Graduation Requirements

BCHS offers two paths to a diploma – college preparatory and honors academy program

BCHS College Preparatory Diploma

The total number of credits required for graduation from Bakersfield Christian High School is 271. Each class earns 5 credits per semester. Community service earns 1 credit for 40 or more hours of service. See the Departments & Curriculum page for course descriptions.

271 Total Credits

BCHS Honors Academy Diploma

Students who have been accepted into the Honors Academy must complete 301 credits, taking a minimum of 10 advanced (honors or AP) classes over 4 years. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.75 each semester. See the Honors Academy page for more information. 

301 Total Credits


  • DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS
    • The curriculum at BCHS is taught from a Christian worldview. It comprises a required core of studies believed to be fundamental to a liberal arts education, and elective courses designed to fit the needs and interests of the individual student. The course of study follows a traditional college preparatory path, which includes AP offerings. Each student is required to spend the full four years in high school.

      Attending summer school or carrying more than a normal load during the regular school year should be regarded as an enrichment of the student's education rather than an accelerated program that replaces BCHS' course requirements. It is required that BCHS students will complete all of the required courses at this school and not at an alternate academic facility.

      Bible is required for each semester of attendance at BCHS. Required Bible credits are waived for any semester that the student does not attend BCHS prior to enrolling.

      Students are required to be at BCHS with a full eight period course load. Seniors meeting graduation requirements may be permitted to have an unscheduled first, sixth or eighth period. All seniors must have six on-campus classes that count for credit. All exceptions must be petitioned through the Vice President of Academic Growth.
  • HONORS ACADEMY PREREQUISITES & REQUIREMENTS

    • Honors Academy Prerequisites

      • 3.8 Cumulative GPA in 8th grade
      • 88th percentile on any normed state/national English and mathematics composite standardized test scores
      • Submission of written essay(s)
      • Student/Parent request
      • Must meet prerequisites for honors courses by 10th grade.
      • Students are required to enroll in 2 minimum, 3 maximum Honors courses a year (students requesting more than 3 need the approval of the Vice President of Academic Growth)
      • Students not meeting all of the criteria for Scholars admission may appeal to the Academic Senate for reconsideration

      Continued Enrollment Requirements

      • Maintain a "C" or better each semester in all Honors or AP courses
      • 3.75 GPA each semester (students who do not have a 3.75 at the end of the 1st semester will be on probation and their cumulative GPA for the year must be a 3.75 to remain in the Honors Academy)
      • Minimum of 2 advanced courses per year starting in sophomore year for a total of 10 
      • For every 3 advanced courses, at least one must be a humanities course and one must be a math or science course (not all classes can be from humanities or math/science)
      • Satisfactory behavior/teacher approval at semester
      • Students who do not meet the above requirements will be transferred to college prep courses the following year and will be removed from the Scholars Program
      • Students who do not pass Honors courses with a "C" or better will be transferred to college prep courses the next semester

      Honors & Advanced Placement Options for College Prep Students

      • College prep students who wish to take honors and AP courses must meet the following requirements:
      • Must have a minimum of a "B" in a previous or prerequisite course
      • Must have an overall GPA of 3.0
      • Maintain a minimum of "C" average in Honors or AP course
      • No "D" or "F" grades on transcript in order to take an AP course (excludes repeated courses)
      • Students who do not pass Honors courses with a "C" or better will be transferred to college prep courses the next semester

      Returning students must receive approval for all AP and Honors courses.

      No student shall receive a high school diploma from BCHS until all graduation requirements including all tuition and fee accounts are paid in full and community service and volunteer hours are successfully met.

      Credit Retrieval

      Seniors must complete all credit retrieval coursework by the midterm of second semester in order to walk at graduation. Any exceptions must be petitioned through the Vice President of Academic Growth.
  • SUMMER SCHOOL
    • BCHS offers a variety of summer school classes for both credit and enrichment. Offerings change from year to year but always include P.E., Health, Algebra 1 and Geometry. See the current information. 
  • TRANSFER STUDENTS
    • A student who requests a transfer to BCHS should have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and should have made satisfactory progress in meeting the BCHS graduation requirements. A student may be admitted due to special circumstances, in which case specific conditions will be stipulated. It is recommended that application for admission be made at the beginning of the academic year. However, it is possible to admit students midyear, subject to class availability. Normally, students that have been expelled from another school will not be admitted to BCHS.

      When a student transfers to BCHS from an accredited high school only semester grades and units will be posted on the BCHS transcript. When a student transfers to BCHS during the academic year, other than at the beginning of the second semester, the withdrawal grades and/or midterm grades will be averaged with grades earned at BCHS.

      Each student's transfer credits must be evaluated by the Counselor and Registrar before inclusion on a BCHS transcript.

Contact
NameChai, Steven
PositionVice President of Academic Growth
Phone5511
Email schai@bakersfieldchristian.com
NameWells, Cerrena
PositionDirector of Student Affairs/Dept. Head
Phone5528
Email cwells@bakersfieldchristian.com
NameChandler, Susan
PositionDirector of Counseling
Phone5504
Email schandler@bakersfieldchristian.com
NameCady, Carissa
PositionCounselor
Phone5516
Email ccady@bakersfieldchristian.com
NameGuinn, Audra
PositionRegistrar
Phone5518
Email aguinn@bakersfieldchristian.com
NameConstance, Laura
PositionAdmin. Assistant
Phone5524
Email lconstance@bakersfieldchristian.com