Your kid’s counselor can tell them what counts or doesn’t

The McLean Hs website says language past that required for the diploma counts for this. So if a kid started language in 8th, 11th and 12th grade language would satisfy the advanced diploma requirements.

For example, does Programming (Information Systems) (CTE), followed by AP Computer Science Principles (MATH) count as sequential?

Sure wish someone could tell me what electives count for this requirement and by someone, I mean my kids counselor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Programming is under CTE and AP CS is under math, prob why it was not approved.

My kid used Comp Sci A and Comp Sci AB for this requirement. He will not get the advanced diploma because he never took a CTE or arts class. Oh well!

Isn't this required for the standard diploma too?

https://www.fcps.edu/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/first-time-ninth-2018-19

no. for the standard, world language is under the same category as CTE. He took 3 years of language. World language and CTE/Fine arts are separate categories for the advanced diploma.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, is this an actual "requirement" if someone just doesn't, do they not graduate?

Or is this just a thing "They" want you to do.

If the counselor lets it happen, nobody cares. Happy graduation.

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ It's actually all current HS students, not just freshmen, that the footnote on the advanced diploma applies to. Basically, anyone who was a 9th grader starting in 2018 and beyond.

This. Class of 2021 didn’t have it.

^^^^ It's actually all current HS students, not just freshmen, that the footnote on the advanced diploma applies to. Basically, anyone who was a 9th grader starting in 2018 and beyond.

I just looked at the Graduation Requirements on the FCPS webpage and it seems that the footnote about sequential electives only appears for a standard diploma for students entering 9th grade in 2017 and earlier (so class of 2021 was the last class that applied to). There is no mention of the requirement in the criteria for an advanced diploma.

For the current freshmen, however, there is a footnote about sequential electives being required for both the standard and advanced diplomas. Assuming all of the information is accurate, it would seem that advanced diploma students didn't need the sequential elective requirement until the class of 2025.

I agree that it doesn't allow for exploration. My kid took art this year, and will take journalism next year on the recommendation of her English teacher. There's plenty of time for a second course in either discipline, but I hate the fact that DC is only halfway through her freshman year of HS and I have to think about the fact that her (perfectly valid) choices could impact graduation!

Anonymous wrote:I thought it this sequential elective requirement has been around for ages. Can be someone point in to when it was actually implemented?

Not a guess but an actual link?

Earlier in this thread there is a memo about in from 2017. Scroll back a few pages

I thought it this sequential elective requirement has been around for ages. Can be someone point in to when it was actually implemented?

Not a guess but an actual link?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused! I have a class of 2020 kid and 2022 kid so maybe they weren’t under this state law. But I also have a class of 2025 kid and didn’t know about this. Hopefully she does and has considered it in her course planning.

I had a 2020 who did not have this.

My 2024 does have this requirement.

I believe it was put in place in the past 2 years when the state government flipped.

Same, I don't like this requirement. My class of 2021 kid was able to jump around and try things that interested him. For example he took a computer graphics 1 class in 11th, which he liked but didn't love. In 12th he took a great geospatial analysis class which he probably would not have been able to take if he'd been locked in to taking computer graphics 2.

My 2023 kid gets around the requirement by being in band all 4 years and her school considers the requirement completed even though she's been in the higher level band the whole time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be fine with it if they would drop the PE requirement, that at least opens slots for this

True.

+2
Especially if my kid plays sports.

I agree with you too, however, my two teens who play competitive sports love PE Class. LOL.

Anonymous wrote:11:01 here. On second floor thought, It might be different by school. So check with your own kid's high school.

That might be true

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused! I have a class of 2020 kid and 2022 kid so maybe they weren’t under this state law. But I also have a class of 2025 kid and didn’t know about this. Hopefully she does and has considered it in her course planning.

I had a 2020 who did not have this.

My 2024 does have this requirement.

I believe it was put in place in the past 2 years when the state government flipped.