To receive a diploma, a student must meet both the credit and the course requirements for graduation. Kent does not award credit for work done at other schools. The number of credits required for the diploma varies according to the year a student enters Kent:

• Third Form: 54 credits
• Fourth Form: 39 credits
• Fifth Form: 27 credits
• Sixth Form/PG: 12 credits

Each year-long course counts as three credits. Each term-contained course counts as one credit. Each minor term-contained course counts as half a credit.

The required courses, for which a student must earn credit, are:

• English — Year-long courses in the Third and Fourth Form years; 6 term courses over the course of a student’s Fifth and Sixth Form years. Term requirement based on year of entry.
• History & Social Sciences — Historical Thinking taken in the Third Form year; U.S. History taken in the Fourth or Fifth Form year; term course elective requirement based on year of entry; one Religion-based term course
• Mathematics — Geometry and Algebra 2 plus enrollment in math through the fifth form year
• Modern or Classical Languages —  Through the third-year level
• Science — Two year-long laboratory sciences
• Visual and Performing Arts — One term Visual Arts course and one term Performing Arts course (Performing Arts requirement may also be completed through three terms of weekly music ensemble participation or three terms of weekly private music lessons)

Additionally:

• All Third Form students must take Foundations, a year-long, minor, non-credit course. All Fourth Form students must take Bridges, a year-long, minor, non-credit course. All new Fifth Form, Sixth Form, and PG students must take Essentials in the fall term.

• The minimum course load for students is five major courses per term. Please note that courses in Psychology & Religion, Art, Theatre, Dance, and Music taken at a previous school may not be used to satisfy the Kent School requirements.