NOTE: Due to the complexity of the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma requirements, all results should be manually verified for accuracy.



The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma screen will allow you to identify the 12th grade students that may qualify or do qualify for this award.  It is available while logged in at the School level. At the end of the school year the form can be used to add Activities and Awards (ACT) records for the students that qualified. The ACT records are used in the CALPADS collection of Golden State Seal Merit Diploma recipients.


The report can also be generated for any grade level to determine the remaining requirements that must be met in order for a student to qualify.


This page uses the January 23, 2023 Procedures for Awarding the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma. Below is a summary of the qualifications. We highly recommend that everyone involved in the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma data collection and implementation become familiar with all requirements and procedures. More information can be found on the California Department of Education’s Golden State Seal Merit Diploma page at:   https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/meritdiploma.asp. Please also review the CDE's Frequently Asked Questions page regarding credit/no credit marks at:  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/gsefaq.asp.



To be eligible for the GSSMD, students must be eligible to receive a high school diploma, and must have demonstrated the mastery of the curriculum in at least six subject areas, as follows:


  1. English language arts/literacy (ELA) - students must have earned one of the following:
    1. A grade of B+ or above (or numerical equivalent) in a single ELA course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    2. An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment taken in grade eleven
  2. Mathematics - students must have earned one of the following:
    1. A grade of B+ or above (or numeric equivalent) in a single mathematics course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    2. An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment taken in grade eleven
  3. Science - students must have earned one of the following:
    1. A grade of B+ or above (or numeric equivalent) in a science course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    2. An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school California Science Test taken in grade ten or eleven
  4. U.S. history - students must have earned one of the following:
    1. A grade of B or above (or numerical equivalent) upon completion of the required U.S. history course (each semester)
    2. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of the subject as determined by the LEA for an examination produced by a private provider or the LEA
  5. Two additional subject areas - students may choose from any of the following:
    1. Any additional qualifying grade or score listed above, earned for the subject of ELA, mathematics, science, or U.S. history not already used to meet eligibility
    2. A grade of B or above (or numerical equivalent) upon the completion of high school courses in other subjects
    3. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of other subjects, as determined by the LEA, for an examination produced by a private provider or the LEA

Note: The previously eligible California Standards Tests (CSTs) have been removed from the list. The class of 2018 would not have taken any of the approved CSTs in the last administration of those tests, which was in 2013. The CST for Science, previously taken in grade ten, was never approved for use toward GSSMD eligibility.



The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma FAQ page also provides guidance on how students can qualify for the GSSMD without CAASPP scores and the rules governing credit/no credit marks. Please refer to the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma - Set Up article for more information on how to add credit/no credit marks to the analysis in Aeries.



NOTE: In the 11/22/2019 Aeries update the AP and SAT test score selection boxes have been removed from the subject tabs. We have learned in a communication with CDE that AP test scores and SAT I/SAT II test scores cannot be used as passing criteria for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma because they are not LEA-created exams. We also inquired what an "examination produced by a private provider" would include and the response was that the exam could be an exit exam created by the school as a graduation requirement. The CDE cannot provide examples of any exams but the exams should be for the high school requirements and not for College Board (SAT).  If you have any additional questions on what exam criteria can be used please contact California Department of Education’s Golden State Seal Merit Diploma page at:   https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/meritdiploma.asp.




NOTE: Due to the complexity of the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma requirements, all results should be manually verified for accuracy. LEAs are responsible for the proper setup, calculation and verification based on the criteria described in the Requirements tab.