HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND DIPLOMA OPTIONS

To be eligible for graduation from the Falls Church City Public Schools, a student must have successfully completed the requirements for graduation as specified in the Regulations of the State Board of Education, the Standards of Quality, and the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in VA. There are two different diploma paths: the Standard Diploma and the Advanced Studies Diploma. The Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas are available to all students. Students seeking the International Baccalaureate Diploma must complete a Standard or Advanced Diploma option.

Students must meet the state diploma requirements that are in place at the time of their entry into grade nine. Students who achieve a passing grade in a course and a passing score on an end-of-course SOL test shall be awarded a verified unit of credit in that course. Students may earn verified credits in any courses for which end-of-course SOL tests are available. The Falls Church City School Board awards diplomas to all secondary school students who earn the credit prescribed by the State Board of Education, pass the required tests, and meet other requirements as prescribed by the local School Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The local School Board awards Certificates of Program Completion to students who complete required coursework, but do not meet the Virginia testing requirements. Provisions are made for students who transfer between secondary schools as outlined in the Standards of Accreditation. Reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements for diplomas are provided for students with disabilities as needed. 

Additional Requirements for Graduation

• AP, Honors, IB, Dual Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, or CTE Credential -  Students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; or (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by Board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential approved by the board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the advanced studies diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.

• Virtual Course - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a non-credit-bearing course or a required or elective credit-bearing course that is offered online.  Guidance on this requirement is provided in the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the SOA (8VAC20-131) (Word).

• First Aid, CPR, and AED Training - Students shall be trained in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), including hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students with an IEP or 504 Plan that documents that they cannot successfully complete this training shall be granted a waiver from this graduation requirement, as provided in 8VAC20-131-420(B).

• Demonstration of the 5 C’s – In accordance with the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, students shall acquire and demonstrate foundational skills in Virginia’s 5 C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship. Meridian High School reflects the Profile of a VA Graduate through the IB Learner Profile traits. As IB learners we strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. For more information about the IB Learning Profile visit the https://www.ibo.org/benefits/learner-profile/ website.  

The minimum requirements for each high school diploma are summarized in the following tables:

Standard and Verified Credits

Standard Unit of Credit

A “standard unit of credit” or “standard credit” is a credit awarded for a course in which the student successfully completes 140 clock hours of instruction and the requirements of the course. A standard unit of credit may be awarded based on a waiver of the 140 clock hour requirement as provided in Policy IKFD Alternative Paths to Attaining Standard Units of Credit.

Verified Unit of Credit

A “verified unit of credit” or “verified credit” is a credit awarded for a course in which a student earns a standard unit of credit and completes one of the following:

1. Achieves a passing score on a corresponding end-of-course SOL test.

2. Achieves a passing score on an additional test, as defined in 8 VAC 20-131-5, as a part of the Virginia Assessment Program.

3. Meets the criteria for the receipt of a locally awarded verified credit when the student has not passed a corresponding SOL test.

4. Meets the criteria for the receipt of a verified credit in history and social science by demonstrating mastery of the content of the associated course on an authentic performance assessment that FALLS CHURCH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Policy IKF Former FCCPS Policies 6.14 and 6.15 Page 3 complies with guidelines adopted by the Board of Education.

5. Meets the criteria for the receipt of a verified credit for English (writing) by demonstrating mastery of the content of the associated course on an authentic performance assessment that complies with guidelines adopted by the Board of Education.

Students may also earn verified credits by taking alternative tests to the SOL assessment. Such tests may only be those approved by the Virginia Board of Education, and the student may earn verified credits only by achieving that score established by the Board of Education.

Meridian Grading System 

Note: The “IB Mark” column provides an estimate of how an IB Rubric would convert to an IB Component Score (such as a mock IB assessment or Internal Assessment). It should not be read as a way to use FCCPS grades to estimate Predicted IB grades.

Standards-based Learning & Grading (SBL&G)

What is Standards-Based Learning & Grading?

Standards-Based Learning & Grading at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and Meridian High School is a system in which students receive feedback about their proficiency on a set of defined subject-specific criteria. Schools report students' levels of performance on these criteria.

