Graduation Requirements

Montgomery County Graduation Requirements

The State of Maryland authorizes one kind of diploma for all high school graduates, based upon successful fulfillment of the following five kinds of requirements: enrollment, credit, courses, Student Service Learning and competencies. MCPS requirements are designated below with a double asterisk "**." All requirements are summarized below:

Enrollment Requirement

Students must satisfactorily complete four years beyond Grade 8 (For exceptions, see Alternatives to Four-Year Enrollment).

Credit Requirement

**22 (At least 4 credits must be earned after the completion of Grade 11 unless a preapproved MCPS alternative is satisfied.)

Course Requirements

* English - 4 credits

* Fine Arts - 1 credit (Selected courses in Art, Dance, Drama/Theater, and Music that satisfy the Fine Arts requirement are marked with a dagger "+.")

*Technology Education - 1 credit (Courses in Industrial and Technology Education, Business Education, and Computer Science that satisfy the Technology Education requirement are marked with "#" or".")

* Mathematics - **4 credits (1 credit algebra, 1 credit geometry). Students who have successfully completed a calculus course offered by MCPS may be exempted from the 4-credit requirement in mathematics.

* Science - 3 credits (one biology credit and one physical science credit must be included in the 3 credits).

* Social Studies - 3 credits (1 credit U.S. History, 1 credit World History, and 1 credit National, State, and Local Government)

* Physical Education - **1 credit

* Health Education - 1/2 credit

Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting the specific credit requirements, a student is required to earn at least one of the following:

Foreign Language - 2 credits or

Advanced Technology Education - 2 credits (Courses in Career and Technology Education and Computer Science that satisfy the Advanced Technology requirement are marked with "."), or

Career Development Program - successful completion of a state approved Career Development Program (Career Development Programs are marked with "‡")

Student Service Learning Requirement

Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements contain a student service learning (SSL) component. MCPS students are required to complete a minimum of 60 SSL hours. Middle school students complete 30 SSL hours through the infusion of service learning experiences in the middle school curriculum. The remaining 30 hours may be earned in middle or high school. New students enrolling in MCPS as second semester juniors are required to accumulate 15 SSL hours; those enrolling anytime during the senior year are required to complete 10 SSL hours. All documented SSL hours from any school system will be accepted toward the MCPS graduation requirement. Students who earn 260 or more SSL hours are eligible to receive a certificate of Meritorious Service.

Hours may be accumulated through the following:

Curriculum - Courses with service learning outcomes and activities are identified in the course descriptions. Students may earn all, part, or none of the identified hours based upon evidence of attainment of the service learning outcomes for the course.

Co-curricular - A list of approved school activities and organizations that include SSL is available in schools.

Community Organizations - Students may complete SSL hours through activities offered by approved organizations outside the school setting and day. A listing of approved organizations is available to students in media centers, career centers, and guidance offices, from the SSL coordinator in each high school and on the Internet at www.co.mo.md.us/services/volunteer/

Special Student Service Activities - A student must present a written proposal for approval to the school service learning committee before performing service learning activities not approved as described above.

Verification of service is required for hours earned through co-curricular activities, community organizations, and special activities. For additional information, see the student service learning coordinator or guidance counselor.

Competency Prerequisite Requirements

Competency prerequisites are part of the Maryland School Performance Program and involve the demonstration of competencies in several areas through program participation and by passing statewide competency tests. The competency tests required are reading, writing, mathematics, and citizenship. The citizenship test remains a requirement only for students who entered Grade 9 in school year 1996-1997.

Students are given their first chance to pass these tests at these levels: mathematics and reading, Grade 7; and writing, Grade 8. Students who do not pass are given assistance and are given further opportunities to pass the test.

Competency prerequisite requirements in the other competency areas - arts/physical education, survival, and the world of work - are met by all students through their participation in the instructional programs covering these areas.

Maryland Certificates

Certificate of Merit

In addition to the Maryland high school diploma, students who meet the following requirements may be awarded the Maryland high school

Certificate of Merit:

Advanced Courses

At least 12 credits must be earned in advanced courses identified by MCPS as applicable to the Certificate of Merit.*

Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students must obtain at least a 3.0 unweighted cumulative grade point average.

All courses counted toward the Certificate of Merit must be taken for a letter grade.

* Courses that satisfy these requirements are designated by an asterisk in course listings in this bulletin.