• Home
• About Us
  • About Us Home
  • Letter from the Director
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Learning Goals
  • Accreditation
  • Students & Graduates
  • Staff
  • Art Contest
• Curriculum
  • Curriculum Home
  • Classical Methodology
  • Primary (K-2)
  • Grammatical (3-5)
  • Dialectical (6-9)
  • Rhetorical (10-12)
  • Syllabi
• Programs
  • Programs Home
  • Teacher Review
  • Teacher Assisted/Directed
  • Learning Support
  • Special Services
  • Graduation Requirements
• Enrollment
  • Enrollment Home
  • Pricing Breakdown
  • Refund Policy
• Resources
  • Resources Home
  • Educational Links
  • Testing
  • Conferences
  • FAQ's
• Contact Us

Graduation & College Requirements

Mother of Divine Grace School offers a standard academic diploma and transcript. As an established, respected, and accredited private school our transcript is accepted by colleges throughout the United States. (To see a list of the colleges that Mother of Divine Grace School's graduates have been accepted at or have attended, please visit our Students & Graduates page.)

Graduation from Mother of Divine Grace School requires completion of 22.5 credits (225 units). Students must also meet our minimum requirements for graduation and (due to the unique methodology and integrated writing used in MODG courses) are required to take at least two MODG courses each year. One of these must be in a core area (History, Religion, or English.) Note: An MODG course is defined as one described by an MODG syllabus, one using the same texts in essentially the same way as an MODG syllabus, or one where a parent-submitted course description demonstrates that MODG school goals for the course are met.

Suggested Course of Study for High School

Mother of Divine Grace School's Suggested Course of Study for the College-Bound Student:

Total Credits: 27.5 (Total Units: 275)

This is Mother of Divine Grace School's suggested course of study for high school students and meets/or exceeds the requirements for most colleges in the United States. However, even though colleges do follow a general pattern, every college is different and may require slightly different courses to be completed in high school for admission to their program. So, as the student progresses through high school, he should contact the colleges he is interested in attending for a list of their course requirements. Mother of Divine Grace School's consultants will help the parent adapt the curriculum for each student to meet the requirements for the college he is interested in attending. For example, if the college or program a student was interested in attending required Physics for admission, the consultant would adjust the Science curriculum by combining Natural History and Biology (using our Composite Syllabus) in 10th Grade so that the student could complete Chemistry in 11th Grade and Physics in 12th Grade.

Sample College Course Requirements for Admission

The recommendations below from Thomas Aquinas College are an example of a college's course requirements. These recommendations are suggestions for the best high school preparation for their program. In the case of Thomas Aquinas College, they are not requirements, but the student is strongly encouraged to complete these courses. Thomas Aquinas College, like many colleges, evaluates every application for admission on an individual basis.

Based on the suggested course of study by Thomas Aquinas College:

Because Thomas Aquinas College only specifies 15 credits, but 22.5 credits are required for graduation, the balance of credits (7.5) would be used to fulfill California State Requirements in Physical Education, Health, additional Language courses, and of course the Religion courses which are required by Mother of Divine Grace School every year.

Minimum Requirements for Graduation

As a fully accredited private school within the State of California Mother of Divine Grace School's students must meet the minimum requirements for the State of California in order to graduate and receive a diploma. The Minimum Requirements for High School Graduation are:

Because the Minimum Requirements only specify 13.5 credits, but graduation requires 22.5 credits, the balance of credits (9) can be completed with electives or academic courses in the field of the student's choice. Mother of Divine Grace School is interested in helping students acquire the art of learning. Our consultants will assist each student in determining his own course of study to achieve this goal.

Alternative Course of Study for High School

Mother of Divine Grace School's Course of Study following the Minimum Requirements for Graduation:

The course of study above is a suggested course of study. It fulfills the minimum requirements for graduation while still meeting our basic high school goals. The student may substitute other electives or academic courses in the field of his choice, provided he meets the minimum requirements for graduation. For example the student might follow the fine arts suggestions offered in Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum, take voice lessons, play an instrument, be involved in drama, participate in a Shakespeare play, or take dance lessons. He might also take additional math, science or language courses. Or the student might take courses, such as Computer Programming or advanced science courses, at a local community college.

To see a complete list of the high school courses which Mother of Divine Grace School offers please see our list of Syllabi. As noted above, a student may also take other courses (not included in our syllabi) toward graduation and have them recorded on their high school transcript, provided the student meets our course requirements regarding the difficulty and duration of the courses. Mother of Divine Grace School's consultant will help the parent in adapting and verifying these courses. Here is a list of other high school courses a student might take (please note: this is not an exhaustive list).

Chemistry – Using Exploring Creation with Chemistry by Dr. Jay Wile. This text provides a serious study of chemistry while remaining very homeschool friendly. Apologia also provides a Solutions and Tests Manual for the main text in addition to the study questions throughout the book. 1 year: 1 credit

Physics – Using Exploring Creation with Physics by Dr. Jay Wile. This text provides a serious study of physics while remaining very homeschool friendly. Apologia also provides a Solutions and Tests Manual for the main text in addition to the study questions throughout the book. 1 year: 1 credit

Physical Science – Using Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Dr. Jay Wile. This text provides a serious study of physics while remaining very homeschool friendly. Apologia also provides a Solutions and Tests Manual for the main text in addition to the study questions throughout the book. 1 year: 1 credit

General Science – Using Exploring Creation with Science by Dr. Jay Wile. This text provides a serious study of science while remaining very homeschool friendly. Apologia also provides a Solutions and Tests Manual for the main text in addition to the study questions throughout the book. 1 year: 1 credit

Foreign Languages

• Spanish – Using the Power-Glide Spanish (2 years: 2 credits) or the Rosetta Stone Spanish (2 levels, 3 years: 3 credits)
• French – Using the Power-Glide French (2 years: 2 credits) or the Rosetta Stone French (2 levels, 3 years: 3 credits)
• German – Using the Power-Glide German (2 years: 2 credits) or the Rosetta Stone German (2 levels, 3 years: 3 credits)
• And many other languages (Romance, Middle Eastern, and Asian)

Fine Arts – Students may earn credits for fine arts programs. Credits depend on length and difficulty of program. Generally 120 hours: 1 credit

• Art (ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.)
• Music (instrumental, vocal, music theory, etc.)
• Dance (ballet, tap, Irish Dance, etc.)
• Fashion Design
• Dramatic Arts (acting, directing, set design, etc.)

Physical Education – Students may earn credits for any sport or exercise program, such as aerobics, baseball, basketball, football, ice skating, martial arts, mountain biking, tennis, equestrian training, skiing, surfing, or dance. 120 hours: 1 credit

Travel – Students may receive credit for travel! Some of our students have earned credits for participating in international leadership programs and trips to other countries.

Apprenticeship – Students may become an apprentice in order to learn a trade or find out about an occupation and earn credits for their apprenticeship.

Work Study – Students are permitted by state law to work up to 24 hours (ages 16–17) or 18 hours (ages 14–15) each week. 400 documented hours of work: 1 credit (10 units) (Note: Limit of 1 credit/10 units per year)

Community College – Students may enroll in elective and academic courses at their local community college. Students can earn high school and/or college credit for these courses. Since community colleges provide a transcript, students do not need to purchase and complete an elective portfolio for these classes.

© 2008 Mother of Divine Grace School, Inc