Districts/charter schools are responsible for maintaining appropriate records in order to identify eligible students (Education Code Section 51454). The following information has been prepared to help schools and districts identify eligible graduating seniors.
To be eligible for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, students must:
Be receiving a high school diploma from their district.
Have earned designated results on six qualifying examinations. Results from California Standards Tests (CSTs) and/or Golden State Examinations (GSEs) students have taken in previous years may be used. When using CST results, students must have earned a scaled score of 370 or above.* When using GSE results, students must have earned a performance level of recognition, honors, or high honors.
The six examinations must include:
1. The Grade 11 History-Social Science CST (United States History and Geography)
2. One of the following English-language arts (ELA) exams:
CST
Grade 9 ELA*
Grade 10 ELA*
Grade 11 ELA*
GSE
Reading
Writing
3. One of the following mathematics exams:
CST
Algebra II*
Geometry*
Summative High School Mathematics*
Integrated Mathematics 2 or 3*
GSE
First-year Algebra
Geometry
High School Mathematics
4. One of the following science exams:
CST
Biology*
Chemistry*
Physics*
Earth Science*
Integrated/Coordinated Science 1, 2, 3, or 4**
GSE
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Second-year Coordinated Science
5. Two exams of the student’s choice. To meet this elective requirement, students may choose from the following:
- An examination listed above not used to meet another requirement
- Exception – Students may not use both the GSE and CST in the same math or science subject. For example: Students may not use the GSE in Geometry to fulfill the math requirement and the Geometry CST to fulfill the elective requirement or the GSE in Biology to fulfill the elective requirement and Biology CST to fulfill the science requirement.
- The grade 10 History-Social Science CST (World History)*
- The GSE in Economics
- The GSE in Government/Civics
- The GSE in Second-year Spanish Language
*CST scaled scores are available beginning with the 2002 results.
**Integrated/Coordinated Science scaled scores are available beginning with the 2003 results.
