High school students and their families work together with the school counselor to create a Academic and Career Plan, to include successful course sequencing. The course catalogs are updated yearly to use as a reference when meeting with the student's counselor.
Requirements for graduation differ depending on the year the student entered high school for the first time.
Students enrolled in FCPS are expected to maintain a full-day schedule (Regulation 2412 [PDF]). Students with personal, family, or economic needs may still request a waiver of full day schedule requirements by speaking with their school counselor. Transportation arrangements for a student on this modified schedule are the responsibility of the family.
Students considering this option should discuss possible implications for college admissions and Virginia High School League (VHSL) eligibility with their school counselor prior to reducing their schedule. Schools will attempt to honor all requests; however, scheduling conflicts may prohibit some students from accessing this option.
Chantilly and Marshall Governor’s STEM Academies specialize in engineering and information technology. Falls Church and West Potomac Governor’s Health Sciences Academies focus on five pathways in the area of health care.
FCPS has established articulation agreements with a variety of post-secondary organizations that allow students to take certain career and technical education classes in high school and receive college placement credit. In addition, FCPS has dual enrollment agreements with Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and Shenandoah University, whereby students can earn college credits for select career and technical education classes.
Currently enrolled FCPS students who wish to take a course outside of FCPS and transfer back the credit must have written approval from their school prior to enrolling in the course. The course must meet the requirements outlined in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2408 and Virginia Board of Education regulations. For additional information about pursing coursework outside of FCPS for credit, please contact your school counselor.
Plan for the future by exploring college and career options through Naviance Student.
Course sequences can help students develop and manage their course plan during their high school years.
Course offerings for middle and high school to include the high school online campus.
Types of Diploma Seals
The Advanced Placement® (AP) Program provides academic college preparatory coursework in the major subject fields. AP classes emulate introductory college courses, preparing students for selective universities and colleges.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) is an all-inclusive program for students in grades 6 through 10, with students choosing to pursue the FCPS MYP certificate in tenth grade.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Program (DP) provides comprehensive rigorous education with an international perspective for 11th and 12th graders.
A core program of Career and Technical Education courses is offered in every middle school.
By enrolling in a high school Career and Technical Education course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment.
FCPS Online Campus delivers courses identical in content to those offered in our traditional classrooms and uses multimedia to engage students.
Courses that require a student fee for consumable materials have been designated in the course catalog.
Students eligible for the federal Free and Reduced Price meals program may have course and test fees waived. For more information, see your school counselor.
Students who plan to participate in college athletics should also visit the NCAA Eligibility site to ensure that courses taken towards graduation requirements also meet the requirements for NCAA eligibility.