A student must pass all Academic Obligations, i.e., all courses, to be considered for an Archbishop Shaw High School diploma.

The following courses must be completed:

4 units in Religious Studies. Applicable credit is granted for each year he attended Shaw or another Catholic high school.

4 units in English

4 units in Social Studies (1 unit in Civics, 1 unit in World History, 1 unit in World Geography, and 1 unit in American History).

4 units in Mathematics (1 unit in Algebra I, 1 unit in Geometry, 1 unit in Algebra II and 1 unit in Advanced Math).

4 units in Science (1 unit in Physical Science, 1 unit in Biology, Chemistry and 1 unit in Advanced Science).

2 units in Foreign Language (units must be in the same foreign language).

2 units in Health and Physical Education.

The remaining units must be earned by the completion of state approved electives.

A senior who passes all courses and meets these requirements is eligible for his diploma, provided he is not subject to disciplinary or financial sanctions.
A senior who has not completed all of the required (non-elective) courses or who has failed more than two other courses will not be allowed to attend the graduation commencement exercises.

A student must pass all academic obligations, i.e. all courses, to be considered for an Archbishop Shaw High School diploma of which at least ten (10) classes should be either honors or AP classes.

The following courses must be completed:

4 units in Religious Studies. Applicable credit is granted for each year he attended Shaw or another Catholic high school.

4 units in English

4 units in Social Studies (1 unit in Civics, 1 unit in World History, 1 unit in World Geography, and 1 unit in American History).

4 units in Mathematics (1 unit in Algebra I, 1 unit in Geometry, 1 unit in Algebra II, and 1 unit in an advanced course).

4 units in Science (1 unit in Physical Science, 1 unit in Biology, 1 unit in Chemistry, and 1 unit in Physics).

2 units in Foreign Language (units must be in the same foreign language).

2 units in Health and Physical Education.

The remaining units must be earned by the completion of state approved electives.

A student who passes all courses and meets these requirements is eligible for his diploma, provided he was not on disciplinary probation during his junior or senior year or subject to other disciplinary or financial sanctions. The student must also maintain a weighted cumulative grade point average of 3.700. A senior who has failed more than one credit unit will not be allowed to attend the graduation commencement exercises.

Students in non-public schools are not required to participate in the State’s exit testing program or LEAP. Consequently, such students do not have the option of receiving a state diploma upon completion of the state’s minimum requirements. They must successfully meet the non-public school’s institutional requirements to be eligible for a high school diploma.

This school will recognize Carnegie units of credit earned for courses taken in the eighth grade only in keeping with Louisiana State Department of Education policies, provided the grade earned in such course work is at least a “B” or higher. Specifically, such credit may be granted if the following conditions are met: 1) the teacher is certified at the secondary level; 2) the content is in keeping with the state curriculum guide; and 3) the instructional-time requirements specified in Bulletin 741 are met. Schools awarding high school credit for course work completed in the eighth grade must document the successful completion of this work on an official transcript, a copy of which is to be forwarded to this school.

Archbishop Shaw High School does not graduate students at mid-term. Students who meet the minimum requirements for a State Diploma who wish to terminate their enrollment prior to the end of their senior year will not be entitled to any refunds. Payment in full for the academic year in session is necessitated and required by budgetary and contractual obligations assumed at the onset.

Transcripts for transfer students will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine whether the minimum academic requirements for graduation can be fulfilled prior to enrollment. All course work may not be acceptable toward meeting the graduation requirements, especially in situations where partial credit is noted on a student’s transcript. Also, honor courses completed at other schools will only be recognized in computing a weighted cumulative grade point average if a comparable course is offered at this school.

Seniors who do not meet the requirements for a Shaw diploma (regular or honors) will not be permitted to take part in commencement exercises at Archbishop Shaw High School. A student is required under ordinary circumstances to attend and participate in the Baccalaureate Mass and commencement ceremonies if he expects to receive a school diploma. Attendance at the Baccalaureate Mass and graduation practice is also required; unauthorized absence may result in exclusion from participation in the commencement ceremony. Students who do not conform to appearance and dress regulations required for these events will be excluded from participating.

The determination of Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be determined on 4.0 scale and honors classes taken. Specifically, these awards are based on the grade point averages up to and including (but not higher than the tenth place value. Therefore, multiple Valedictorians and Salutatorians may be selected for this honor. In addition, possible candidates must have completed at least half of the honors courses offered at Archbishop Shaw High School. Candidates for Valedictorian and Salutatorian must also be enrolled in this school a minimum of five semesters. Aside from the honor, the selection os the Valedictorian(s) and Salutatorian(s) does not inherently confer any rights or privileges. Graduating seniors currently subjected to disciplinary probation, suspension or other disciplinary sanctions are not eligible to receive this award.

The principal of Archbishop Shaw High School has discretionary power:

To grant a Shaw diploma (regular or honors) to students who, with the school’s recommendation, went to college after their junior year and have successfully completed the first year of college. The principal may grant high school credit for certain college courses and issue a Shaw diploma provided that there was a previous agreement in writing with the principal when the student went to college after his junior year; and that he left Shaw in good standing and has paid his graduation fee.

To permit students who are 18 years or older in their junior year to take the required courses in summer school to graduate with the appropriate diploma at the end of the summer following his junior year.

The school maintains a permanent transcript for each student enrolled. This transcript includes information on the dates of attendance, courses taken, grades received, and credits earned. In most instances, it will also include information or scores relative to standardized tests. Higher institutions of learning, potential employers, the military services, receiving schools in situations involving transfers, etc., will all have an interest in your official transcript. Each student is entitled to three copies of his transcript free of charge; additional copies are available for $1.00 each. The school will forward official copies of transcripts upon receipt of written authorization of the parents/guardians or upon request of authorized school personnel as stipulated in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.