Required Credits for Graduation in Delaware
In the state of Delaware, students must earn 24 credits to graduate. However, there are certain classes that are non-negotiable and certain number of credits are required in different categories. Below describes the MINIMUM requirements for each category.
Often, students graduate with many more credits than are needed to meet the minimum. Students are encouraged to use their time in high school to personalize their schedule to explore different topics, careers, and skills needed in life! William Penn offers a wide variety of classes that can help students narrow down their interests and plan for their future.
Students will need to meet these Delaware state credit requirements to earn a diploma:
4 – English
4 – Math
3 – Science
3 – Social Studies
2 – World Language
1 – Physical Education
.5 – Health
3 – Career Pathway
3.5 – Electives
School Counselors keep records of students’ earned credits so that they can make informed suggestions about what a student needs to have on their schedule. If you are unsure of how many credits in each required class category your student has earned, please reach out to the school counselor.
Course Selection
Selection for the following year’s courses will be facilitated by the School Counselors in the Marking Period 3 (February-March). Counselors will best advise students on what they should take based on their grades, credit needs, personal preferences, and post-graduate goals.
William Penn offers an array of Regular, Honors, Advanced Placement, and College courses. Click below to learn about each course level:
Regular Level (CP)
Standard, on-grade-level courses focused on foundational knowledge in core subjects such as English, Math, Social Studies and Science. These classes move at a manageable pace.
Honors
Typically more challenging and in-depth courses. These classes move at a faster pace and cover more material. Honors classes aim to provide a more rigorous an enriching learning experiences for students who excel in specific subjects. William Penn offers additional weight to Honors classes and can notably raise a student’s GPA. Student should maintain A’s and B’s each marking period in regular level courses if they want to be elevated into an Honors section.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Designed to be college-level, covering more material at a faster pace and requiring more independent work. These classes culminate in an optional AP exam which can potentially earn students’ college credit if they achieve a qualifying score. Taking AP courses demonstrate to university admissions counselors that students are ready for higher education. William Penn also gives extra weight to AP grades when calculating a student’s grade and can substantially boost GPA’s.
Click to view AP courses available
Click to learn how AP credits get factored into college transcripts.
College-Level
Dual Enrollment & Early College
Enable high school students to enroll in college courses offered by our local universities: the University of Delaware, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, Wilmington University, and Goldey-Beacom College. These classes provide both high school and college credit upon completion, which can be applied to their future college degree. The benefit of Dual Enrollment classes is that they are offered at a more affordable price than a typical college course. University admissions consider Dual Enrollment courses highly in their admissions process.