Student Handbook - High School Graduation Requirements
In Massachusetts, public school students must fulfill both local and state requirements to graduate with a high school diploma. This section outlines the state-level requirements.
Under the Massachusetts Education Reform Law of 1993 (G.L. c. 69, § 1D), all students educated at public expense—including those in public schools, educational collaboratives, and approved or unapproved private special education settings—must meet the Competency Determination (CD) standard. In the past, this was typically achieved by earning a passing score on the MCAS exams.
I. Competency Determination
To receive a high school diploma, students must meet the Worcester Public Schools competency determination requirements, which are in addition to the graduation requirements.
The Massachusetts Education Reform Law of 1993, G.L. c. 69, § 1D, requires that all students meet the Competency Determination (CD) standard in Math, ELA and Science to earn a diploma in MA. The new statute says:
“The "competency determination" shall be based on the academic standards and curriculum frameworks for tenth graders in the areas of mathematics, science and technology, history and social science, foreign languages, and English, and shall represent a determination that a particular student has demonstrated mastery of a common core of skills, competencies and knowledge in these areas, by satisfactorily completing coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the MCAS high school tests described in section one I administered in 2023, and in any additional areas determined by the board.”
Two Pathways Toward Competency Determination and Graduation
Students who have previously earned a Competency Determination (CD) through a regular or retest administration of the MCAS (including the November 2024 retest) or through a DESE appeal process, have earned their Competency Determination.
Students in the Worcester Public Schools who have not yet earned their Competency Determination through previous MCAS administrations can meet the requirements for a competency determination through the following:
Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of a grade 9 & 10 English courses
Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of an Algebra I/II and Geometry or an equivalent course
Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of a Biology or Physics or an equivalent course
II. Worcester Public Schools
Proposed Certified Courses to Meet Competency Determination for Class of 2025
Grading
Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
A | 100 - 90 |
B | 89 - 80 |
C | 79 - 70 |
D | 69 - 65 |
F | 64 - 0 |
Graduation Course Requirements
In order to graduate from the Worcester Public Schools, a student must have earned at least 24 credits and complied with all state accountability requirements. Course requirements are the following:
2025-2026
Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12
4 credits English
4 credits Mathematics
3 credits Science and Technology/Engineering
3 credits History/Social Science (including 1 credit World History and 1 credit
U.S. History and 1 credit chosen by the student
2 credits Foreign Language (of the same language)
1 credit Arts
5 credits additional core courses
Additionally, students must complete a physical education course each year.
Additional course credits are required by taking elective classes.
High School students seeking alternative Physical Education options should discuss their requests with their Guidance Counselor, who can provide information on the process.
The Worcester Public Schools adheres to the Mass Core requirements.
Students who successfully complete Algebra in grade 8 have the option of receiving one (1) high school credit that will be recorded on their high school transcript. (Massachusetts college admissions accept Grade 8 College Preparatory Courses, provided that the student successfully completes the next level course with a grade of “C” or better). Students electing to take Algebra I in high school will not receive credit for Algebra taken in grade 8. Students who have earned a credit for 8th grade Algebra must complete 4 credits of Mathematics during their high school years.
Students in grades 7 & 8 who successfully complete high school courses in World Language will receive one high school credit per course that will be recorded on their high school transcript. Students who take Part 1 of a World Language Course in grade 8, will not receive credit for the course taken in middle school. It is recommended that students take two years or more of the same language at the high school level.
The intent of awarding credits for College Preparatory courses taken in grade 8 is so that students can have additional learning opportunities while in high school. These additional opportunities include but are not limited to Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, online, service learning and work-based learning courses. All students must complete 24 credits of coursework while in high school in addition to fulfilling the other graduation requirements as per the policy handbook.
Exception Allowances
a. English Language Learners (ELL) identified through the Massachusetts’ state standardized test (ACCESS) as English Proficiency Level (EPL) 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 may substitute two college preparatory elective courses for the two required foreign language courses. Students who reach EPL level 6 while in grades 9 or 10 are required to take the two foreign language courses to meet graduation requirements.
b. Students with disabilities whose psycho-educational evaluation provides a specific diagnosis of a learning disability that precludes the student’s successful completion of a foreign language course may substitute two college preparatory elective courses for the two required foreign language courses.
c. Students enrolled in Career/Vocational Technical Programs may substitute required foreign language and art/music courses plus one of the following options:
i. complete at least one full year of study of foreign language or
ii. complete a fourth year of study of science and technology/ engineering or
iii. complete one full year of study for computer science
d. Students with disabilities whose psycho-educational evaluation provides a specific diagnosis of a learning disability that precludes the student's successful completion of a foreign language course may substitute two college preparatory elective courses for the two required foreign language courses.
