According to the Utah State Board of Education, high schoolers must complete a minimum of 24 credits.  Meanwhile, in Tooele County, we must complete 34 credits.  Although Tooele County follows the 24-credit requirement for the rest of the state, we must complete 34 credits by the 5×5 schedule. Students seem to have their opinions about it.  First, let’s hear what assistant principal Mrs. Barney has to say about the topic. 

“It’s doable the way we have our block schedule. You should be able to finish 9 or 10 credits every year so then you would get 40 credits. That gives a little leeway and some electives.” Along with that she also mentions the “high standards” the district wants with the students.  

Rylynn Castagno and Jason Nephew have similar views on having to complete 34 credits throughout high school.  Castagno says, “I think it’s not the most fair thing.  34 credits are a little excessive especially where most of our credits are just filler classes.  I think we should be like the rest of the state and settle for 24.” 

Jason has a similar point of view.  He told me, “I feel like it’s too much. Like I understand we need the credits but it would be way better if they brought the number down.  Because then we would be able to take classes we actually want or need for our careers and college.  Instead, we need to balance those with the classes we need to take to graduate.  Sometimes we can’t even take those classes we want to take to help us because we just have too many classes they want us to take for the absurd amount of credits they want us to have.”

After hearing that students can complete 34 credits during high school will they think it’s more fair?  At least we can all take pride in being the only district to complete more credits than everyone else.