program with at least the senior year being completed at Walnut Hill. Because of the unique nature of the arts programs, enrolled students are not permitted to take semesters or years abroad or participate in other alternative programs during the academic year. A senior may not be permitted to graduate if they fail a course in their final semester or if they do not complete a minimum of four academic credits in their senior year.

Students must meet all the requirements of their arts concentration every year they are enrolled, including senior year. Arts requirements are found in this handbook under the appropriate arts major.

A minimum of four academic credits is required each year in order for a student to be eligible to advance to the next grade level. Each semester-length academic course yields one academic credit. Each year-long math course yields one academic credit as these classes meet half as much each week.

World Language Requirement

Walnut Hill welcomes students from all over the world and from many different school backgrounds. This means that students come to us with many variations in their language learning and language credits. Our graduation requirements reflect this variation and our desire to support all of our students. Incoming students with previous experience in French or Spanish are placed in language classes through a process of written and oral placement tests.

Requirements for incoming 9th and 10th grade students:

  • complete 3 consecutive credits in the same world language
  • complete through French or Spanish III

Requirements for incoming 11th grade students:

  • Students with no credits in French or Spanish must complete 2 consecutive credits in French or Spanish.
  • Students with one credit in French or Spanish must complete one additional credit in French or Spanish.
  • Students with two or more language credits in any language may take French or Spanish as elective but are not required to do so.

Requirements for incoming 12th grade students:

  • Students with no language credits or one credit in a language other than French or Spanish may apply to the Director of Academic Studies for special consideration.
  • Students with one credit in French or Spanish must complete one additional credit in French or Spanish.
  • Students with two or more language credits in any language may take French or Spanish as elective but are not required to do so.

Incoming students who are native or heritage speakers of a language other than English are not required to take French or Spanish.

Courses in English Language Learning count toward the English graduation requirement.