There is no Certificate of Completion issued in place of a diploma. A student earns a diploma only by meeting all requirements of one full pathway below: every subject credit, the GPA, and the assessments. Falling short on any one item means the diploma is not earned yet, regardless of how many other requirements are met.
Two standard diploma pathways
Florida gives students entering 9th grade a choice between two standard diploma tracks. Both are full, equally valid high school diplomas, and the ACCEL option is simply a faster, more compressed path for students who are ready for it.
| 24-credit Standard Diploma | The default path every student is on unless they opt into ACCEL. Includes 5.5 elective credits and 1 credit of PE (H.O.P.E.). |
|---|---|
| 18-credit ACCEL Diploma | An accelerated, opt-in path for students who want to graduate in fewer credits (often in 3 years). Requires a signed parent/student ACCEL agreement on file with the counselor; without it, a student defaults to the 24-credit path. |
What stays the same on both paths
- Earn a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Pass the statewide Grade 10 ELA assessment (FAST) or earn an approved concordant reading score. The EOC counts as 30% of the course grade where applicable; see Weighted GPA & Class Rank for exactly how that blends into the final grade.
- Pass the Algebra 1 EOC or earn an approved concordant math score (Geometry EOC also qualifies).
- Pass or take all other end-of-course exams tied to specific courses on the transcript.
24-credit Standard Diploma
| English Language Arts | 4 credits (ELA I, II, III, IV) |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4 credits, including Algebra 1 and Geometry |
| Science | 3 credits: 1 Biology, plus 2 additional science credits |
| Social Studies | 3.5 credits: 1 World History, 1 U.S. History, 0.5 U.S. Government, 0.5 Economics, 0.5 Personal Financial Literacy |
| World Language | 2 credits in the same language (for example, Spanish I and Spanish II) |
| Fine or Performing Art, Practical Art, or Career & Technical Education | 1 credit |
| Physical Education | 1 credit (H.O.P.E.) |
| Electives | 5.5 credits, the remaining credits to reach 24 total |
18-credit ACCEL Diploma
| English Language Arts | 4 credits (ELA I, II, III, IV) |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4 credits, including Algebra 1 and Geometry |
| Science | 3 credits: 1 Biology, plus 2 additional science credits |
| Social Studies | 3.5 credits: 1 World History, 1 U.S. History, 0.5 U.S. Government, 0.5 Economics, 0.5 Personal Financial Literacy |
| Fine or Performing Art, Practical Art, or Career & Technical Education | 1 credit |
| Physical Education | Not required |
| Electives | 2.5 credits |
Assessment requirements (both paths)
| Reading assessment (any one qualifies) | Grade 10 FAST ELA Level 3 · PSAT 10 Reading & Writing 470 · PSAT/NMSQT Reading & Writing 470 · SAT Reading & Writing 490 · Pre-ACT Secure English + Reading (averaged) 18 · ACT Reading + English (averaged) 18 · CLT10 Grammar/Writing + Verbal Reasoning (sum) 39 · CLT Grammar/Writing + Verbal Reasoning (sum) 39 |
|---|---|
| Math assessment (any one qualifies) | Algebra 1 EOC Level 3 · Geometry EOC Level 3 · PSAT 10 Math 430 · PSAT/NMSQT Math 430 · SAT Math 420 · Pre-ACT Secure Math 16 · ACT Math 16 · CLT10 Quantitative Reasoning 14 · CLT Quantitative Reasoning 14 |
These are the full official concordant score lists, current as of June 2026, for students who entered 9th grade in 2023-2024 or after. Ask your counselor to confirm which option applies if your student is using anything other than the Grade 10 FAST ELA or Algebra 1 EOC directly.
A student is not moved to the 18-credit path just by having enough credits. A parent (if the student is a minor) and student must sign an ACCEL Diploma Option agreement with the school counselor, after reviewing how it affects college admissions and NCAA eligibility. Without that signed agreement on file, the student stays on the 24-credit standard path.
Want more than a standard diploma?
Students can earn a Scholar or Merit designation on their diploma by completing additional coursework. The Scholar designation typically adds requirements such as Algebra 2, Statistics or an equally rigorous math, an additional lab science, and passing certain EOC assessments. The Merit designation is earned by attaining one or more industry certifications. Mandarin also offers the Cambridge AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) program, an advanced international curriculum that can lead to its own separate diploma. See our AICE Program page for what it takes and why families choose it. Ask your counselor which pathway fits your goals.
Sources: Duval County Public Schools "Standard Diploma Graduation Requirements" chart (students entering grade 9 in 2023-2024 and thereafter, dated 6/26/2026), provided by Mandarin High School counseling staff; Florida Department of Education Graduation Requirements; Florida Statute 1003.4282 (Standard diploma) and 1002.3105 (ACCEL); Duval County Public Schools Student Progression Plan.