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Introductory Information

This catalog provides information to assist students in selecting classes for the successful completion of middle school and high school. This introductory section contains information about graduation requirements, options for obtaining high school credit, competency testing, fees and fee waivers. The course offerings section provides a list and descriptions of middle and high school courses taught in the district, although not every course is offered at each middle school or high school. The ninth-grade offerings are separate from the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth-grade offerings because ninth-grade credits are earned in the middle school. The catalog also contains listings for Advanced Placement, Utah Students Connect/Jordan Connect, Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, and Concurrent Enrollment courses.

7th  Grade Credit Requirements 8th  Grade Credit Requirements
English Language Arts 1.0 English Language Arts 1.0
*Reading (selected students only) 0.5/1.0 *Reading (selected students only)  1.0
Mathematics 1.0 Mathematics     1.0
Integrated Science  1.0 Integrated Science      1.0
Utah Studies 0.5 U.S. History        1.0
Physical Education  0.5 Physical Education      0.5
Career and Technical Education 1.0

 

Additional Requirements for 7th and 8th Grade Years
Fine Arts        1.0
Health 0.5
Digital Literacy  0.5

*Students who demonstrate proficiency according to the rubric are exempt from the reading requirement and may take an elective.

High School Graduation Requirements

To graduate from a Jordan School District high school, a student must:

  • Earn the minimum number of credits designated by the high school a student attends. In Jordan School District, credit requirements range from 24 to 27 credits, depending upon the scheduling system of each high school.
  • Meet attendance requirements as designated by Jordan School District. (See Credit Guidelines: Residency Requirement).  
  • Pass the U.S. Civics Test

Course and Credit Requirements

Credit is awarded on the basis of a student’s participation, mastery of subject matter, and/or attainment of skills. Credit is granted for courses taken in grades 9-12. Credit earned during the summer prior to ninth grade may be applied towards graduation. Jordan School District requires the “minimum core curriculum” as specified by the Utah State Office of Education Rule R277-700-6 along with the additional course credits listed below for high school graduation.

Requirements for Graduating

Career and Technical Education - 1.0 Credit

 Digital Studies - 0.5 Credit

  • .5 Business Office Specialist, Computer Programming 1, Computer Science Principles, Digital Business Applications, Exploring Computer Science 1, Web Development, or State-Approved Exam

*Elective Credits - 8.0 Credits   

  • Electives are identified with an E within each subject area

English Language Arts - 4.0 Credits

  • 1.0 Language Arts 9 or 9 H
  • 1.0 Language Arts 10, 10 A, or 10 H
  • 1.0 Language Arts 11, 11 A, 11 H, AP English Language & Composition, or AP English Literature & Composition
  • 1.0 Language Arts 12, 12 CP, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, World Language 3, 4, or AP, Qualifying Concurrent Enrollment Course, or Approved Senior Language Arts Course

Financial Literacy - 0.5 Credit   

Fine Arts - 1.5 Credits

Health and Physical Education - 2.0 Credits

  • .5 Health Education
  • .5 Participation Skills & Techniques**
  • .5 Fitness for Life
  • .5 Elective Individual Lifetime Activity or 2 seasons of a UHSAA Team Sport

Mathematics - 3.0 Credits

  • 2.0 Foundation/Core Credits
  • Additional Foundation/Core Credit or Advanced, Applied, or Foundation (AAF) Credit

Science - 3.0 Credits

  • 2.0 Credits from two different Foundation/Core Areas: Earth, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science
  • Additional Foundation/Core or Applied, Advanced, or Foundation (AAF) Credit

 Social Studies - 3.5 Credits

  • 1.0 World Geography
  • 1.0 World History, World History H, World History AP, or European History AP
  • 1.0 United States History, United States History H, U.S. History AP, or Qualifying Concurrent Enrollment Course
  • .5 U.S. Government & Citizenship (11th or 12th grade) Government & Politics AP or Qualifying Concurrent Enrollment Course

 *TOTAL CREDITS……………………………………………………………………………………….………………            27.0 CREDITS

*Note: Valley High School only requires five elective credits. As a result, only 24 total credits are required for a Valley High School diploma.

**One season of a UHSAA Athletic Participation/Team Sports can earn student 0.5 credit to be used in place of Participation Skills & Techniques.  1.0 credit maximum Athletic Participation/Team Sports can be used for Participation Skills & Techniques and Individualized Lifetime Activities.

 Alternative Ways to Earn Credit

A number of alternative study programs are available for students to earn credit. Before registering for any alternative class, a student must contact a counselor to make certain the class will provide the credit needed. Students in 11th and 12th Grade are eligible to enroll at Valley High School, an alternative district school. Students in 10th Grade are eligible to enroll at Valley High School during the second semester. Contact a high school administrator for enrollment information.

Credit toward high school graduation grades (9-12) may be earned through Valley High School, summer school, concurrent enrollment, online education, and other special programs, including teen parents and home and hospital. Credit may also be earned through accredited private schools and accredited university/college, or accredited home study programs.

Jordan School District secondary schools will accept credit and grades awarded to students from schools or providers accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission, a division of AdvancED, or credits approved by the Board without alteration. [State Board Rule R277-705-3B (1)]

Attendance Requirements

  1. Completion of elementary and middle school:  Each student’s permanent record file should indicate that elementary and middle schools have been completed at the time of high school entry. If not, a principal must stipulate that a student has completed elementary school and middle school or their equivalent.
  2. Semester Attendance:  A student must complete eight semesters of school grades 9 - 12 with regular class attendance, with the exception of a student who elects to take advantage of the Early Graduation incentive.**
  3. Disclosure statements:  Each teacher, in a disclosure statement designed for that class, will explain attendance requirements for individual classes. The terms of the disclosure statement determine any penalty for absence from class and whether or not make-up work will be allowed.

Classroom Fees

Students are expected to furnish their own classroom supplies, including pens, pencils, paper, gym clothing, and towels. Students may be expected to furnish some materials for classes in art, career technology education, math, etc. These materials become the property of the students. For fee waiver information, please contact your local school.

Math Competency Graduation Requirements

In order to meet the requirements of the Mathematics Competency Board Rule (R277-700-9), beginning with the 2016-17 school year, a student pursuing a college degree after graduation shall receive one of the following:

(i) a score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) calculus AB or BC exam;

(ii) a score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) statistics exam;

(iii) a score of 5 or higher on an International Baccalaureate (IB) higher-level math exam;

(iv) a score of 50 or higher on a College Level Exam Program (CLEP) precalculus or calculus exam;

(v) a score of 26 or higher on the mathematics portion of the American College Test (ACT) exam;

(vi) a score of 640 or higher on the mathematics portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) exam; or

(vii) a "C" grade in a concurrent enrollment mathematics course that satisfies a state system of higher education quantitative literacy requirement.

Students who do not meet one of these requirements prior to their senior year must take a full-year mathematics course during the student's senior year of high school. Failure to meet these requirements will not prevent a student from earning a diploma. Completion of the requirement demonstrates math competency, which will be reflected on their academic transcript.