BPS Graduation Requirements
The following graduation requirements apply to the Class of 2026 and Beyond:
In order to graduate, all students must pass
Take and pass four English (or ESL) courses
Take and pass three history courses, including U.S. History 1 & 2
Take and pass four integrated math sequences Math I, Math 2, Math 3, or the traditional sequence Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II with a 4th year choice of PreCalculus, Calculus, Statistics, or Advanced Quantitative Reasoning.
Take and pass three lab science courses, including at least two of the following: biology, chemistry, physics
Take and pass two years of the same world language courses (or two additional ESL courses)
Take and pass two semester courses in the arts
Take and pass four semester courses in physical education
Take and pass one semester course in health
Take and pass one semester course in computers
Earn a Competency Determination (CD) in MCAS ELA, math, and science & technology/engineering
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4 Core Science:
Environmental Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
4 Core Humanities
Humanities 1
Humanities 2
Humanities 3
Humanities 4
2 World Language
World Language 1 (Spanish 1)*
World Language 2 (Spanish 2)*
4 Core English Language Arts
ELA 9
ELA 10
ELA 11 OR AP Language
ELA 12 OR AP Literature
4 Core Math
Algebra (Integrated Math I)
Geometry (Integrated Math II)
Advanced Algebra
Pre-Calculus or AP Statistics
5 Core Electives**
1 Physical Education**
1 Art**
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*Can be waived for CTE/ESL/Special Education students on a case-by-case basis.
** MassCore Requirements allow for these courses to be met in several ways, including classes at Boston Green Academy, through Dual Enrollment, JV/Varsity Athletics and community programs. Check with.your school counselor for details.
Other graduation requirements:
Senior Internship
Community Service – 40 hours
Pass Science, ELA and Math MCAS
Graduation Ceremony Policy
Graduation from high school is a very important and special occasion. EMK honors our graduates with formal ceremonies during which we present diplomas, scholarships, and other recognitions. Only those students who have met all EMK promotion requirements and met the state's Competency Determination requirements for ELA, math, and science & technology/engineering MCAS tests may participate in high school graduation exercises and receive a diploma.
Students who have not met graduation requirements may not participate in the graduation ceremony in any way. This includes not meeting internship, community service or MCAS portfolio requirements.
There are two exceptions to this policy:
Special education students with significant disabilities who are 22 years old and exiting high school based on their age and attainment of IEP goals will receive a Certificate of Achievement and are permitted to participate.
Other students who meet all of the requirements below may participate:
a. Student has no more than nine unexcused absences in the current school year (95% attendance)
b. Student has taken the MCAS exam at least three times in each subject which the student didn’t pass, and has submitted at least two appeals (cohort and portfolio)
c. Student has met all BGA graduation requirements and is both a student in good academic standing and a student without significant incidents of misconduct.
Promotion/Retention Policy
Promotion/Retention decisions at the high school level (grades 9-11) are made based primarily upon the student’s progress towards completing the BPS and EMK graduation requirements. Efforts are made to move students forward, but if the student falls too far off track, and is in need of making up an entire year’s worth of academic courses as of the start of the school year, he/she will be retained in their grade level.
If a Core course(s) (those required for graduation) is failed, it must be made up in BPS summer school or BPS Night School (Twilight).