Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Foreign Exchange Students

Information on honorary high school diplomas for foreign exchange students.

California Education Code Section 51225.5 External link opens in new window or tab. specifies that the governing board of any school district maintaining a high school may confer honorary high school diplomas upon foreign exchange students from other countries who have not completed the course of study ordinarily required for graduation, and who are returning to their home countries following the completion of one academic school year in a school district in the state.

Honorary high school diplomas awarded pursuant to this section shall be clearly distinguishable from the regular diplomas of graduation awarded by the district.

International Studies and Exchange

Additional information regarding study in California for international students is available on the International Studies and Exchange web page.

Questions:   Professional Learning Innovations Office | PLIO@cde.ca.gov | 916-323-6269
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Trending in Grade Spans
Recently Posted in Grade Spans
  • Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant (added 18-Sep-2025)
    Report to the Department of Finance, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Education, the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, and the Assembly Committee on Education: Dual Enrollment Grant Baseline Data Report.
  • 2024 CCSPP Executive Summary (added 04-Sep-2025)
    Executive summary from the 2024 California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) legislative (leg.) report to the Governor, Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.