In 2012, my son passed all his classes with good grades and extra hs credits, but struggled on the state writing test, therefore he wasn't able to get his diploma until the following school year, as he has to take the alternative testing opportunities  (ACT and SAT) during the summer after graduation.. which I also had to pay for.   It was such a shame to put him through all that, especially when the school district uses computers for everything, from elem to high school yet the written test is hand-written.   His topics were crazy too, nothing that related to a high school students interest.  I hope they rid the requirements for these tests, and leave it to each student to pass their required classes/finals to graduate.