Standards-Based Learning & Grading

Standards-Based Learning & Grading at Meridian High School is a system in which students receive feedback about their proficiency on a set of defined subject-specific criteria. Schools report students' levels of performance on these criteria.

Courses involved in Standards-Based Learning & Grading (SBL&G)

• Algebra I

• Algebra I, Honors

• ASL I and ASL II

• French I and French II

• Spanish I and Spanish II

Grading Information 

Completed courses taken during the 2020-2021 school year and beyond will earn one full credit (1.0) at the end of the school year. The year-long grade will be the only grade to appear on a student’s final transcript. The only exception to this year-long grading structure are courses offered on a semester basis. Students that transfer before the end of the year will not be awarded a full credit (1.0) and will need to transfer grades to the next school to award a full credit (1.0).

Prior to the 2020-21 school year, all courses are either year-long or one semester in length. Students earn one-full credit (1.0) for a yearlong course or one-half credit (0.5) for a semester course completed with a grade of "D-" or better.  Second-semester seniors who have earned third and fourth quarter grades of "A" in a course are exempt from the final exam.

High school transcripts include grades and credit earned at Meridian High School, transferred grades and credit from other schools.

Meridian High School does not rank students. 

Verified Credits for Transfer Students from Non-Virginia Public Schools 

Graduation requirements – in compliance with 8VAC 20-131-60 – for a student transferring into a Virginia public school for the first time in grades 9-12, depends on the grade the student is transferring into and when in the school year the student is transferring.

A student is considered to have transferred:

• at the beginning of the school year if 20 or fewer hours of instruction per course have been completed.

• during the school year if more than 20 hours of instruction per course has been completed.

Federal law requires each student to be tested in mathematics at least once during high school, therefore some students will be required to complete a mathematics end-of-course test in high school if one was not completed prior to enrolling in a Virginia public high school.

Students entering a Virginia high school during the tenth grade or later may benefit by having to earn a reduced number of verified credits, as stated in 8VAC20-131-60.G, and summarized in Requirements for First-time Transfers to a Virginia Public School by Grade Level and School Year Overview and in the following table.

Placement/Promotion Procedure 

Grade placement and promotion requirements are determined by School Board Policy and Regulation Number 6.44. The minimum requirements for placement in a given grade are as follows:

Grade Point Average Calculations 

A student’s grade point average is determined by totaling all quality points awarded and dividing the sum by the total number of credits attempted

Schedule Change Procedures 

After careful consideration, students, with the permission of their parent/guardian, teacher and counselor, may elect to be graded “Pass/Fail” in a specific course(s). The decision for pass/fail must be made by the end of the second quarter. A form must be completed and submitted to the student’s counselor. A passing grade will not be counted in the student’s GPA. A failing grade will be counted in the student’s GPA. Excluding contract classes, a student may not have more than one pass/fail class in grades 9 and 10, and not more than two classes in grades 11 and 12; unless there are extenuating circumstances and an exception has been made on an individual student basis determined by a school team.  Please contact your school counselor if this is the case.  Students who speak English as a second language may be graded pass/fail in all subjects during their first year at MHS.

Repeat and Audited Classes 

Students may repeat math or language acquisition courses in certain situations. Those who have passed a math or language acquisition course may repeat the passed course for greater mastery and with administrative approval. Additionally, students who have earned a grade of “F” in a course may repeat the course. In all cases, the student will receive the higher letter grade, but no additional credit will be awarded. All courses attempted and earned grades will appear on the student’s transcript.

Students may, with the permission of the teacher, audit courses in areas of interest or for skill improvement, but for which they do not wish to receive either a grade or credit. In this case, the student will receive a grade of “N” on the transcript. Students who audit and repeat courses are expected to follow all class regulations and complete all work. Note: Repeated courses may not count toward VA High School League (VHSL) eligibility, additionally, audited courses do not count toward VA High School League eligibility.

Honors Courses 

Some Meridian classes have been identified as Honors courses. The material in these courses tends to be greater in terms of quantity and complexity than in other courses. The pace may also be faster at times. Students planning to enroll in Honors classes should be academically motivated and have a strong record of academic success. Honors courses do not carry a weighted quality point towards a student’s GPA.

