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Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Graduation caps in the air

Graduation Requirements - Graduating Class of 2021 and beyond

Effective with the Graduating Class of 2021 (entering freshman of Fall 2017), graduation requirements to earn a Maryland High School diploma are as follows. Note updates effective with the class of 2019 (entering freshmen of Fall 2015) See the Required Subject Area Descriptions pages in Administrative Procedure 6150 for further descriptions of enrollment requirements.

 

SUBJECT AREA

SPECIFIC CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

English

4 credits

 Pursuant to COMAR 13A.03.02.09, students must:
a. Achieve a passing score on the Maryland High School Assessment (MHSA) and Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) for Algebra I and English 10, in the following way:
(i) For school years 2016—2023, a score of 725 and
(ii) Assessment in English 10 and/or Algebra I, the passing score on the retest shall be the passing score in the year in which the student first took the assessment.
b. Achieve a passing score as established by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on the Maryland High School Assessment for Government.
c. Students are required to take the High School Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA).
d. Achieve a combined score(s) as established by MSDE on the assessments;
e. If a student has not achieved a passing score on the ssessment in English 10 and/or Algebra I, achieve a score as established by MSDE on MSDEapproved assessments for Algebra, and/or English, aligned with the Maryland
assessments such as Advanced Placement examinations, SAT, ACT, and International Baccalaureate examinations; or
f. Except for students described in Regulation .06F of this chapter, if a student is unable to meet the requirements in §B(3)(a)—(d) of this regulation, then satisfactorily complete the requirements of the Bridge Plan for Academic Validation as set forth in Regulation .06D of this chapter.

Mathematics

3 credits

√ 1 in Algebra 1

√ 1 in Geometry

√ 1 additional mathematics credit

√ Enrollment in a math course each year in high school

Science

3 lab science credits (one from each category)

√ 1 in Life Science (Biology)

√ 1 in Physical Science (Biogeochemical Systems, Chemistry, Honors/PDP/ST Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, IB Biology 1, IB Chemistry 1, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1 or 2, or AP Environmental Science)

√ 1 additional credit in Earth and Space Science (Biogeochemical Systems, Honors/PDP/ST Chemistry, Environmental Science, Earth and Space Science, or AP Environmental Science)

Social Studies

3 credits

√ 1 in U.S. History II

√ 1 in Local, State, and National Government

√ 1 in World History

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Fine Arts

1 credit

Physical Education

.50 credit   √ Personal Fitness

Health Education

.50 credit   √ Health Issues

Technology Education

1 credit

Completer** and Electives

**Completer refers to a specified sequence of courses required for completing graduation requirements

2 credits of either World Language or American Sign Language and any remaining credits in electives Effective with the class of 2019 (entering freshmen of Fall 2015), PGCPS no longer requires two years of the same world language for students beginning a Level 1 course in high school. MSDE requires that American Sign Language be taken in sequential order to meet graduation requirements.

OR

2 credits of Advanced Technology Education and any remaining credits in electives

OR

Complete (4–9 credits) a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)-approved sequence of courses

and any remaining credits in electives
 

High School Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities

  • All students with disabilities must meet minimum credit requirements before graduating and receiving a high school diploma.
  • All students with disabilities must meet current testing requirements in order to earn a high school diploma.
  • All students with disabilities must meet the Student Service-Learning requirement in order to earn a high school diploma. Refer to Administrative Procedure 6151 Student Service-Learning Graduation Guidelines for additional information.

A Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion can be awarded to students with disabilities who cannot meet the requirements for a diploma, but who meet one of the following standards:

  1. The student is enrolled in an education program for at least 4 years beyond Grade 8 or its age equivalent, and is determined by his/her IEP team, with the agreement of the student and the parents of the student, to have developed appropriate skills for the individual to enter the world of work, act responsibly as a citizen, and enjoy a fulfilling life, with the world of work including but not limited to gainful employment, post-secondary education and training, supported employment, and other services that are integrated in the community, or
  2. The student has been enrolled in an education program for 4 years beyond Grade 8 or its age equivalent and will have reached age 21 by the end of the student’s current school year.

The Maryland Summary of Performance that describes the student’s skills shall accompany the Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion.

The final decision to award a student with disabilities a Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion will not be made until after the beginning of the student’s last year in high school.

A student with significant cognitive disability may not meet high school graduation requirements, if a student participates in an Alternative Assessment based on Alternative Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) and continues to receive instruction based on Alternative Academic Achievement Standards through high school.

For additional information see COMAR Diplomas and Certificates at http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/13a/13a.03.02.09.htm