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A High School Diploma for the War That Interrupted School

An honorably discharged veteran who left high school before graduating and served 18 or more consecutive months of active duty during the Second World War, Korea or Vietnam may be granted a high school diploma by the local school district board. A discharge with a service-connected disability substitutes for the 18-month requirement. The qualifying windows are 16 September 1940 to 31 December 1946, 1 June 1950 to 1 January 1954, and 3 July 1965 to 15 May 1975.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

An honorably discharged veteran who left high school before graduating and served 18 or more consecutive months of active duty during the Second World War, Korea or Vietnam may be granted a high school diploma by the local school district board. A discharge with a service-connected disability substitutes for the 18-month requirement. The qualifying windows are 16 September 1940 to 31 December 1946, 1 June 1950 to 1 January 1954, and 3 July 1965 to 15 May 1975.

What it's worth: A high school diploma granted by the local school district board

  • The qualifying service windows are 16 September 1940 to 31 December 1946, 1 June 1950 to 1 January 1954, and 3 July 1965 to 15 May 1975. The rule above does not test the dates — check yours against that list.
  • The ordinary requirement is 18 or more consecutive months of active duty.
  • A discharge WITH a service-connected disability substitutes for the 18-month requirement. Someone discharged early through injury still qualifies.
  • Accepted discharge documents include the DD-214, WD AGO, NAVPERS and Report of Separation — the older forms are named because this cohort will hold them.
  • The diploma is granted by the local school district board of directors, not by the state.
  • There is no fee.

Who is entitled to it

  • You left high school before graduating in order to serve.
  • You were discharged honorably.
  • You are in Arkansas.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Apply to the local school district board of directors. The state education department sets the rule; the district grants the diploma.
  2. 2Take the discharge document — a DD-214, or the older WD AGO, NAVPERS or Report of Separation forms, which is what this cohort will have.
  3. 3If you served less than 18 months but were discharged with a service-connected disability, say so. That substitutes for the service requirement and is the most-missed part of the rule.
  4. 4Check your dates against the three windows before applying.
Form
Application to the school district board
File with
Your local school district board of directors
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Known gapThe state education department's own page returned server errors when this was verified. The rule text was read through the Cornell LII mirror of the official rule rather than from the department's site.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.