High school graduation requirements have changed in Oklahoma, although a minimum of 23 credits is still necessary to get that sheepskin. The changes were instituted at the state level by the legislature.
Those changes were addressed Monday evening by the Watonga School Board at its regular meeting, when it amended its policies concerning graduation, honors classes and determining the valedictorian/ salutatorian.
Beginning with students entering the eighth grade in 2025-26, to be eligible for graduation, they must earn four units of English, including grammar, composition, literature, or any English course approved for college admission; three units of mathematics, limited to algebra I, algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, math analysis, calculus, advanced placement statistics or any mathematics course with content and/or rigor above algebra I and approved for college admission; three units of laboratory science, such as biology, chemistry, physics, or any laboratory science course above biology; three units of history and citizenship skills, including one unit of American history, a half unit of Oklahoma history, a half unit of United States government and one unit from history, government, geography, economics, civics, or Non-Western culture and approved for college admission; and two units of the same foreign or non-English language or two units of computer technology approved for college admission. Those credits can be earned either at high school or technology center school and can include computer programming, hardware and business computer applications, such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets and graphics, excluding keyboarding or typing courses.
Those students will also need at least one additional credit selected from the above categories or career and technology education courses, concurrently enrolled course, advanced placement courses or international baccalaureate courses; and a unit or set of competencies of fine arts, such as music, art, or drama, or speech.
Art education and world language courses were made optional in 2024.
Some classes, including honors, concurrent college or AP classes, will be used on a five-point system for figuring grade point averages and the second semester of senior year will not be used in the calculation.
According to Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran, this change is so that students are encouraged to challenging courses, like concurrent college enrollment or advanced placement classes for college credit without losing the opportunity to be class valedictorian because those challenging classes may be more difficult in which to earn a high grade. Basically, if a student is taking college calculus and earns a ‘C’ instead of an ‘A’ that does not end their chance to become valedictorian as that class is rated on a five-point scale.
While on the topic of valedictorian, board member Aaron Clewell explained why there were multiple valedictorians each year. Being named as valedictorian makes those students eligible for more scholarships, he said, without it impacting their high school experience.
Since 2004-2005, the valedictorian has been the student or students whose overall grade point average is 4.0 or above.
Any valedictorian who has earned credit in at least eight honors, concurrent college or AP classes – those graded on a fivepoint scale – can earn the title of Valedictorian of Distinction and may give one of the traditional graduation day speeches. That differentiation may also create more scholarship opportunities.
The salutatorian(s) are students who don’t qualify for valedictorian but has the next-highest in grade point average rounded to the nearest hundredth.
The board basically gutted the policy on correspondence courses as they are next-to-never used in light of the ease of online classes. It also removed the reference to sophomores taking concurrent enrollment classes at Chisholm Trail Technology Center.
Additionally, students will be surveyed as they begin the eighth grade to identify career interests and talents. They may then be set on a ‘pathway’ toward that career and its requirements. The pathway classes will be similar to what were formerly called electives and are not reserved for collegebound students.
For example, a student who is interested in becoming a welder can explore those careers and skills in agriculture classes and later, if the interest is confirmed, by taking welding at CTTC. Likewise, a kid who is considering becoming a teacher might access concurrent classes at Redlands Community College. But, if either student determines they want to change career goals, the pathway classes are still counted toward graduation, the same as an elective would have been credited previously.