Graduation Requirements
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The Board shall award a regular high school diploma to every student enrolled in the District who meets the requirements of graduation established by the District. The official transcripts will indicate the specific courses taken and level of achievement.
Minimum requirements for graduation from Great Falls Public Schools shall be twenty-three (23) credits:- Four (4) credits of English - In addition to the previously Board adopted communication arts curriculum, students must demonstrate proficiency in Public Speaking/Communication Skills and Writing each year to earn credit.
- Three (3) credits of Social Studies. Two and one half credits (2.5) shall be from the required District curriculum and one half credit (.5) may be an elective Social Studies course.
- Three (3) credits of Mathematics, which shall include Algebra 1.
- Three (3) credits of Science, which shall include the following:
- One (1) credit in Foundation of Science or of an additional science elective upon Demonstration of Equivalent Proficiency in Foundation of Science.
- One (1) credit in Biology
- One (1) credit in Science Elective
- Two (2) credits of Health Enhancement (Health and Physical Education) – (can be taken grades 9-10-1112) One and one half credits (1.5) shall be from the required District curriculum and one half credit (.5) may be an elective Health Enhancement course.
- One (1) credit of Career and Vocational/Technical Education (CTE), which shall include (Agriculture, Business, Family and Consumer Science, Industrial Technology, and Medical/Health Occupations.) Courses in Media Production, Graphic Arts/Publications, Stagecraft, and Video Productions may qualify for CTE credit dependent on the state teacher licensure requirements. (Students who elect the Concentration Diploma or Honors Diploma option (below) may substitute one half credit of Financial Tech Skills for this requirement.)
- One (1) credit of Fine Arts (Art, Drama, Music) One-half (0.5) credit in Financial Tech Skills.
- A minimum of five and a one half (5.5) credits of General Electives.
Differentiated Diploma
Students may choose to purse one (1) of three (3) diploma options. All of which meet the Montana
Board of Public Education minimum requirements for graduation from an accredited High School program (10.55.905, ARM) and all of the minimum requirements for graduation from Great Falls Public Schools. Students shall work with their high school guidance counselors, teachers and parents to determine which option best meets their individual needs.
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Career and Technical Education...Skills For The Future
To access the CTE website, click here: bit.ly/GFPS-dual-credit-matrix
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Dual Credit Program
Great Falls Public Schools sets the bar high for students. We want to encourage a strong finish to their senior year and require that all students have a solid plan for college and career before they leave our high schools. Many of our students need and want to take relevant and rigorous courses, especially their last two years of high school. If they articulate a dream or plan of going to college, they should have an opportunity to experience the rigor and relevance of college course work while still in high school if they so choose. There are financial advantages of taking dual credit courses to the student and the parent. In most cases the tuition costs for high-school students are about half the normal fees. Currently we offer 20 college-level courses through cooperative agreements with four different Montana colleges and universities.
To access the GFPS Dual Credit Matrix click here. -
Local Colleges and Universities
- Great Falls College-MSU, click here.
- University of Providence, click here.
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Other College Resources
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Visions Newsletter
To view the current VISIONS Newsletter Click Here
NOTE: Be sure to click on all the links inside the VISIONS Newsletter to get even more information!
WHAT IS THE VISIONS NEWSLETTER? The VISIONS Newsletter is updated twice a year in the Spring and Fall. It is designed to help 8th grade through 12th grade parents stay current with classroom and other activities necessary to help their students in planning for high school and beyond.
If parents are ever in need of more information about any of the Counseling Department activities, they can call:
- C.M. Russell High School at 406-268-6159
- Great Falls High School at 406-268-6330
- Paris GIbson Education Center at 406-268-7703