Graduation Requirements
Complete Competency Determination (see below)
Pass four years of English
Pass three years of History/Social Science (to include World History, US History )
Pass three years of Science (to include Physical Science)
Pass three years of Mathematics (to include Algebra & Geometry)
Pass four years of Wellness Education (formerly known as Physical Education) (see below for more details)
Pass one year of Fine Arts (5 credits) (see Program of Studies for courses which fulfill this requirement)
Pass two years of World Language (two years of the same language is strongly recommended)
Demonstrate competency in Computer Technology
Perform and document 40 hours of community service
Complete: 106 credits minimum
Definition of the Four Year Wellness Education Graduation Requirement
Grade 9: Students are required to take the 9th Grade Program. It meets two times a week over the course of the entire year.
Grade 10: Students are required to take two different quartered electives (preferably in the same semester). Students are not allowed to take electives marked for Grade 11 and 12 only. (each course is one quarter long)
Grades 11 and 12: Students are required to take two quarter electives by the time of their graduation. This may entail taking two quartered electives during your junior year, or one junior and one senior year. Spaces may be limited in some electives. Seniors are given preference. Grade 12 students cannot not enroll in Quarter 4 electives.
There are Four (4) absence allowed for all Quarter Elective classes. If a student surpasses the 4 absence allowance they must enroll in a different elective in a different quarter to earn PE Graduation requirement credit and may require changes to their schedule in order to complete this requirement.
Under changes in the law adopted during the 2024-2025 school year, students must demonstrate “mastery of a common core of skills, competencies, and knowledge” by satisfactorily completing coursework certified by the district as meeting state standards. The new law replaces the previous MCAS-based competency determination with a coursework-based model.
Students at Arlington High School meet the Competency Determination by successfully completing coursework aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks that covers the following content or higher.
English Grade 9-10
Algebra 1 and Geometry
At least one of Introductory Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Technology/Engineering (not currently available)
Promotion and Graduation
Students must earn a passing final grade for the course in order to earn course credits towards graduation. For a student to advance from one grade level to the next higher grade level, the following requirements should be met:
Grade 10 22 credits minimum
Grade 11 48 credits minimum
Grade 12 72 credits minimum
Graduation 106 credits minimum