GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (CLASS OF 2012 AND BEYOND)

Oak Ridge Military Academy offers a College Preparatory Diploma. To graduate from Oak Ridge Military Academy, a cadet must complete the core curriculum, plus successfully fulfill all additional requirements listed below. In addition, a cadet must complete his or her senior year as a full-time student at Oak Ridge Military Academy in order to obtain an Oak Ridge diploma.

College Preparatory Diploma (24 credits)
The college prep diploma satisfies the requirements for entry into numerous four-year colleges and universities, as well as into junior colleges. Students who choose this diploma’s course of study are still eligible to take Honors courses, AP courses, and college-level courses by Oak Ridge Military Academy offers.

English: 4 credits

Mathematics: 4 credits (must include one math class beyond Algebra II)

Science & Humanities: 7 credits

Option 1

4 credits of Science (must include Biology & Chemistry)
3 credits of Social Studies (must include United States History)

Option 2

3 credits of Science (must include Biology & Chemistry)
4 credits of Social Studies (must include United States History

Army JROTC: 1 - 4 credits (required each year)

Foreign Language: 2 credits in the same Foreign Language

Physical Education: ½ credit

Health: ½ credit

Electives: 2 – 6 credits

Students who have more than one credit to make up at the end of their senior year will not be allowed to participate in graduation activities (Baccalaureate, graduation ceremony, etc.). Those seniors who only need to make up one credit can participate in graduation activities; however, the missing credits must be obtained during the summer school session at ORMA before the student can be given their diploma

Community Service Component
Cadets must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service during their senior year, which includes the summer months prior to their senior year. While some community service opportunities will be made available by ORMA, cadets are urged to pursue such opportunities in their home communities during the breaks or the summer months. Community Service hours must be documented in writing by the sponsor and must be completed during the cadet’s senior year or the summer months prior to the cadet’s senior year.

College Admissions Component
Cadets are required to complete and submit three college or university applications and take the SAT in both their junior and senior years in order to be eligible for graduation. The College Counselor will assist all senior cadets with the college applications and admissions process.

Senior Research Project
A requirement for graduation is the senior research project. This project includes three components: the rough draft of the research paper, the final draft, and an oral presentation of the research topic. The project is graded on a “pass-fail” basis; however, if a paper and/or oral presentation is outstanding, the senior cadet may receive a passing grade “with honors”. In order to earn a passing grade on the senior project, the cadet must pass all three components. At the beginning of the academic year, all seniors must choose a topic to research. The topic may come from any of ORMA’s subject areas: art and music, history, literature, science, mathematics, foreign languages and cultures, military and leadership, or sports and health. The topic must be approved by an ORMA teacher in the subject area they have chosen. A teacher will be assigned as their faculty advisor and mentor; he or she will assist the senior cadet throughout the project. All seniors must devote a minimum of 60 hours of research time to the project; the faculty advisor will verify the hours. At the end of the school year, all seniors will give their advisor a well-written, well-researched, and well-organized paper about their chosen topic. The senior must also make an oral presentation before their faculty advisor and a class of peers about their topic.

Non-Compliance
If a senior cadet fails to submit or pass any portion of the senior project, or if any portion of the project is plagiarized, the following punishments will be administered:
1. Cadet does not receive diploma at the graduation ceremony in May.
2. Cadet does not walk at graduation or participate in any graduation activities (i.e. Baccalaureate, graduation ceremony, etc.).
3. Cadet does not receive senior privileges.
4. If the cadet fails only the oral presentation component of the project, then the cadet must redo the presentation within a week of his or her initial presentation. If the cadet fails to do so, then the consequences listed above will apply.
5. If the cadet fails the rough draft or final draft components of the project, the cadet will have until July 1 of the same year to submit a new senior research project to the Academic Office. The cadet must adhere to the same rules and guidelines that applied during the school year:

a) Cadet must log sixty hours of research on a time sheet to be signed by the
parent/guardian.

b) Cadet must come to campus by July 1 to make a verbal presentation on their topic. The presentation will be given to the Headmaster and an academic representative.
c) The Headmaster and the academic representative will read the paper, listen to the verbal presentation, and determine whether the cadet has passed the senior research project.

d) If the cadet fails their second attempt at the senior research project, an ORMA diploma will not be issued – the cadet will not receive an ORMA diploma for that graduating year. If approved by the Headmaster, the cadet may complete another senior research project for the following year, and may receive a diploma at the end of the following school year.

6. If any portion of the senior research project is plagiarized, the cadet will face an Honor Court for their offense. A meeting will be held with representatives of the Academic Office, Commandant’s Office, and the cadet’s parents prior to the end of the school year to discuss punishment. The cadet will need to make a public acknowledgement of, and apology for, the plagiarism to the corps of cadets and faculty. In addition to all consequences listed above, the cadet will also face any standard punishment that may be assigned by the Commandant’s Office and Honor Court (tours, restriction to campus, etc.).