School Should Inspire Students to Think About Their Futures

Tomorrow’s workers will succeed by constantly adapting to the changing world around them. Today’s students must begin by learning new life skills. Recently, more than 300 local industry leaders, teachers, community members, parents and students discussed what the priorities should be for LPS moving forward. Also, focus groups of LPS high school students shared their priorities and compiled the Portrait of an LPS Graduate, which outlines the skills every LPS graduate should have.

View and Download LPS Portrait of a Graduate

Retrato de un graduado de LPS (Spanish)

Why does LPS have new graduation requirements?
State statute requires local school district boards of education to establish requirements for students to receive a high school diploma. These local requirements must align with guidelines approved by the Colorado State Board of Education.  

What is the purpose of the new graduation guidelines legislation?
The Colorado State Board of Education is articulating Colorado’s shared beliefs about the value and meaning of a Colorado high school diploma. The Colorado State Board of Education is also outlining minimum components, expectations and responsibilities of local school districts to demonstrate to employers, military recruiters, college admission teams and other training programs that Colorado graduates are ready for the next step after high school.

Who is affected by the change and when does it take effect?
All Colorado school district graduation requirements must be in alignment with the State Board of Education’s graduation guidelines prior to the Class of 2022 entering high school.

Does this change affect current high school students?
It starts with the graduating Class of 2022.

How are these graduation requirements different than what is currently in place?
Currently, students only must successfully complete the course requirements outlined at their high school. Beginning with the graduating Class of 2022, students must also complete the ICAP planning process as well as demonstrate competency in mathematics and English.

How are LPS’ new graduation requirements better for students?

• LPS made additional changes that provide more flexibility for students. These changes are based on feedback from student focus groups at every high school in the district:
• Students can now earn high school credit prior to 9th grade.
• There are more opportunities at the high school level for course alternatives and waivers to promote expanded graduation pathways.  
• The number of credits required to graduate has not changed. The intent is not to graduate early, but rather to open more pathways for credit completion.
• This means that students will have more opportunities to take classes in their areas of greatest interest.

Are the new graduation requirements more rigorous?
Yes. High school students already have been involved in the ICAP process and already have been demonstrating competency in mathematics and English. There are many opportunities and multiple ways to meet the graduation requirements, and the vast majority of students will exceed what is required to graduate.

How will students know what they need to do?
Each high school provides a detailed course guide and planning tools that clearly outline expectations and help guide students and families through the steps toward graduation.

Who will help them?
Students, parents, and counselors will work together to outline academic pathways that best meet the needs of students.

Will credits earned prior to high school count toward the new graduation requirements?
Yes. Board policy IKF allows students to earn course credit toward the LPS graduation requirements prior to entering high school beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. The following courses can be counted as credit-bearing courses prior to high school: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and World Languages. Credit earned through successful completion of one or more of these courses will be reflected on the student's high school transcript. Course completion will not count toward a student's grade point average (GPA) in high school in LPS. GPA calculations will begin when students officially begin their freshman year of high school in LPS.