Du Quoin Graduation Requirements to Change
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[With the transition to a new seven-period class schedule at the Du Quoin High School in Fall 2011, Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 is also transitioning to an amended list of required courses as well as new requirements for graduation.
Many of the changes are subtle and will not affect course work achieved by students to date.
DHS principal Lybrand Beard outlined required courses and the summary of requirements for graduation during a 4:30 p.m. meeting of the board Tuesday afternoon.
The list of required courses is as follows:
Required Courses
Freshmen--English 1, mathematics, world history, physical education, earth science (1/2 credit), physical science (1/2 credit) and driver eduction (1/2 credit).
Sophomores--English II, mathematics, science, physical education, health (1/2 credit) and consumer economics (1/2 credit).
Juniors--English III, mathematics, American history and physical education.
Seniors--English IV, government and physical education.
Following is the summary of graduation requirements for classes which will graduate in years 2012 through 2015.
Physical Education
Four credits of PE are required, but there are exemptions: A. The student is enroll in marching band B. A junior or senior student is exempt during the season for which he or she is participating in interscholastic sports C. A junior or senior student needs to take a course in order to make up a previously failed course to meet graduation requirements D. A junior or senior students needs to enroll in a course in order to meet entrance requirements for college.
Competency Requirements
Prairie State Achievement Exam
U.S. and Illinois Constitution
Driver Education
Graduation Requirements for Classes 2012, 2013 & 2014
4 credits of English, 3 credits of math, 4 credits of PE, 3 credits of social studies, 2 /12 credits of science, 1/2 credit of consumer economics, 1 credit of music or art, or foreign language or a vocational subject, 1/2 credit of health, 1 credit of a writing intensive course (satisfied in American History and English III) and 1/2 credit of keyboarding.
Graduation Requirements for Class of 2015
4 credits of English, 3 credits of math, 4 credits of PE, 3 credits of social studies, 3 credits of science, 1/2 credit of consumer economics, 1 credit of music, art, foreign language or vocational subject, 1/2 credit of health, 2 credit of a writing intensive course (satisfied in American History and English III).
Total Credits for Graduation
Class of 2012--27 credits; Class of 2013-- 26 credits; Class of 2014 -- 25 credits; and Class of 2015-24 credits.
All credit requirements must be met in order to participate in graduation exercises.
College Admissions Recommendations
All Illinois public colleges, universities and community colleges recommend the following high school subject pattern for admissions purposes:
English 4 credits; mathematics (beginning with Algebra I or higher) 3 credits; science 3 credits; social studies 3 credits; foreign language, music, art or vocational subject 2 credits.
NCAA requirements are similar to college requirements. Division I schools require 16 core courses. For more complete information, worksheets and a list of core courses at DHS go to www.eligibilitycenter.org. When registering for the ACT, one of the college choices should be the code for the NCAA clearinghouse, which is 9999.
Driver Education
To be eligible, students must earn credits and pass classes. Sophomores must earn 6 credits in the previous two semesters. Freshmen taking driver education third term must earn 3 credits during the first semester. To determine when you may take the class, the birthday must fall during the following dates:
Sophomores: 1st term--June 1, 1996 and after.
Freshmen: 1st term--on or before January 31, 1997.
3rd term--February 1, 1997-May 31, 1997.
Note: The $50 fee (subject to change) for driver education class must be paid at registration time in August. If not paid, the student will be dropped from the class. Talk to the administration if there is a problem with this.