Knoxville High School students will now be required to earn an additional two credits before qualifying for graduation.

The school board on Monday evening approved several changes to the curriculum, which includes expanding the number of required credits from 46 to 48.

Superintendent Cassi Pearson says this should not be difficult for the students, since most usually earn as many as 56 credits prior to graduation.

She also tells KNIA/KRLS News students will now have to take at least two courses in the Career Technical Education track, which will be essential to their career preparation.

“And most of our students already take at least one class in the Career Technical Education field; it (covers) everything from agriculture to business to industrial tech, automotives, food and nutrition,” Pearson says. “Our kids are very fortunate to be able to have a wide variety of Career Technical Education classes to pick from.”

Students enrolled in the band and chorus classes would be exempt from the additional CTE requirements; Pearson says their course load would make scheduling extra courses problematic.