2025 - 2026 MCPS High School Course Bulletin

 

Graduation

• Required courses and credit options - You need to fulfill four categories of requirements: 1 - enrollment, 2 - course credit, 3 - student service learning (SSL), and 4 - Maryland assessments.
• State assessments - Find out about the Maryland High School Comprehensive Assessment Program.
• Student Service Learning (SSL) - Find out about your Student Service Learning requirements for graduation.
• Certificate of Merit - Find out requirements needed to be awarded the Certificate of Merit (a diploma endorsement).
• Maryland High School Certificate - Criteria needed for the Maryland High School Certificate (a diploma alternative).

 

Courses and Credits

• How courses are offered - Types of courses and how credit is earned.
• High school credit earned in middle school - How to earn high school credit while in middle school.
• Honors, AP, and Advanced-level courses - Course descriptions and enrollment requirements.
• IB Programs - Find out where the program is offered and how to apply.
• Rules about withdrawing from a course - Procedures to follow for withdrawing from a course.
• Alternative ways to earn credit - Other opportunities for earning credit outside the regular school day and year.

 

Attendance and Alternative Enrollment

• Alternatives to four-year enrollment - Options besides four-year enrollment
• Attendance - Things to know about attendance.

 

Grading and Reporting

• Procedures for grading - How grading procedures are applied.
• How grades are reported - How teachers provide students and parents with information about achievement.
• Credit/No Credit - How this grading option can be applied.
• GPA/WGPA - How these grading averages are calculated.
• Grades and eligibility - What is required to be eligibile for participating in extracurricular activities.
• NCAA - Courses that are approved for participation in intercollegiate athletics.

 

Career Readiness Programs

• Programs Of Study (POS) - State-approved programs that satisfy the career development graduation requirement.

 

College and University Partnerships

• Opportunities for college ready high school students - How high school juniors or seniors can earn college credits.
• College credit for completing Programs Of Study (POS)  - Graduates from high school who successfully complete one of 38 Programs Of Study may earn free college credit.