Hybrid and Virtual Learning 

Hybrid classes are available for any Meridian High School student. A course may be taught in a Hy-C lab (Hybrid Learning Center) or with counselor and administrative approval may be scheduled as an independent study. The courses blend online content with face-to-face instruction or assistance as needed. All courses are taught by a highly qualified Meridian teacher in the subject area. We offer a variety of classes which help students with credit recovery or adding an additional class to their schedule to meet the demands of a full schedule. Hy-C classes are currently aligned with end of course testing standards if applicable. Hy-C courses that are dropped throughout a school year will follow the same schedule change procedure as non-Hy-C courses. New for the 23-24 school year and beyond is the following Virtual Course to support additional Math coursework Math: App & Interpret SL I Pt. I & II. This is a preparatory course for the International Baccalaureate Mathematics AI SL II course.   

Available courses through Hy-C are listed below:

Summer Academy 

Meridian High School offers some summer school options. In some cases these courses may be required of identified students. Please contact the Counseling Office for more information. If students are planning on attending summer school outside of MHS, they must notify their counselor prior to leaving school for the summer. Each year in May students will be invited to attend an orientation during the school day. A revised Summer Academy manual will be provided to students in person and through Schoology to describe the logistics for planning. Only students that are currently enrolled during the school year are eligible for Summer Academy to earn additional credits. 

Dual Enrollment

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Meridian High School offer dual-enrollment for students who wish to take college courses for high school and/or college credit. Students must be at least sixteen years old and apply at least two weeks before the NOVA semester begins. Applications are available in the Counseling Office and at NOVA. Dual Enrollment courses are conducted on the NOVA campus, the Arlington Career Center (ACC), and may also be held at Meridian High School.

Dual Enrollment can provide students an opportunity to enhance their education by enrolling early in college courses. This allows students to progress toward their next academic goal without having to wait until high school graduation. Studies show that students who acquire college credits while still in high school are more likely to graduate from high school and continue their formal education.

In addition, dual enrollment:

• Provides students with a wider range of courses giving them an opportunity to complete general education courses required at most colleges and also allows them to explore different fields before declaring a major.

• Allows students to receive high school and college credit simultaneously.

• Can eliminate the duplication of courses taken in high school and in college.

• Permits students to accumulate credits prior to entering college so they can be able to graduate from college early or on time.

• Facilitates a seamless transition from high school to college. Students can get a taste of what college is like without being overwhelmed by a new environment. They can experience how their high school classes compare to college courses.

• Engages students by enhancing student learning throughout the senior year of high school.

• Can lower the cost of a post-secondary education.

Verification of Transfer Credit and Grades

Students transferring into Meridian High School (MHS) from accredited schools will receive the credit and the letter grades they achieved in the school(s) from which they transfer. These letter grades will be translated into the MHS quality point system, and GPA will then be calculated accordingly. Only International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses will receive a weighted grade. The transcript from the transferring school will become part of the student’s permanent record at MHS. Students who have not attended an accredited school are required to submit course outlines, testing results, teacher summaries, portfolios of work, and/or other supporting materials documenting clock hours and proficiency. Grades awarded will be “Pass” (P) or “Fail” (F). Students who transfer after beginning their senior year may be eligible for a waiver of the Virginia verified credit requirement if there is an extreme hardship.

Portfolios, proficiency tests, and other measures will be used to evaluate student records. When receiving  transcripts and grades from International Schools or from private schools, the school counseling team with an Assistant Principal, Director of Secondary School Counseling, and department or curriculum leader may help evaluate the transferring student’s sequential course status. In cases where equivalent grades cannot be determined, credit will be awarded on a pass/fail basis. The transcript from the previous school may be included with MHS college application materials.

