Academics

Credit requirements for students who first enter 9th grade in 2020/21 or prior

Total: 21 Credits

·         English: 4 Credits

o    English I - Must be taken first

o    English II - Only after passing English I

o    English III - Can be taken directly after passing English II

o    English IV - Can be taken directly after passing English II. English III and English IV can be taken concurrently. 

·         Math: 4 Credits

o    Algebra I

o    Geometry

o    Algebra II

o    Advanced Math

§  Examples: Probability and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Intro to Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC.

·         Science: 3 Credits

o    Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

·         Social Studies: 3 credits

o    US History, American Government, World History

·         Fine Arts: 1 credit

·         Physical Education: 0.5 credit

o    Team or Individual Sports (if already passed & completed)

o    Personal Fitness (If the student has not passed & completed the class above)

·         Health: 0.5 credit

·         Electives: 2 credits

·         Tech Ed: 1 credit

o    FOT (if already passed and completed)

o    Leadership Tech (if already passed and completed)

o    Foundations of Computer Science (if the student has not passed or completed either class above)

·         World Language: 2 credits - Must be same language/sequentially (i.e., Spanish I and Spanish II). Cannot be taken concurrently, OR

o    Advanced Tech Ed: 2 credits, OR

o    CTE Program Completer: A “Completer” is a student who successfully completes all the required courses (3-9 credits) within the same state-approved CTE program/pathway.

 

Credit requirements for students who first enter 9th grade in 2020/21 or prior

Total: 22 Credits

  • English: 4 Credits

    • English I - Must be taken first

    • English II - Only after passing English I

    • English III - Can be taken directly after passing English II

    • English IV - Can be taken directly after passing English II.

      • English III and English IV can be taken concurrently. 

  • Math: 4 Credits

    • Algebra I

    • Geometry

    • Algebra II

    • Advanced Math

      • Examples: Probability and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Intro to Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC.

  • Science: 3 Credits

    • Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

  • Social Studies: 3 credits

    • US History, American Government, World History

  • Fine Arts: 1 credit

  • Physical Education: 0.5 credit

    • Personal Fitness

  • Health: 1 credit

    • Health I (0.5) and Health II (0.5)

  • Electives: 2.5 credits

  • Tech Ed: 1 credit

    • Foundations of Computer Science

  • World Language: 2 credits - Must be same language/sequentially (i.e., Spanish I and Spanish II). Cannot be taken concurrently.

    • OR

      • CTE Program Completer: A “Completer” is a student who successfully completes all the required courses (3-9 credits) within the same state-approved CTE program/pathway.

 

 Maryland State Tests - All Students

All students (9th-12th) will only need to participate in the below assessments to meet the graduation requirement. Students may participate in either winter OR spring administration:

·         MCAP ALGEBRA I   

·         MCAP ENGLISH 10

·         AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

·         LIFE SCIENCE MISA

In July of 2023, the Maryland State Department adopted changes to the graduation requirements for high schools in Maryland.

Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, first-time ninth-grade students will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment (MCAP) End of Course exam for Biology (LS-MISA) and American Government, and the MCAP scores will count as twenty percent of the student’s final grade in the respective Biology and American Government courses.

 

 Grade Level Promotion Policy

From Grade 9 to 10

  • Number of Cumulative Credits Needed: 5

  • Including:

    • English I, or Algebra I

From Grade 10 to 11

  • Number of Cumulative Credits Needed: 10

  • Including:

    • 3 credits out of English I, English II, Algebra I, and Geometry

    • 1 credit in both social studies and science

From Grade 11 to 12

  • Number of Cumulative Credits Needed: 15

  • Including:

    • 5 credits in English I, English II, English III, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II

    • 3 credits in science and social studies (at least one in each). 

Please check the course catalog for ESOL English I and ESOL English II course codes that count as English credits.

Service Learning

Graduating students must have completed a minimum of 75 hours of service learning. Students begin service learning projects in middle school, and most will have earned the required 75 hours by the beginning of high school.

Maryland Assessments Required

  • Algebra I

  • English II

  • Science

  • American Government