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Graduation Requirements

Promotion

Students in grades 9 through 12 earn credits for graduation through completion of courses. Students must have a minimum of four credits for promotion to grade 10, ten credits for promotion to grade 11 and sixteen credits for promotion to grade 12.

Minimum Graduation Requirements

The minimum requirements for graduation from WCPS adhere to, but are not limited by, the standards established by the State of Maryland. To earn a WCPS Diploma, students must earn a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits:

English - 4 credits

Social Studies - 3 credits

  • 1 United States Studies II
  • 1 Local, State, and National Government
  • 1 World History

Mathematics - 4 credits

  • 1 Algebraic Concepts
  • 1 Geometric Concepts
  • 2 Additional Mathematics Credits

Science (lab based) - 3 credits

  • 1 Biology
  • 2 Additional Science Credits

Fine Arts - 1 credit

Technology Education - 1 credit

Physical Education - 1 credit

Health/Life Skills - 1 credit

Electives - 6 credits

Student Service Learning - 75 hours

Maryland High School Assessments (HSA) and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) Assessments

The MCAP Assessments are challenging tests that students must pass to earn a Maryland high school diploma. They measure student achievement of the state’s Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards (MCCRS), and Core Learning Goals (CLG), which are identified by the Maryland State Department of Education as the skills and knowledge necessary to show understanding of each course’s content and which are embedded in the Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) essential curriculum. The courses associated with the MCAP assesments are typically taken during freshman and sophomore years. Some students take the MCAP Algebra I in Middle School.

High School Assessments

Students must meet the Maryland High School Assessment requirements:

  • Take MCAP assessment in English 10, Algebra I, Biology, and Government

Note: 

Students should work with their school counselor to confirm that they have met all graduation assessment requirements.

 

The Alternative Maryland School Assessment (Alt-MSA) and the National Center for State Collaborative (NCSC)

Students participate in the Alt-MSA if, through the individualized educational program process, it has been determined that they meet specific eligibility criteria.  A portfolio for the Alt-MSA is constructed of artifacts (such as student work samples) that document the individual student mastery of the science objectives in grades 5, 8 and 10. The NCSC assessment will replace the Alt-MSA in English Language Arts and Math starting in the 2015-16 school year for grades 3-8 and 11. The NCSC assessment is an online computer-adaptive assessment that is given near the end of the school year.  

For more information, please review the Student Handbook under Documents on the right side of this page.