Florida High-School Graduation Requirements — Standard vs. Scholar Diploma, Complete Guide
Florida offers several high-school diploma options, each with different course, EOC, and GPA requirements. Most Florida students earn the standard 24-credit diploma, but the Scholar designation and Merit designation add layers for more competitive transcripts. This guide walks through what's required, which EOCs matter for which diploma, and how Bright Futures scholarship thresholds interact with graduation requirements.
This is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education. Confirm specific requirements with your school counselor.
The diploma options at a glance
| Diploma Option | Key Requirements |
|---|---|
| Standard (24-credit) | 24 total credits, pass Algebra 1 EOC, pass ELA Grade 10 FAST, 2.0+ unweighted GPA. |
| Scholar designation | Standard + additional rigor: Algebra 2 + at least one science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) at advanced level + foreign language + 1 AP/AICE/IB or Dual Enrollment. |
| Merit designation | Standard + completion of a Career & Technical Education program with industry certification. |
| 18-credit accelerated | Lower credit requirement; trades off some flexibility. Less common option. |
The 24-credit Standard Diploma — subject by subject
| Subject Area | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 4 | Including 9th-grade ELA, 10th-grade ELA (FAST tested), and two more years. |
| Mathematics | 4 | Must include Algebra 1 (EOC required) and Geometry. Two additional math credits. |
| Science | 3 | Must include Biology 1 (EOC). Two additional science credits (Chemistry, Physics, or equivalent). |
| Social Studies | 3 | World History, U.S. History (EOC counts), U.S. Government (0.5), Economics (0.5). |
| Physical Education | 1 | Includes integration of health requirements. |
| Performing/Fine Arts | 1 | Or speech and debate, or career and technical education. |
| Electives | 8 | Student choice, including possible foreign language. |
| Total | 24 |
The EOC and FAST tests that affect graduation
Florida uses two test families for graduation purposes:
End-of-Course (EOC) Exams
- Algebra 1 EOC — required to pass at Level 3 (or use concordant SAT/ACT score) for the Standard Diploma.
- Geometry EOC — counts toward course grade; specific graduation rule varies by diploma option.
- Biology 1 EOC — counts toward course grade (typically 30%); not a standalone graduation gate.
- U.S. History EOC — counts toward course grade; not a standalone graduation gate.
- Civics EOC (Middle School) — required to advance from 8th grade.
FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking)
- ELA Grade 10 FAST — must reach Level 3 or use concordant SAT/ACT reading score for graduation.
- Lower-grade FAST (3-9 ELA, 3-8 Math) — affects promotion in some grades but not high-school graduation directly.
The concordant-score alternative
If a student cannot pass the Algebra 1 EOC or the 10th-grade ELA FAST at Level 3, Florida accepts concordant scores from the SAT, ACT, or PSAT/NMSQT as substitutes. FDOE publishes the current concordant cut scores; these are updated periodically.
Bright Futures scholarship thresholds
Bright Futures is Florida's lottery-funded merit scholarship program. The thresholds matter because they create academic incentives beyond graduation:
| Award Level | Typical Requirements |
|---|---|
| Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) | 3.5+ weighted GPA, 1290+ SAT (or 29+ ACT), 100 hours volunteer service. Covers 100% of in-state tuition. |
| Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) | 3.0+ weighted GPA, 1170+ SAT (or 26+ ACT), 75 hours volunteer service. Covers 75% of in-state tuition. |
The SAT/ACT thresholds for Bright Futures change periodically — confirm current numbers with the Florida Department of Education or the Office of Student Financial Assistance before relying on them.
How our practice can help
For the math-related graduation tests (Algebra 1 EOC, Geometry EOC, and the SAT/ACT concordant alternatives), our Texas TEKS-aligned practice covers roughly 70-80% of the underlying content.
- Algebra 1 EOC — pair our 518-question Algebra 1 bank with FDOE sample items.
- Geometry EOC — pair our 506-question Geometry bank with FDOE sample items.
- Biology 1 EOC — pair our 440-question Biology bank with FDOE Biology sample items.
- Concordant SAT/ACT path — our Digital SAT Math bank matches the post-2024 SAT format.
Mapping your child's path to graduation? Try our free samples to gauge readiness on the EOC subjects: Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History, SAT Math. No signup, no payment. Cold scores align with B.E.S.T. levels (85%+ ≈ Level 3+).
Related guides
- Florida FAST + B.E.S.T. — Complete Reference
- Florida Algebra 1 EOC — practice guide
- Florida Algebra 1 EOC retake
- Concordant SAT/ACT scores
- Level 3 vs Level 4 explained
- Florida Geometry EOC
- Florida Biology 1 EOC
Sources
- Florida Statute §1003.4282 — high-school graduation requirements.
- FDOE — End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments page.
- FDOE — Achievement Level Descriptions, B.E.S.T. Standards (March 2024).
- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program — Office of Student Financial Assistance.
- FDOE — Concordant and Comparative Scores documentation.
This is an independent guide. Texas CBE™ is not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education or any Florida school district. Diploma rules, EOC requirements, and Bright Futures thresholds may be updated — confirm current specifics with FDOE or your school counselor.