Graduation Requirements

The easy-to-read guide sheet below is designed to help students and their families understand the State of Florida’s current graduation requirements.

24 Credits are Required for Graduation

  • Students have 28 credit attempts if they take seven classes for four years. Students are encouraged to take more than the state requirement of 24 credits. This is especially important for students planning to enter a four-year college or university. Opt-out classes are strongly discouraged.

Grade Classification

  • 9th Grade-Freshman: Promotion from 8th Grade

  • 10th Grade-Sophomore: Five (5) Credits Minimum

  • 11th Grade-Junior: Eleven (11) Credits Minimum

  • 12th Grade-Senior: Eighteen (18) Credits Minimum

Graduating with Honors

A district-weighted grade point average will be used to calculate class rank and honor student graduation status. Courses following a college-level curriculum will receive 1.0 extra weight while all other state-approved weighted courses (honors, level 3, and selected career education courses) will receive 0.5 extra weight points.

Honors student distinction will be based on a weighted "cum laude" system according to the following district-wide GPA standards:

  • Summa Cum Laude (with Highest Honors): 4.50 and above

  • Magna Cum Laude (with High Honors): 4.20 - 4.49

  • Cum Laude (with Honors): 4.00 - 4.19

At the end of the seventh semester, honor graduates will be be determined by averaging these highest 17 credits: 3.5 English credits, 3.5 Math credits, 2.5 Science credits, 2.5 Social Studies credits, 1.5 Foreign Language credits of the same language, and 3.5 Elective credits.

In order to be considered an Honors Graduate, students must remain enrolled in the same year-long course at the same grade level and receive a grade for the eighth semester or have completed their four required subject area courses by the end of the seventh semester. High school course taken in middle school count in the determination of honor graduate status.

Honor graduated will be recognized at the SWHS graduation ceremony by verbal recognition as they receive their diplomas.