Early Graduation 

It is recommended that students attend high school for the entire four years; however, it is recognized that there are exceptional cases where it might be in the student’s best interest to complete high school in less than four years. Therefore, if a student and their families are interested in early graduation, they should contact the student’s counselor. The Associate Principal, with recommendations from the student service office, will make the final decision. Students who apply for early graduation must meet the following criteria:

• 15 credits by the beginning of the eleventh grade year

• A quality grade point average of 1.5 or better

• A viable post-graduation plan

• A written request

• A student who requests permission to take two English courses in one year must have a grade point average of 2.0 or better in previous English classes.

Other factors considered include the age and maturity of the student, extraordinary family circumstances, and the need for training not available through the school.

Tuition Students 

Meridian High School accepts students from outside the school district boundaries on a tuition basis. Tuition rates and service fees are set by the School Board. The application procedures may be obtained online: FCCPS Tuition Application. A complete tuition application packet consists of transcripts, immunization and health records, original birth certificate, test scores, and related school records. The prospective student and parent/guardian will meet with the Director of Secondary Schools Counseling or Assistant Director of Secondary Schools Counseling and the Associate Principal who will make a recommendation initially to  the tuition application committee (School Counselor,  Assistant Principal, Special Education Administrator, and Assistant Principal of Student Support) before recommending the student to the Superintendent and the School Board for acceptance. Students who are currently enrolled in Virginia public high school  transferring to another Virginia public high school are not eligible for participating in VHSL sponsored athletics or VHSL sponsored activities for the current enrolled year.  

ACADEMIC/ ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY 

Extra-curricular activities are a vital part of our school program. Activities provide students opportunities to explore personal talents and interests, as well as make the high school experience more enjoyable. Athletic, academic ,and theatre teams operate under the Virginia High School League (VHSL) regulations.

VHSL Eligibility Regulations:

• You must complete a VHSL physical form each year.

• You must be a student in good standing at Meridian High School.

• You must be currently taking 5 or more classes for credit. (Courses for which credit has previously been granted do not count.)

• You must have passed 5 subjects for credit the previous semester. (Courses for which credit has previously been granted do not count.)

• You must not have reached your 19th birthday on or before the 1st day of August of the year of participation.

• You must not have been enrolled in grades 9-12 for more than 8 semesters.

• Students who are accepted as a tuition paying student from another Virginia public high school will not be eligible to participate in athletics for 1 school year. 

Note: Freshmen are automatically eligible during their first semester of high school. All other students need to verify their eligibility status with their counselor and coaches at the end of each semester.

Hy-C Courses and VHSL Eligibility

In order for a Hy-C class to count toward the VHSL requirement that a student be currently taking 5 classes for credit, the Hy-C class must be started concurrently with that semester (cannot be started in the previous semester), or added concurrently with the dropping of a different class. In order for a Hy-C class to count toward the VHSL requirement that a student pass five subjects for credit the previous semester, the Hy-C class must have been started AND completed within the calendar time-frame of the previous semester. Hy-C classes that extend beyond one semester, or are started in the summer but completed in the fall semester do not count toward VHSL eligibility requirements. Please contact the Athletic Department with any questions.

Post-Secondary Athletic Eligibility

To participate at a NCAA Division, I or II institution, students will need to meet specific requirements to receive athletics aid, practice and compete their first year. More information on NCAA Eligibility (including information about Division III) may be obtained from the NCAA Eligibility Center website at www.eligibility center.org.

RECOGNITION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 

Recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia

Governor’s Seal

Upon graduation, this seal is awarded to students who:

• Complete the requirements of the Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of “B” or better AND

• Successfully complete college-level coursework that will earn the student at least 9 transferable college credits in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge or Dual Enrollment courses.

The Board of Education Seal

Upon graduation, this seal is awarded to students who:

• Complete the requirements for a Standard Diploma or Advanced Diploma with an average grade of “A.”

The Board of Education’s Career and Technical Education Seal

Upon graduation, this seal is awarded to students who:

• Earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma, complete a prescribed sequence of courses in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that they choose, and maintain a “B” or better average in those courses

• OR pass an examination or an occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that confers certification or occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade or professional association

• OR acquire a professional license in that career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of VA 

The Board of Education shall approve all professional licenses and examinations used to satisfy these requirements. See The Path to Industry Certification for the current approved licenses and examinations.

