Georgia's new Graduation Rule goes into effect for first-time freshman next school year (2008-2009). The state sets the minimum requirements for graduation. Local systems can add requirements above and beyond the state requirements. Under the new requirements, all students must have 23 credits to receive a diploma, which include:
   - Four (4) credits in Mathematics
   - Four (4) credits in English/Language Arts
   - Four (4) credits in Science
   - Three (3) credits in Social Studies
   - One (1) credit in Health/Physical Education
   - Three (3) credits in Foreign Language** and/or Fine Arts and/or Career/Technical/Agricultural Education***.
   - Four (4) electives


 (I)   English Language Arts: Four units of credit in English language arts
shall be required of all students.  A full unit of credit in American
Literature/Composition and a full unit of credit in Ninth-Grade Literature and
Composition shall be required.  All courses that may satisfy the remaining
units of credit are identified with a "c."  The Writing, Conventions, and
Listening, Speaking, and Viewing strands of the Georgia Performance
Standards shall be taught in sequence in grades 9-12.  Literature modules may
be taught in any sequence in grades 10-12.
 
 
(II.)  Mathematics: Four units of credit in mathematics shall be required of all
students, including Mathematics 1 or its equivalent, Mathematics 2 or its equivalent,
and Mathematics 3 or its equivalent. Additional units needed to complete four credits
in mathematics must be chosen from the list of GPS/AP/IB designated courses.
 
I. Students with disabilities who take and pass Mathematics 1 in conjunction
with a mathematics support class and Mathematics 2 in conjunction with a
mathematics support class upon determination through the Individualized Education
Plan process may meet diploma requirements by completing Mathematics 3 or its
equivalent for a total of 3 math credits. Completion of 3 units of math may not meet
mathematics admission requirements for entrance into a University System of
Georgia institution or other post-secondary institution without additional coursework.


(III)   Science: Four units of credit in science shall be required of all students,
including one full unit of Biology; one unit of either Physical Science or Physics; one
unit of either Chemistry, Earth Systems, Environmental Science or an AP/IB course;
and one additional science unit. The fourth science unit may be used to meet both the
science and elective requirements.  Any AP/IB science course may be substituted for
the appropriate courses listed above. 
 
(IV)   Social Sciences: Three units of credit shall be required in social studies.  One
unit of credit shall be required in United States History.  One unit of credit shall be
required in World History.  One-half unit of American Government/Civics shall be
required.  One-half unit of Economics shall be required. 
 
(V)   CTAE/Modern Language/Latin Foreign Language/Fine Arts: A total of
three units of credit shall be required from the following areas: CTAE and/or Modern
Language/Latin Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts. Students are encouraged to
select courses in a focused area of interest.