Policy Tool | District Policies

5122GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

            In order to satisfy the high school graduation requirements within Meriden Public Schools, a student must have satisfactorily completed his or her prescribed courses of study, demonstrated proficiency in basic skills identified by the Meriden Board of Education and satisfied the legally mandated number and distribution of credits required to graduate from high school.

            The Meriden Board of Education conforms with state law regarding credits for graduation from high school.

Classes Graduating in 2020 to 2021

For classes graduating in 2020 to 2021, the following 21.5 credits are required: 

 

English (one credit per year)         

4 credits, law requires minimum of 4

Mathematics  

3 credits, law requires minimum of 3

Science (one must be in Biology)

2 credits, law requires minimum of 2

Physical Education            

1.5 credits, law requires minimum of 1

Social Studies

3 credits, law requires minimum of 3,

must include at least .5 credits in civics

and American Government

Arts or Vocational Education       

1 credit, law requires minimum of 1

Business/Computer           

1 credit

Health

0.5 credit

Electives

5 credits

Community Service           

0.25 (20 hours minimum)

Students graduating with 25.25 credits will earn credit distinction.  Students graduating with 28.25 credits will graduate with highest credit distinction.

Classes Graduating in 2023 and Thereafter

For classes graduating in 2023 and thereafter, the following 25 credits are required: 

 

 

Humanities    

9 credits (law requires a minimum of 9 credits, including civics and the arts).

4 credits English, 3 credits Social Studies (must include Civics and U.S. History), 1 credit Fine Arts, 1 credit Humanities Elective

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

9 credits (law requires a minimum of 9 credits)

2 credit Science (1 to include Biology, 1 credit Technology, 3 credits Math, 3 credits STEM Electives

World Language

1 credit (law requires a minimum of 1 credit)

Physical Education and Wellness

1 credit (law requires a minimum of 1 credit)

Health and Safety Education

1 credit (law requires a minimum of 1 credit)

Mastery-Based Assessment

1 credit (law requires a minimum of 1)

Electives

2.75 credits

Community Service

.25 credit

Students graduating with 29.0 credits will earn credit distinction.  Students graduating with 31.0 credits will graduate with highest credit distinction.                             

A student who presents written documentation from a physician or advanced practice registered nurse stating that participation in physical education is not advisable because of the physical condition of the student, shall be excused from the physical education requirement.  In such a case, another subject must be substituted.

Any student who is deaf or hearing impaired may be exempted from any world language graduation requirement if his or her parent or guardian requests such exemption in writing.

A credit is defined as the equivalent of one forty minute class period for each school day of a school year.  One-half credit is granted for a course with a forty-minute class period each school day for one semester or 90 days.

Only courses taken in grades nine to twelve inclusive, and that are in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards, adopted by the State Board of Education, shall satisfy the above graduation requirements, except that the Board will grant a student credit:

High school graduation credit will be granted to students upon the successful demonstration of mastery of subject matter achieved through educational experiences and opportunities that provide flexible and multiple pathways to learning, including:

  • Cross-curricular graduation requirements,
  • Career and technical education,
  • Virtual learning,
  • Work-based learning,
  • Service learning,
  • Dual enrollment and early college
  • Courses taken in middle school, and
  • Internships and student-designed independent studies;

       provided that such demonstration of mastery is in accordance with such state-wide subject matter content standards. 

High school graduation credit will be granted to students for courses successfully completed with a 60 or better in grades seven and eight so long as the primary focus of the course corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement at the high school level.

High school graduation credit will be granted to students for World Language courses successfully completed with a 60 or better in grades six, seven or eight. 

Demonstration of Proficiency in Basic Skills

In addition to meeting the coursework and credit graduation requirements listed above, to graduate high school, each student must demonstrate proficiency in the basic skills.

For each tested area not mastered on the PSATs, students must demonstrate success in one of the following indicators in the core content area:

PSAT grade 10 or 11 in fall or spring testing: 

   PSAT EBRW = 360 scale score 

   PSAT Math = 370 scale score   

SAT spring grade 11: 

   PSAT EBRW = 380 scale score 

   PSAT Math = 390 scale score   

Minimum 2.33 GPA

C or higher in one ECE or AP course  

ACT score of 15 or higher (was 17) 

Accuplacer standard score of 88 or higher 

Successful completion of a Personalized Learning Experience (PLE) in senior year

Passing grade on alternative assignment

Students may demonstrate proficiency in the basic skills described above by achieving satisfactory results on the following:

Course Loads

Students are required to carry a minimum of six course units yearly; however, senior students may request a waiver from the school principal if they document active participation in approved college and career readiness activities.  

Generally, students are expected to satisfy the graduation requirements listed in this policy in grades nine through twelve, inclusive. However, a student may receive credit for courses successfully completed in grades seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine through twelve, inclusive. Additionally, a student may receive credit towards the high school graduation requirement for the successful completion of a World Language Course with a grade of 60 or better completed in grades six, seven or eight.

Students may also receive credit through pre-approved online coursework or for coursework offered through a non-profit provider, provided the student achieves a passing grade on an examination prescribed by the Commissioner of Education for up to four units.  Students may also earn units toward reaching a graduation requirement by passing a proficiency examination approved by the Commissioner of Education or upon successful completion of coursework at an accredited institution of higher education.

The school principal may waive up to one unit of study in any given year for a student when warranted because of academic or family hardship circumstances.

Transfer Credit

Only transfer credits earned from high schools accredited by their state accrediting agencies will be accepted in fulfillment of the required units except as described above.

Prior approval from the principal is necessary to pursue transfer credit/credit opportunities from accredited institutions other than high school, except as described above.

Attendance Requirements

Students eligible to receive a high school diploma and participate in a graduation ceremony must have attended a Meriden high school for the full and final semester before graduation. Exceptions from this policy may be made by the Superintendent after reviewing special cases with the high school administration.

Graduation During Period of Expulsion

A student may graduate during an expulsion period if the Board determines that the student has completed the necessary credits required for graduation.

Academic Advancement Program

Notwithstanding the graduation requirements in this policy, students shall be permitted to graduate from high school upon the successful completion of the academic advancement program established by the State Board of Education.

 

Legal References:

Public Act 17-42, An Act Concerning Revisions to the High School Graduation Requirements

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-5c

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-14n

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-16b

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-221a

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-223a

 Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes, Section 10-221

Public Act 84-297

Approved: September 4, 1984

Amended: May 3, 1994

Amended: June 1, 1999

Amended: March 19, 2002

Amended: December 16, 2003

Amended: March 6, 2007

Amended: February 2, 2010

Amended: February 7, 2012

Amended: April 28, 2015

Amended: June 7, 2016

Reviewed and no changes made: December 6, 2016

Amended: May 16, 2017

Amended: September 1, 2020

 Previous Policy Numbers: 6146 (Moved from Instruction) and HK6

 

Approved 9/1/2020
Previous Policy Number: HK6