High School Curriculum Requirements

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​To meet the curriculum requirements of the SD Opportunity Scholarship, all students must meet the below curriculum with a “C" or higher.  Class of 2027 and beyond must meet individual content subcatagories of the below content areas to qualify for the scholarship. 

​English / Language Arts - 4 units

  • ​Writing - 1.5 units​

  • Literature - 1.0 unit
  • American Literature - 0.5 unit
  • Speech / Debate - 0.5 unit​​
  • Language Arts Elective - 0.5 unit

​​​Social Studies - 3 units

  • ​U.S. History - 1.0 unit
  • U.S. Government - 0.5 unit
  • World History - 0.5 unit
  • Geography - 0.5 unit
  • Social Studies Elective - 0.5 unit​

Mathematics - 4 units

  • ​Algebra I - 1.0 unit
  • Geometry - 1.0 unit
  • Algebra II - 1.0 unit
  • Advanced Math - 1.0 unit
(Algebra I may be offered at the 8th grade level, but must be included on the student's transcript)


Science - 4 units

  • Biology - 1.0 unit
  • Chemistry or Physics - 1.0 unit
  • Physical Science - 1.0 unit
  • Science​ Elective - 1.0​
(3 units must be laboratory science - with a lab included in the coursework once per week)

​World Language or Career and​​ Technical Education - 2 units

  • Can earn units​ in one category or a combination of the two (multiple world language units must be in the same language). ​​

Other Coursework

  • ​Personal Finance or Economics - 0.5 unit
  • Health or Health Integration - 0.5 unit
  • Physical Education - 0.5 unit
  • Fine Arts - 1.0 unit

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Prior to the class of 2027, students must meet the below coursework with a C or higher:

    • 4 units of English / Language Arts
    • 3 units of Social Studies
    • 4 units of Algebra or Higher Mathematics
    • 4 units of Science, including 3 units of approved laboratory science
    • 1 unit of Fine Arts
    • 2 units of either of the following or a combination of the two:
        • Approved Career and Technical Education Courses
        • Modern or Classical Language 
          • (Includes American Sign Language; all units must be in the same language)
    • 1/2 unit of Personal Finance or Economics
    • 1/2 unit of Physical Education
    • 1/2 unit of Health or Health Integration
 
Students seeking to determine whether coursework at their particular school district will be counted toward units in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Fine Arts, or Modern/Classical Language are encouraged to review the list of approved coursework in the link below.  Career and Technical Education courses that have been approved by the Department of Education can be used by students to meet the "Approved career and technical education course," units.
 


School Administrators / Districts seeking to offer Career and Technical Education for core content credit must first seek approval from the South Dakota Department of Education (SDDOE).  A link to their website outlining their approval process is provided below.

 

 

Contact Information

 

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Kerri Richards

Scholarship and Financial Aid Policy Analyst

Email: Kerri.Richards@sdbor.edu

 

605-773-3455

 

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