Graduation Requirements

Centennial High School follows the semester system with 4 nine-week grading periods.  Students take six courses and one study period.  If space and scheduling permit, students in grades 10-12 may make application in the Counseling Center for a seventh course.  CHS follows a three path curriculum as prescribed by the State of Tennessee.  Students may graduate by earning 22 credits from the University Preparatory Curriculum, Technical Preparatory Curriculum or Dual Preparatory Curriculum.  One credit is awarded for a full year of study and one-half credit is awarded for completing a semester course.  The required 22 credits include:  Courses Univ. Tech Dual English  4  4  4 Math  3  3  3 Science  3  3  3 Social Studies  3  3  3 Lifetime Wellness*  1  1  1 Language-World  2  0  2 Fine Arts  1  0  1 Tech Prep  Cluster  0  4  4 Electives  5  4  1 Total Required Cr.      22 credits             *Two years of JROTC may substitute for one year of  Lifetime Wellness. Middle School Credits:  High School credits earned in Middle School will be recorded on transcripts according to Williamson County Board Policy with no cumulative GPA value points.   English:  All students must earn four credits in English.  For students identified as English as a Second Language (ESL), a maximum of two credits of ESL may be applied to the four credit English requirement. Mathematics:  The WCBE (Williamson County Board of Education) requires students to earn three credits in math.  Students who have not had math during their last year in high school often have to take a remedial math course during their freshman year in college for no credit.  Students, regardless of career or educational plans, are encouraged to take four math courses in high school.  For students on the Technical Preparatory Curriculum, at least one of the math credits required for graduation must be Algebra I.    Science:  Students in the University Preparatory Curriculum must take one unit of laboratory science.  Three are required for all students. Social Science:  Four courses equaling 3 credits are required for high school graduation.  The courses are United States History, Government, Economics and either World Geography or World History. AP counterparts comply with state requirements.  Three credits of JROTC or ½ credit of American Business Legal Systems may substitute for ½ credit of government.  One credit in Marketing Education (including Retail Operations) or ½ credit in Business Economics may be used to fulfill the ½ credit Economics requirement provided the teacher meets the highly qualified requirement as set out in NCLB.

World Language:  Two credits of the same foreign language are required for students on the Dual or University Preparatory Curriculum.  Some colleges require three credits.   Fine Arts:  One credit of General Music, Art, Band, Chorus or Theatre Arts is required for Dual or University paths. Electives:  An “elective” is a non-required course. Computer Education:  Each graduate must have completed 180 hours of computer education at some time during the student’s educational career that can be documented or verified.  Students who transfer from another state during their senior year are exempt from this requirement. Driver Education:  Students may sign up for after school hours of Driver Education in the fall, spring, and summer.  Start dates will be announced in school.  Students will sign up with the school bookkeeper and pay the required fee.  Thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction is mandatory, followed by six (6) hours of behind-the-wheel driving.  One-half credit is earned. The grade is calculated in the cumulative GPA.  Career and Technology Preparatory Cluster: Students in this path substitute four elective courses making up one of the Career and Technology Clusters for the fine art and foreign language requirements in the University Preparatory Curriculum.  The Dual Preparatory Curriculum includes both the fine art and foreign language components required in the University Preparatory Curriculum, plus the four units in a Career and Technology Cluster. EXIT EXAMS:  Students must pass three state-mandated “Gateway” end-of-course tests in order to receive a regular high school diploma.  The three Gateway tests are:  Algebra I, Biology I, and English II.  Students take the tests upon completion of each course.  If they fail to pass, the student will receive intervention to aid the student when retesting.  There is not a limit to the number of times a student may take the Gateway tests.     Every student in Williamson County Schools is required to take the ACT as a requirement for graduation, whether in the University or Technical Path.  Exceptions are made only through an IEP team based on No Child Left Behind guidelines.  The test will be administered to 11th grade students at the spring testing date established by ACT.