Diploma with Academic Distinction

The Board of Education awards high school diplomas inscribed "With Academic Distinction" to students whose achievements have been outstanding. Requirements for this diploma should be studied—and careful planning to meet those requirements should begin— while the student is in middle school or junior high school. (See Site Operations Circular 2013 .)

Students are only eligible for the diploma with academic distinction if they have attended a district high school for their entire senior year and met all other graduation requirements (see Administrative Regulation 6146.1).

Students who have attended high schools in other districts for all or part of grades 9–11 may qualify for this recognition if their academic performance in the San Diego Unified School District merits consideration. 

Midyear graduates who meet all of the eligibility criteria may be awarded the diploma with academic distinction.

Effective with the Class of 2017, the following two methods are available for graduation with academic distinction:

Method 1: The student must maintain a weighted grade point average of 3.5 (B+) or higher for all courses taken in grades 10 and 11 and the first semester of grade 12.

Students who raise their cumulative grade-point average to 3.5 by the end of the last reporting period prior to the end of second semester/Q4 during their senior year are also eligible to receive this diploma.

Method 2: Student must complete 14 semester credits in grades 9-12 with grades of an “A” or “B” in courses that are Advanced, Advanced Placement, Honors, International Baccalaureate and/or dual credit college courses. Two of the 14 courses must be completed during the first semester of grade 12 and the student must be enrolled in two of the listed courses during second semester of grade 12 (and earn an “A” or “B” on the last progress report prior to the end of semester 2).

NOTE: Students enrolled in 2 college courses during S1 may count each course as meeting the 2nd semester requirement, as each course is valued at 2 credits.

Students who raise their grade to an “A” or “B” in one or more higher level course(s) by the last reporting period prior to the end of second semester/Q4 are also eligible to receive this diploma. This applies to the two courses that require enrollment during the second semester of their senior year, and excludes college courses.

Credit(s) received prior to grade 9 in world languages and advanced math, if the course(s) are awarded graduation credit, may be counted toward meeting this requirement.

High school principals have the authority to issue diplomas with academic distinction to students meeting the criteria above.

High school counselors and registrars conduct evaluations of credits prior to May 7th to ensure students who are eligible as receiving a diploma with academic distinction are included in the commencement program.

High school counselors and registrars ensure that diploma with academic distinction is noted on the student’s final transcript.