What Is the Difference Between a High School Diploma & a College Prep Diploma?
Graduation requirements vary slightly from state to state, but most colleges have similar expectations for incoming freshmen. However, if your school offers a college-prep diploma program, following this route can give you a head start on success at the college level.
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Minimum Credit Requirements
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To graduate from high school, most states require a minimum of 23 to 24 credit hours. If your school calculates credits based on semesters rather than school years, this could amount to as many as 44 credit hours.
Course Requirements
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Again, expectations differ from one state to another, but most require graduates to successfully complete four years of Language Arts, three to four years of Mathematics, three to four years of Science, and three to four years of Social Studies/History. Additional credits are usually obtained through various subjects, such as Foreign Language, Fine Arts, Health/Physical Education and other electives.
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College-Prep Credits
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To complete requirements for a college-prep diploma, your school may not require additional credit hours. College-prep diplomas focus more on advanced academics rather than simply extra hours in the classroom.
College-Prep Courses
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Most college-prep or honors programs require a full four years of Language Arts, four years of Social Studies/History (including Government and Economics), a minimum of three years of Mathematics and a minimum of three years of Science (divided among several branches of science). In order to achieve college-prep status, your high school will probably require specific higher-level courses within each of these subject areas.
Considerations
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Even if your school does not offer a college-prep or honors track, you can design your own by checking out what most colleges expect of incoming freshmen. Also, many community colleges allow high school students to enroll in select courses, which would both provide college-prep-level material and give you a jump on earning college credits before you enroll full time.
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