GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Graduation requirements below are effective beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2024-2025 school year. Students entering grades 10-12 must meet the graduation requirements established for their respective class. Copies of archived Program of Studies documents are on file in the school’s counselor's office and online at www.smcps.org/dci.

CREDITS FOR GRADUATION 

Students are encouraged to present more than the minimum units of credit for graduation. Most students will graduate with more than 26 units of credit. Units of credit are earned at the end of the year with a passing score. A unit of credit is based on all four marking periods for a year-long course. All credits required for graduation must be taken at an SMCPS high school to fulfill graduation requirements unless otherwise noted in the Program of Studies. 

Maryland Core Requirements (22 Credits)

         *Must take math each year in high school

         OR 

CORE CREDIT TOTAL = 17.5 Credits (As cited above)

OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS = (minimum) 

OR

*Will be 20% of the final course grade.

PROGRAM COMPLETION 

To receive a High School Diploma in St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS), students must select and enroll in a course of study for a program pathway. All students must complete the Maryland core requirements. Students must also select a University Sequence or a Career and Technology Education Completer Sequence. All students are highly encouraged to take advantage of all that SMCPS offers and to be a Dual Completer, meeting the requirements of both sequences. 

University Completer

Career & Technology Education (CTE) Completer 

Dual Completer