Graduation Requirements

Required for the American Diploma:

• Eight semesters [or the equivalent] of academic work beyond grade 8;
• A minimum of 24 credits earned.

Specific credit requirements for the American diploma, earned in grades 9-12, include those prescribed below:

• English (4 credits)
• World Languages (3 credits)
• Mathematics (3 credits)
• Social Studies (3 credits)
• Science (3 credits)
• Visual and Performing Arts (1.5 credits) students are encouraged to include at least one Design and Technology course as a part of these credits
• Physical Education (1.5 credits)
• Health (0.5 credits)

TOTAL 24 Credits
 

Core Seminar for Juniors and Seniors
The Core Seminar is required for all students in both semesters of grades 11 and 12. It is a joint venture between the IB Program and the counseling department, designed to ensure that Graded students are well-prepared for success during their IB studies, the university research and application process, and life beyond high school. Through the Seminar, students receive group and individual support from the TOK teachers, the IB coordinator, the CAS and EE coordinators, and counselors to further their thinking, organization, time management, communication, and research skills. Non-IB diploma students are required​ to attend the counseling portions of the Seminar and have independent study time during lessons focused on EE and CAS activities.

Flex
Flex is a daily 35- or 40-minute block for all students between 11:05 am and 12:00 pm. During this time, students participate in activities and clubs, High School assemblies, Peer Group Connection (PGC), academic counseling, and mentoring. The High School Mentoring Program supports all High School students through a series of activities and discussions centered on intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, character development, and community building. The goal is to instill in students a sense of belonging to the Graded community and encourage them to consider themselves members of the global community.

Multiple Language Requirement 
While enrolled in High School, students must study a language in addition to English. Portuguese or Spanish may fulfill this requirement. Exceptions must be approved by the high school administration. Two years of studying the same world language (e.g., Portuguese or Spanish at the introductory or intermediate level) and/or an equivalent proficiency approved by Graded in another language is required. Students enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program and students with a documented language disability may be exempted from studying a language other than English.

Dropping or Adding Courses
Changes to a class schedule initiated by a student must be discussed with the school counseling office, the IB coordinator, and the High School principal. Only necessary modifications will be made during the first two weeks of the first semester and the first week of the second semester. Withdrawal and extra course requests are made at the discretion of the High School principal based on need, feasibility, and availability.

Sample transcript of a student earning the US High School Diploma

Equivalency of courses & programs:

• Grade 9: 9° ano do Ensino Fundamental
• Grade 10: 1° ano do Ensino Médio
• Grade 11: 2° ano do Ensino Médio
• Grade 12: 3° ano do Ensino Médio

Requirements for the Brazilian Certificate:

• At the end of grade 9, satisfactory completion of all requirements for the Conclusão do 9° ano do Ensino Fundamental;
• Six semesters of academic work beyond grade 9;
• Completion of all requirements of the BAP;
• Satisfactory completion of all requirements for the American diploma.

Specific course requirements for the Brazilian Certificate, earned in grades 10, 11, and 12, include those prescribed below:

Brazilian Social Studies

• Grade 9 Brazilian Social Studies 9
• Grades 10-12 A minimum of one full year of Brazilian Social Studies
• Two semesters of Brazilian Social Studies in Grade 10

OR

• One Semester of Brazilian Social Studies in Grade 10 and IB Brazilian Social Studies Year 1 and Year 2

Portuguese Language

• Grade 9 Portuguese 9
• Grade 10 Portuguese 10
• Grade 11 IB HL/SL Portuguese A Lang and Lit I or IB HL/SL Portuguese B I
• Grade 12 IB HL/SL Portuguese A Lang and Lit HL II or IB HL/SL Portuguese B II

Other levels of Portuguese must be approved by the head of department of world languages, the IB coordinator (for Grade 11 and 12 courses) and the HS principal.

Mathematics
Students must take one mathematics course in each of the four years of High School.

Science
Students must take one science course in each of the four years of High School.

Arts
Students must take at least 1.5 credits of Design and Technology and Visual Performing Arts credits.

Physical Education
Students must take one semester of physical education and one semester of health in grade 9 and two additional semesters of physical education in grades 10, 11, or 12 for a total of three semesters.
 
Sample transcript of a student earning the United States and Brazilian Diplomas

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a not-for-profit educational foundation. The IB Program offers students access to a broad and balanced range of academic studies and learning experiences. It promotes conceptual learning and focuses on the powerful organization of relevant ideas across subject areas that help integrate learning and add coherence to the curriculum. These programs address not only cognitive development but social, emotional, and physical well-being.

IB Pathways at Graded
Graded offers the Diploma Program, an IB curriculum framework developed for students in their final two years of High School. Graded students can choose between two paths within this curriculum: individual course certificates or the full IB diploma. Both paths give students the personal and academic benefits of an IB education, as well as the IB stamp on their school records and résumé/CV for university applications.

IB Diploma
Over the course of two years, IB diploma candidates study six subjects (three at standard level and three at higher level) and complete three additional requirements: the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay, and the completion of the seven Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) learning outcomes. To acquire an IB diploma, students must obtain a minimum of 24 points out of a potential 45 points on the final examinations, which are externally scored and moderated by the IB. Students who choose to follow this route should be aware that the IB diploma is one of the most academically rigorous high school programs available. Because the IB encourages students to complete numerous tests and learning assignments outside of school, those who excel in the IB diploma have good time management skills and the ability to work independently. Additionally, IB diploma candidates must maintain outstanding school attendance and adhere to internal deadlines.

IB Course Certificates
This path suits students looking for challenging courses without the intense workload and demands on their time and organizational skills that the IB diploma requires. Students obtain an official IB certificate after successfully completing their selected courses and IB examinations. This option appeals to many students since it allows them to take six IB courses while avoiding the added load of the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge requirements.

IB Subjects at Graded
Graded offers the following IB subjects:

• Studies in language and literature (Group 1)
• Literature A HL (offered in English)
• Language and Literature A HL and SL (offered in English, Portuguese, and Spanish)
• School-supported Self-taught Literature SL (This subject is offered for students wishing to study a language not offered at Graded. Please contact the IB coordinator for more information if interested in this course.)
• Language acquisition (Group 2)
• Language B HL and SL (offered in Portuguese and Spanish)
• ab initio SL (offered in Spanish)
• Individuals and societies (Group 3)
• Brazilian Social Studies SL
• Economics HL
• History HL and SL
• Psychology HL and SL
• Environmental Systems and Societies SL
• Sciences (Group 4)
• Biology HL and SL
• Chemistry HL and SL
• Physics HL and SL
• Computer Science HL and SL
• Environmental Systems and Societies SL
• Mathematics (Group 5)
• Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations HL and SL
• Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL and SL
• The arts (Group 6)
• Theater Arts HL and SL
• Visual Arts HL and SL

A student is only permitted to take four HL courses if needed for a specific university program and if grade 10 results support such placement. This must be approved by the IB coordinator and HS principal.

IB Fees
Families are responsible for paying all IB registration and examination fees. The fees for the May 2021 session were US$140 per subject, so a full diploma student would pay a total of US$840 to register for the exam session. Fees are payable in November before the May exam session. For further details, please consult the IB coordinator.

Families are liable for any additional IB fees incurred due to student registration delays or changes to course levels after November 1 of grade 12. A fee is also charged for the optional legalization of results and the "enquiry upon results." 

Sample transcript of a student earning the US High School and  IB  Diplomas