Congratulations, Class of 2013! An estimated 67 percent of graduating seniors have earned an Advanced or Honors diploma. That’s an increase of 2 percentage points from the number of college- and career-ready diplomas earned by the Class of 2012, and 7 percentage points more than the number earned by the Class of 2011.
The Canyons Board of Education was the first in Utah to offer students differentiated diplomas to indicate college- and career-readiness. With support from the Commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, the Utah Board of Regents, the Salt Lake Chamber and the Utah Technology Council, the Canyons Board adopted the Advanced and Honors diplomas in February 2010 as part of its college- and career-ready academic framework. The first Advanced and Honors diplomas, which require rigorous coursework and competency in core subjects, were awarded to the Class of 2011.
The Board of Education will honor this year’s Advanced and Honors diploma recipients at an open house Tuesday, May 28, 2013, from 6 7:30 p.m. at Jordan High School.
The data for the Class of 2013 are estimates, and will be solidified in late summer 2013.
Of this year’s graduating seniors, 36 percent are expected to earn Advanced Diplomas, up from 33 percent for the Class of 2011. Thirty-one percent of this year’s graduating seniors are expected to earn Honors Diplomas, up from 27 percent for the Class of 2011.
In addition to current graduation standards, the Advanced Diploma requires students ot complete two credits of world language; credits in more rigorous laboratory sciences and college-prep English in the 12th grade; and competency in Algebra 2.
The Honors Diploma requires students to complete Advanced Diploma requirements and earn College-Readiness Benchmark Scores on the ACT college-entrance exam. The Benchmark Scores are (on a scale of 1-36): 18 in English; 21 in Reading; 22 in Mathematics; and 24 in Science.
