Oak Ridge Military Academy offers two types of diplomas: the Advanced College Preparatory Diploma, and the College Preparatory Diploma. To graduate from Oak Ridge Military Academy, a cadet must complete the core curriculum of one diploma track, plus successfully fulfill all additional requirements listed below. In addition, a cadet must complete his or her senior year as a full-time student at Oak Ridge Military Academy in order to obtain an Oak Ridge diploma.

Advanced College Preparatory Diploma Requirements (28 credits)
The advanced college prep diploma meets and exceeds the North Carolina Board of Governors requirements for entry into four-year UNC system colleges, higher-level state universities and schools of engineering. In addition, the advanced college prep curriculum satisfies the requirements for the service academies and many higher-level out-of-state colleges and universities.

- 4 units in English (Intro to Literature, British Literature, American Literature, and World Literature)
- 4 units in Science (must include Physical Science, Biology, and Chemistry)
- 4 units in Mathematics (must include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II)
- 4 units in History (Intro to History, American Government, United States History, and Western Civilization)
- 3 units of the same Foreign Language
- 1 unit in Writing, to be taken during the senior year
- ½ unit in computer science
- ½ in SAT Preparation
- ½ unit in Health
- ½ unit in Physical Education
- 6 units of additional elective courses (JROTC is required for each year enrolled at ORMA)

College Preparatory Diploma (24 credits)
The college prep diploma satisfies the requirements for entry into numerous four-year colleges and universities, as well as into junior colleges. Students who choose this diploma’s course of study are still eligible to take Honors courses, AP courses, and college-level courses offered through ORMA’s “ischool” program with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

- 4 units in English (Intro to Literature, British Literature, American Literature, and World Literature)
- 4 units in Mathematics (must include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II)
- 3 units in Science (must include Physical Science, Biology, and Chemistry)
- 3 units in History (Intro to History, American Government, and United States History)
- 2 units of the same Foreign Language
- 1 unit in Writing, to be taken during the senior year
- ½ unit in computer science
- ½ unit in SAT Preparation
- ½ unit in Health
- ½ unit in Physical Education
- 5 units of additional elective courses (JROTC is required for each year enrolled at ORMA)

Students who have more than two remedial credits or more than one original credit to make up at the end of their senior year will not be allowed to participate in graduation activities (Baccalaureate, graduation ceremony, etc.). Those seniors who only need to make up one original credit or two or fewer remedial credits can participate in graduation activities; however, the missing credits must be obtained during the summer school session at ORMA before the student can be given their diploma.

Community Service Component
Cadets must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service during their senior year, which includes the summer months prior to their senior year. While some community service opportunities will be made available by ORMA, cadets are urged to pursue such opportunities in their home communities during the breaks or the summer months. Community Service hours must be documented in writing by the sponsor and must be completed during the cadet’s senior year or the summer months prior to the cadet’s senior year.

College Admissions Component
Cadets are required to complete and submit three college or university applications and take the SAT in both their junior and senior years in order to be eligible for graduation. The Guidance Counselor will assist all senior cadets with the college applications and admissions process.

Senior Research Project
A requirement for graduation is the senior research project. This project includes three components: the rough draft of the research paper, the final draft, and an oral presentation of the research topic. The project is graded on a “pass-fail” basis; however, if a paper and/or oral presentation is outstanding, the senior cadet may receive a passing grade “with honors”. In order to earn a passing grade on the senior project, the cadet must pass all three components. At the beginning of the academic year, all seniors must choose a topic to research. The topic may come from any of ORMA’s subject areas: art and music, history, literature, science, mathematics, foreign languages and cultures, military and leadership, or sports and health. The topic must be approved by an ORMA teacher in the subject area they have chosen. A teacher will be assigned as their faculty advisor and mentor; he or she will assist the senior cadet throughout the project. All seniors must devote a minimum of 60 hours of research time to the project; the faculty advisor will verify the hours. At the end of the school year, all seniors will give their advisor a well-written, well-researched, and well-organized paper about their chosen topic. The senior must also make an oral presentation before their faculty advisor and a class of peers about their topic.

Non-Compliance
If a senior cadet fails to submit or pass any portion of the senior project, or if any portion of the project is plagiarized, the following punishments will be administered:

1. Cadet does not receive diploma at the graduation ceremony in May.
2. Cadet does not walk at graduation or participate in any graduation activities (i.e. Baccalaureate, graduation ceremony, etc.).
3. Cadet does not receive senior privileges.
4. If the cadet fails only the oral presentation component of the project, then the cadet must redo the presentation within a week of his or her initial presentation. If the cadet fails to do so, then the consequences listed above will apply.
5. If the cadet fails the rough draft or final draft components of the project, the cadet will have until July 1 of the same year to submit a new senior research project to the Academic Office. The cadet must adhere to the same rules and guidelines that applied during the school year:

a) Cadet must log sixty hours of research on a time sheet to be signed by the
parent/guardian.

b) Cadet must come to campus by July 1 to make a verbal presentation on their topic. The presentation will be given to the Director of Writing and another representative of the Academic Department.

c) The Director of Writing and the academic representative will read the paper, listen to the verbal presentation, and determine whether the cadet has passed the senior research project.

d) If the cadet fails their second attempt at the senior research project, an ORMA diploma will not be issued – the cadet will not receive an ORMA diploma for that graduating year. If approved by the Academic Dean, the cadet may complete another senior research project for the following year. and may receive a diploma at the end of the following school year.

6. If any portion of the senior research project is plagiarized, the cadet will face an Honor Court for their offense. A meeting will be held with representatives of the Academic Office, Commandant’s Office, and the cadet’s parents prior to the end of the school year to discuss punishment. The cadet will need to make a public acknowledgement of, and apology for, the plagiarism to the corps of cadets and faculty. In addition to all consequences listed above, the cadet will also face any standard punishment that may be assigned by the Commandant’s Office and Honor Court (tours, restriction to campus, etc.).