The Honors Diploma for Class of 2024 and 2025: What Is It and Is It Necessary?

UPDATE: In the state of Ohio, the honors diploma requirements were changed for Class of 2026 and beyond. Students who entered high school on or after July 1, 2022 will be required to meet the new honors diploma requirements. The requirements laid out below apply to Class of 2024 and 2025. However, if one of those classes would prefer to use the new standards, they can do so. Click here for the new information.

An honors diploma is earned by exceeding the standards required for graduation. If they offer one, each state develops their own requirements to earn an honors diploma.

In the State of Ohio, honors diplomas are offered with 6 different options:

  1. Academic
  2. International Baccalaureate
  3. Career Tech
  4. STEM
  5. Arts (includes dance, drama/theatre, music and visual art)
  6. Social Science and Civic Engagement

What are the criteria?

To earn the Academic Honors Diploma, a student will need all but one of the following:

Math – 4 units including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and one other higher-level course OR a four-course sequence that contains equivalent or higher content.
Science – 4 units including 2 advanced science courses (advanced science aligns with the 11/12th grade standards or AP science or entry-level college course)
Social Studies – 4 units; Can get credit for both American history course and/or the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate American history course (same for government and world history)
World languages – 3 units of one language or no less than 2 units of each of 2 different languages; they must be sequential and proficiency based
Fine arts – 1 unit; courses taken in middle school can count for credit if they are high school level work
GPA – 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
ACT – 27 or higher; SAT – 1280 or higher (ACT writing/SAT essay sections are not included)

Looking at this complete list, a student can meet 6 of the 7 to qualify for the academic honors diploma.

The other categories have opportunities for students to do portfolio projects or to participate in field experiences like internships or apprenticeships.

Is an honors diploma worth it?

Does an honors diploma improve your college application? The general answer is no. Remember, college applications will be submitted the fall of your senior year. Colleges see your grades at the end of your junior year. Yes, they will see them again in your final transcript, but by then, they have already made their admissions decision.

You can include a mention on your application that you are an honor’s diploma candidate or on target to earn a specific diploma, but whether or not you receive an honors diploma will not really be a consideration to colleges.

We hate to see students suffer through, for example, a physics class of no interest to them because they feel like they need to get that honors diploma. Students need to be released from the burden of coursework they don’t enjoy or they won’t use.

School districts receive extra points on their state report card in the “Prepared for Success” component when students earn an honors diploma.

Honors diplomas can be a healthy goal and motivation for students when the task does not push the student too far. It depends on the student. As we always stress, the appropriate level of course rigor should match the ability or interest of the student—challenging without being overwhelming.

 


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