The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma (GSSMD) is an honors diploma awarded by the California State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. It recognizes high school graduates in California who have demonstrated mastery of the high school curriculum in at least six subject matter areas. Key points about the diploma include:

• To be eligible, students must be eligible to receive a regular high school diploma.
• Students must demonstrate mastery in at least six subject areas, four of which are mandatory: English language arts, mathematics, science, and U.S. history.
• The remaining two subject areas can be selected by the student from other courses.
• Mastery can be shown through achieving certain grades (generally B or B+ or higher) in courses or by achieving qualifying scores on assessments like the California Standards Tests or local exams.
• The diploma is awarded annually and includes a gold embossed seal affixed to the student's high school diploma and a black-and-white seal on the transcript.
• It is intended to highlight students who have a superior level of academic performance and mastery across a broad curriculum.
• More than 100,000 students receive this diploma each year in California.
• Local educational agencies are responsible for identifying qualifying students and maintaining records to support the awarding of the diploma.

The GSSMD thus serves as a prestigious recognition of a high level of academic achievement in multiple core and elective subjects for California high school graduates. It can be a valuable addition to college applications and résumés, demonstrating strong academic performance and mastery of coursework.