Massachusetts State College and University Minimum Required Courses for Admission
English 4 courses
Mathematics 4 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework) including mathematics during the final year of high school
Sciences 3 courses (from Natural Science and/or Physical Science and/ or Technology/ Engineering), including 3 courses with laboratory work
Social Sciences 3 courses (including 1 in U.S. History and 1 in World History)
Foreign Languages 2 courses (in a single language)
Note: American Sign Language (ASL) is a foreign language.
Electives 2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or Computer Sciences)
Advanced Placement Exams
Advanced Placement courses provide students with unique learning experiences that help ensure college success. Students engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively, while developing time management skills, discipline and study habits. Students who achieve a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam may earn college credit from many four-year colleges in the US.
Worcester Public Schools offers over 20 Advanced Placement Courses in on-site, community based or virtual learning settings.
Recommendations for Advanced Placement Enrollment
Students who are interested in enrolling in Advanced Placement Courses should discuss readiness for this challenging learning opportunity with their caregivers, teachers, and guidance counselors.
The indicators below may be considered together when assessing a student’s readiness. One indicator is not more valuable than another in determining readiness.
AP Potential using PSAT results
Motivation and interest
Course expectations and course work
Prior grades in the same-discipline courses
The number of same-discipline courses taken
Teachers may assign work to students during the summer to help prepare them for the course.
Advanced Placement Exams
The Worcester Public Schools will pay for the AP exams for those students who choose to take them.
Class Rank Grade Point Average
Class rank is computed at the end of the 6th semester, using major subjects only. Class rank will be recomputed at the end of the second marking period senior year for determining the valedictorian and for processing of college applications. The student grades are weighted as follows:
Average | Advanced Placement (AP) | Honors | College |
|---|---|---|---|
100-99 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 |
98-97 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
96 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
95-94 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
93 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 3.9 |
92 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.8 |
91 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.7 |
90 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
89 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 |
87 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
86 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
85 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
84 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
83 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
82 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
81 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.7 |
80 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
79 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
78 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
77 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.1 |
76 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
75 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
74 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
73 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
72 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
71 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
70 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
69 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
68 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
67 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
66 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
65 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
64-0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Marking System
A=100-90 B=89-80 C=79-70 D=69-65 F=64-0
Dual Enrollment-College Courses for High School Students Early College Worcester (ECW)
The Early College Worcester (ECW) program is a secondary/post-secondary partnership involving Worcester Public Schools (WPS), Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), Worcester State University (WSU), and Clark University.
This program enables WPS high school students to participate in college and career readiness activities and college credit course offerings. The activities and courses are offered at the high school or on the QCC or WSU campuses. Students earn college and high school credits at the same time and can graduate from high school with a high school diploma and at least 12 college credits.
The goals of the ECW program are to increase the percentage of students who are college ready, receive a high school diploma, enroll in college in the fall, and persist in college.
Other Dual Enrollment Offerings
High school students in the Worcester Public Schools who wish to pursue advanced or specialized courses beyond those offered in their high schools or through Early College Worcester may take courses at these area colleges:
Anna Maria College
Assumption College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester State University
College of the Holy Cross
Quinsigamond Community College
Clark University
Students receive dual enrollment credit for courses taken at all area colleges. For GPA computation, Worcester Public Schools students will receive the same weight as an A.P. course for each completed college course.
Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy
The Worcester Public Schools will offer the MA Seal of Biliteracy to graduating seniors on their diplomas and transcripts. The MA Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduates who speak, listen, read and write proficiently in English and a second or even third language.
By offering the MA Seal of Biliteracy to its students the Worcester Public Schools recognizes, honors and encourages the bilingual students and diverse communities in Worcester and encourages all students to pursue proficiency in more than one language. Bilingualism is a critical 21st century skill that recipients of the MA Seal of Biliteracy can highlight in both college and job applications.
In order to earn the MA Seal of Biliteracy, students must meet all their graduation requirements, demonstrate proficiency in English through the ELA MCAS or ACCESS, and show proficiency in a target language by earning 4 or 5 in an AP Language Exam or other state-approved language test provided by the district.
Students interested in participating in the MA Seal of Biliteracy program must complete an application available in the guidance office and on the Worcester Public Schools website.
Questions about the MA Seal of Biliteracy program can be directed to the Office of Multilingual Education.