Screenshot 2026-05-16 200354

Graduation Requirements

Every Benton Tiger earns one of two Louisiana diplomas. The diploma a student selects will set the course load for all four years and determine eligibility for college scholarships. Students headed for a four-year university will follow the TOPS University curriculum. A career or technical field points most students toward the Jump Start option instead.

The TOPS University Diploma

The TOPS University diploma prepares a student for admission to a four-year college and for the Louisiana TOPS scholarship. A student will earn 24 Carnegie units to receive it, and one Carnegie unit equals a single year-long course. The diploma requires the following units.

English, 4 units. English I, II, III, and IV, taken in sequence.
Mathematics, 4 units. Algebra I and Geometry, followed by Algebra II and one course above Algebra II from the state list.
Science, 4 units. Biology and Chemistry, and two more courses from the state-approved science list.
Social Studies, 4 units. US History and Civics, plus two courses drawn from World History, World Geography, or Western Civilization.
Foreign Language, 2 units. Two years of the same language.
Health Education, one-half unit.
Physical Education, one and one-half units. JROTC may substitute for part of this requirement.
Fine Arts, 1 unit. One course from the school’s fine arts offerings.
Electives, 3 units. Chosen with a counselor to support a student’s interests or intended major.

These 24 units form the core curriculum the TOPS scholarship reviews. A student who completes the diploma and meets the ACT and grade requirements will qualify for admission to every public university in Louisiana.

The Jump Start TOPS Tech Diploma

The Jump Start diploma blends academic courses with career and technical training. A student will earn 23 units. Nine of those units come from a training sequence in a chosen field, and the sequence ends with an industry-recognized credential. Many students complete this training through the Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning.

English, 4 units.
Mathematics, 4 units. Algebra I, Geometry, and two more courses from a wider state list.
Science, 2 units. Biology and one additional course.
Social Studies, 2 units. US History and Civics.
Health and Physical Education, 2 units.
Career and Technical Credits, 9 units. A training sequence that earns an industry credential.

The Jump Start diploma qualifies a student for the TOPS Tech award and for admission to Bossier Parish Community College and other two-year programs. A student who later decides on a four-year degree will transfer those credits and continue toward a bachelor’s degree.

State End-of-Course Testing

Louisiana requires every high school student to take state assessments in core subjects, all of which are part of the LEAP 2025 program. A student will take the matching test at the end of each of these courses.

English I and English II
Algebra I and Geometry
Biology
US History

Each test score will count as part of the course grade and will affect graduation eligibility. In most core courses, the test will carry a fixed share of the final grade, so yearlong class performance will affect the final result. A student who doesn’t meet the passing level may retake the test during a later administration.

Each spring, juniors will take the ACT at no cost on a statewide test day. The score will apply to college admissions and the TOPS award.

How Grades Affect the TOPS Scholarship

The TOPS scholarship will pay tuition at Louisiana public colleges and participating private schools. The TOPS University curriculum has three award levels, and a fourth level applies to Jump Start students. Each level will require a grade point average in the core curriculum and an ACT composite score.

TOPS Opportunity. A 2.50 core grade point average and an ACT composite at or above the prior year’s statewide average, recently a 20. Pays public-college tuition.
TOPS Performance. A 3.00 core grade point average and a 23 ACT. Pays tuition and an annual stipend.
TOPS Honors. A 3.00 core grade point average and a 27 ACT. Pays tuition and a larger annual stipend.
TOPS Tech. A 2.50 grade point average on the Jump Start curriculum and a 17 ACT or a qualifying WorkKeys score. Pays toward two-year and technical programs.

TOPS will award extra weight for grades in Advanced Placement, Honors, and dual enrollment courses. A demanding schedule can move a student from one award level to the next.

All awards carry the same baseline conditions. A student needs to have Louisiana residency and have completed the TOPS core curriculum. The student must also file the FAFSA on time.

The FAFSA opens on October 1 of senior year. Louisiana sets a firm July 1 deadline. A student who files late won’t receive the award for that year.

Questions

The counseling office can answer your questions about credits, diploma options, and transcripts. Reach Benton High School at 318-759-2580, or visit the office at 449 Fairburn Avenue, Benton, Louisiana 71006.