WCSD Information
Assessments
Students must participate in the Nevada high school assessments prescribed by law as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class. High performance on the college and career readiness and/or civics assessments may be used toward meeting requirements for the state seals awarded with a diploma.
To graduate from a Nevada high school with a Standard, Advanced, College and Career Ready or Honors diploma, students must participate in a College and Career Readiness assessment selected by the Nevada State Board of Education pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes 390.600 and 390.610. Students will take this assessment during their junior/11th grade year.
Pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes 390.600, to graduate from a Nevada high school with an Alternative diploma a student must participate in the Nevada Alternate assessment during their junior/11th grade year.
All students must participate in a civics examination pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute 389.009. Most students will take the required civics examination as part of the Government course.
Students will be required to complete a final examination in all courses which award one-half (.5) credit or more. End of semester/course exams are cumulative and may consist of skill or performance assessments as well as oral or written examinations, depending upon the objectives of the course and the nature of the class. A student may receive a failing grade and no credit for a course if they do not complete course requirements or for poor performance in the course. Final exams are given during prescribed testing windows only. Students absent on the day of the final exam may be issued a grade of Incomplete (INC) and allowed the opportunity to make-up the exam within a specified timeframe. Semester exams will not be curved, and raw scores will be reported in the gradebook. The grade weight of the semester exam is set at the beginning of the school year or start of a course in accordance with district guidelines and indicated in the course syllabus. The weight of the final exam is not to exceed 20% for any course and will be consistent for all sections of the same course within a school.
Types of Diplomas Offered
TYPES OF DIPLOMAS OFFERED TO WCSD STUDENTS
WCSD Standard Diploma (2023 and beyond): This student will have completed a minimum of 23 credits with all requirements met and will have taken the College and Career Readiness assessment and the civics examination prescribed by the State as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class.
Advanced Diploma: This student will have completed a minimum of 24 credits, including all requirements for a standard diploma plus one additional credit of science (total 3 credits) and one additional credit of math (total 4 credits) with a minimum of 3.25 cumulative GPA, weighted or unweighted (no rounding) including all credits applicable toward graduation, and will have taken the College and Career Readiness assessment prescribed by the State as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class.
College & Career Ready Diploma: This student will have completed a minimum of 24 credits for an Advanced Diploma and demonstrated the following:
- Proficiency in speaking not less than 2 languages or have earned not less than two credits in one or more of the areas below:
- Advanced Placement courses; or
- International Baccalaureate courses; or
- Dual credit courses; or
- Career and Technical Education courses; or
- Work-based Learning or Internship courses; or
- World Language courses
- Earned one or both endorsements:
- College Ready Endorsement – This endorsement will be awarded to graduates who successfully complete the college readiness assessment prescribed by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada and receive not less than the minimum scores for initial placement into college-level English and mathematics courses prescribed by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada.
- Career Ready Endorsement – This endorsement will be awarded to graduates who successfully complete a career readiness assessment, complete a CTE program of study and the Nevada Skills Certificate or obtain an industry recognized credential.
- Taken the College and Career Readiness assessment and the civics examination prescribed by the State as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class.
WCSD Honors Diploma: This student will have:
- Completed a minimum of 24 credits (20 required and 4 elective) including at least eight (8) qualified honors or AP/IB level classes, Algebra 2, at least two credits earned in high school in biology, physics and/or chemistry and two (2) credits in the same world language.
- Earned a minimum 3.40 cumulative GPA, weighted (no rounding), with no course failures during the last two years, unless the course is repeated to remove the "F" from the transcript.
- Taken the College and Career Readiness assessment and the civics examination prescribed by the State as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class.
This diploma is designed to reward students who take and succeed in the most challenging academic program that the high school has to offer. NOTE: Students who earn an Honors Diploma automatically qualify for an Advanced Diploma.
Alternative Diploma: The Alternative Diploma is available to students with disabilities who are assessed on the Nevada Alternate Assessment (NAA). Nevada’s requirements for the Alternative Diploma align to the academic coursework and the College and Career Readiness assessment (ACT) requirements for students working to achieve a standard diploma. High school students who pursue the Alternative Diploma must complete the required number of credits and pass standards- aligned courses. Students who achieve an Alternative Diploma will be able to remain in school through the year of their 22nd birthday and those who choose to do so will continue to receive services under IDEA.
Adjusted Diploma: This student must be certified as a Special Education student. The student must have completed a minimum of 22.5 credits but may not have completed all the requirements for a Standard Diploma and/or may not have taken the College and Career Readiness and the civics examination assessment prescribed by the State as a diploma requirement for their respective graduating class. The student’s IEP will specify the conditions under which they will receive an Adjusted Diploma. A student who accepts an Adjusted Diploma may work toward a Standard Diploma through the year of their 22nd birthday.
High School Equivalency or Adult Diploma: This high school does not issue an equivalency or adult diploma. For information about these programs, contact the Washoe RISE Academy for Adult Achievement at 775-337-9939.