A minimum of 26 credits must be earned in grades 9 through 12 to receive a Maryland High School Diploma. Students must be enrolled at least four years beyond grade 8 unless a formal waiver is granted by the Superintendent of Schools. All freshmen will complete the Freshman Seminar requirement (.5 credit).

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

English............................................. 4

Mathematics.................................... 4
    -  1 credit must be algebraic concepts
    -  1 credit must be geometric concepts
    -   A student must take one math credit
       per year beyond grade 8.

Social Studies.................................. 4
    - 1 Government
    - 1 World History or AP European History
    - 1 US History or AP US History
    - 1 Contemporary World Studies

Science............................................ 3
   - 1 credit must be in Biology
 
Fine Arts.......................................... 1

Physical Education.......................... 1

Health Education............................. 1

Technology Education..................... 1

Pathway Requirements................... 7
    Freshman Seminar (1)
    Pathway Course (2)

    Completion of the following:
        - Foreign/World Language (2)
and/or
        - Advanced Technology (2)
and/or
        - Career Technology Education
          Completer Program (4-10)
     Pathway Options........................ *

Electives.......................................... *

Make-up credits, pending availability, must be earned through county approved options.

*  Options vary according to program.

In order to graduate, students who entered grade 9 in the 2005-2006 school year and after must pass the  state mandated high school assessments (HSA) upon course completion. This includes students who take these courses in middle school. The high school assessment courses are English 10, Algebra I or  Algebra IB, Biology, and Government.

Students must:

• achieve a passing score on each assessment
        
        or
• achieve a designated overall combined score (best score of each HSA test) as established by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Appropriate assistance to strengthen areas of weakness will be available to students who pass the HSA courses but must re-take the high school assessments.

Modified High School Assessments (Mod-HSA) will be administered to a small number of identified students with specific disabilities and modified academic goals.

Results of the high school assessments are recorded on students’ transcripts and reported to parents.

For more information about Maryland High School
Assessments, visit www.mdk12.org.

All students must complete a graduation requirement in service learning.  The requirement will be met by successful completion of infused service learning units in grades 6 through 9, or a service learning course in grades 10, 11, or 12. Transfer students entering grades 6, 7, 8, or 9 will be required to complete the subsequent units upon enrollment in the Cecil County Public Schools (e.g., a student who transferred into the Cecil County Public Schools in grade 7 would be required to satisfactorily complete the service learning units in grades 7, 8 and 9 to meet the graduation requirement).

Transfer students entering Grades 10 through 12 need to meet one of the following: 

   1) proof of previous satisfactory service learning; or

   2) satisfactory completion of the service learning
       course; or
   3) satisfactory completion of an approved service
       learning project co-planned by the student and
       the building level Service Learning Coordinator.