Is the General diploma still a HS diploma?
The General diploma is still an accredited, HS diploma that the student can use to apply to colleges, jobs, etc.. The Academic diploma is more college-bound oriented, but this does not mean a General-Diploma student cannot be successful in gaining admission to colleges/universities. The only differences between the General Diploma and the Academic Diploma are:
1. The General Diploma does not require foreign language credits. Of course, a General-diploma student can still take 2 years of foreign language. Also, keep in mind that most colleges/universities expect at least two years of a foreign language.
2. The General Diploma allows students who struggle with HS English to take the easier American Literature and World Literature courses after completing Literature and Composition and Literature and Composition II. The reason the Academic diploma requires Literary Interpretation and British Literature is because these courses are more college preparatory than World Lit or American Lit. However, the General diploma student who takes American Lit and World Lit will still have four credits of English on their transcript, which is what most colleges/universities expect for HS graduates.
To see the specific requirements for the General Diploma: https://www.setonhome.org/admissions/advanced-and-general-diplomas/
To see the specific requirements of the Academic Diploma: https://www.setonhome.org/admissions/diploma-requirements/
Keep in mind that the name of the diploma ("General" or "Academic") is not displayed on the student's transcript. The college will not see "General" or "Academic" distinctions. They will only see the courses, grades, and credits the student receives. Colleges do not care about the title of a student's diploma.
Further discussion of our diploma tracks and changes is given here: https://www.setonhome.org/diploma-track-changes-2023/
When determining a student's competitiveness for any scholarship, college, or university, always consult that specific school's/scholarship's website and/or admissions counselors. Some schools like to see specific courses but require others.
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