Board of Education’s Diploma Seal for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Upon graduation, this seal is awarded to students who:

• The Board of Education’s STEM Seal shall be awarded to students who earn either a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma 

• Satisfy all Math and Science requirements for the Advanced Studies diploma with a “B” average or better in all course work, and

• Successfully complete a 50 hour or more work-based learning opportunity in a STEM area, and

• Satisfy all requirements for a Career and Technical Education concentration.  A concentration is a coherent sequence of two or more state-approved courses as identified in the course listing within the CTE Administrative Planning Guide, and 

• Pass one of the following:

• a Board of Education CTE STEM-H credential examination, or

• an examination approved by the Board that confers a college-level credit in a STEM field.

Board of Education’s Excellence in Civics Education Seal

Upon graduation, this seal is awarded to students who meet each of the following four criteria:

• Satisfy the requirement to earn a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies DiplomaComplete VA and U.S. History and VA and U.S. Government courses with a grade of “B” or higher

• Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities, such as volunteering for a charitable or religious organization that provides services to the poor, sick or less fortunate; participating in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or similar youth organizations; participating in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC); participating in political campaigns, government internships, Boys State, Girls State or Model General Assembly; and participating in school-sponsored extracurricular activities that have a civics focus. Any student who enlists in the U.S. military prior to graduation will be deemed to have met this community service requirement.

• Have good attendance and no disciplinary infractions as determined by local school board policies.

Board of Education’s Biliteracy Seal

Certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English, and certifies that the graduate meets all of the following criteria:

• The Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who earn a Board of Education-approved diploma AND

• Pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English reading and writing at the proficient or higher level AND

• Demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English as demonstrated through an assessment from a list approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  American Sign Language qualifies as a language other than English.

Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment  (available only to students who entered ninth grade in 2018-2019 or thereafter)

The Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment is awarded to students who enter the ninth grade for the first time in the 2018-2019 year and thereafter, and meet each of the following criteria:

• Earn either a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma

• Complete at least three different first-level board-approved laboratory science courses and at least one rigorous advanced-level or postsecondary-level laboratory science course, each with a grade of “B” or higher

• Complete laboratory or field-science research and present that research in a formal, juried setting

• Complete at least 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science such as environmental monitoring, protection, management, or restoration.

Additional National Recognitions

Spanish National Honor Society

To be inducted as a member of the Spanish National Honor Society a student must have a minimum cumulative average of 3.0, As and Bs in Spanish classes and be enrolled in a Spanish class at or above Spanish 4. One must remain enrolled in a Spanish class senior year in order to remain a member of the Honor Society.

French National Honor Society

What are the requirements to be in the Société Honoraire de Français?

Invitation to membership shall be restricted to those students actively engaged in the study of French in a secondary school when appropriate courses are available or when outside courses become part of the student’s secondary transcript, credits and grade point.

• Must be enrolled in the fourth semester of French or higher, (example - the second semester of Level 2 or the equivalent)

• Candidates must be in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade of high school. Exception is made for 9th grade students who meet requirement "1" above because of work at the middle school or junior high level

• Transfer students must have spent at least one full semester in the high school before becoming eligible for invitation to membership.

Scholastic Eligibility Requirements to be met by all students:

• Candidates must have maintained an A- (90) average or higher in French throughout their secondary school study of French, including the semester of selection and all previous work awarded secondary school credit.

• Candidates must have maintained a B- (80) average or higher in all other secondary school subjects prior to the semester of selection.

Recognition within Falls Church City Public Schools 

The Meridian Scholar Award

The Meridian Scholar Award recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of graduating seniors. This award is presented to students who complete a high school program which includes a minimum of 26 credits, a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or better, and the following courses taken for letter (A-F) grades: four years of Individuals and Societies, four years of college preparatory mathematics, three years of one foreign language or two years each of different foreign languages, three years of laboratory science, and IB courses in two disciplines. Those students who successfully complete the program described above are recognized at the graduation ceremony.

Valedictory Scholars

Valedictory Scholars are those students who complete high school with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or better. They are recognized at the graduation ceremony.

*Revised awards to reflect year long grading practices