All STEAD students will meet the Colorado Department of Education (“CDE”) high school graduation credit and course requirements (set forth below). Additionally, STEAD requires that each student achieve the following additional items:

  • Successful Completion of at least one of the following Pathway Options (students may choose both):
    • Complete a CTE agricultural pathway (Food Science, or Animal Science, Plant Science)
    • Complete the AP Seminar & Research Certificate pathway:
      • This pathway is for students who intend to attend university and want to pursue an original academic research opportunity in high school. 
      • Optionally, Students who complete this program as well as 4 additional AP courses (with a score of 3 or higher on all AP exams) will receive the AP Capstone Diploma.

Graduation Requirements: STEAD versus 27J and HEAR

Subject Area HEAR (Higher Education Admissions Recommendations) (Years) 27J Semester Credits (Years) STEAD Semester Credits (Years)
English 4 years 8 (4 years) 8 (4 years)
Mathematics (Must include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalents) 4 years 6 (3 years) 6 (3 years) *A fourth year may be required if a student has not demonstrated math competency through the SAT
Natural/Physical Sciences (two units must be lab-based) 3 Years 6 (3 years) 6 (3 years)
Social Science 3 Years 6 (3 years) 4 (2 years of History) 1 (.5 year of Economics) 1 (.5 year of Political Science/Civics) 6 (3 years) 4 (2 years of History) 1 (.5 year of Economics) 1 (.5 year of Political Science/Civics)
World/Foreign Language 1 Year 0 2 (1 year)
Academic Electives 2 Years 13 13 (including 4 pathway courses)
CTE 2 (1 year) 2 (1 year)
PE 2 (1 year) 2 (1 year)
Health 1 (.5 year) 1 (.5 year)
Humanities 2 (1 year) 2 (1 year)
Total Credits 46 50
Additional Requirements Demonstrate competency of career and college readiness in Math (Must meet 1 of the following): 1. SAT Math 460+ 2. Successful Completion MAT 103 Math for Clinical Calculations or higher 3. Any AP Math Course Test Score of 2+ or 4. Mathematics Capstone Demonstrate competency of career and college readiness in Math (Must meet 1 of the following): 1. SAT Math 460+ 2. Any AP Math Course Test Score of 2+ All students complete a math graduation benchmark portfolio.
Demonstrate Competency of career and college readiness in ELA (Must meet 1 of the following): 1. SAT 430+ 2. Successful Completion ENG 121 Eng. Comp. I or LIT 115 Intro. to Lit. or COM 115 Public Speaking or higher 3. Any AP English Course Test Score of 2+ or 4. English/Language Arts Capstone Demonstrate Competency of career and college readiness in ELA (Must meet 1 of the following): 1. SAT 430+ 2. Any AP English Course Test Score of 2+ All students complete the Capstone Report and reflection.
Community Service: 5 hours per year (20 hours total) Community Service: 5 hours per year (20 hours total)
Post Secondary Plan Portfolio/ Individualized Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) Complete a post-secondary education plan.
Students must complete at least one internship.

Elective Registration Priority

Some students may not receive their first choice elective. We give priority in the following ways:

  1. Graduation and  Pathway requirements get first priority based on year of study.
  2. Foreign Language requirements take second priority
  3. A balance of creative (art, music, theater) and physical electives takes third priority (unless for sports teams)
  4. Seniors get 1st priority
  5. Juniors get 2nd priority
  6. Sophomores get 3rd priority
  7. Freshmen get 4th priority

Remediating Credits

The STEAD School requires that students receive a C- (70%) or higher in all core academic courses and electives in order to receive credit. There are two options for remediating a credit when a student does not pass a class with at least a grade of C-.

  • Students can remediate credits through an accredited online program.
  • Students can remediate credits through an elective in the same discipline as the course they did not pass, or by repeating the same course if they are repeating a grade level.  The elective option would not count toward the total number of elective credits needed for graduation, as it would be fulfilling a core class credit requirement.