Graduation Information

Credit Requirements

FCPS requires a minimum of 25 credits to graduate. This includes the minimum 21 credits beyond the 8th grade that the Maryland State Board of Education requires and 4 additional credits that FCPS requires: 1 in math and 3 career pathway credits. Credit requirements are outlined in the chart to the right.

Assessment Requirements

The Maryland State Department of Education requires state-level, end-of-course exams aimed at raising academic standards and preparing students to compete in the workplace and post-secondary education. The state in the process of transitioning and developing new exams in Algebra 1, English 10, and Science (Biology). Despite anticipated changes, a student must still meet graduation assessment requirements in four content areas—Algebra 1, English 10, Government and Science.

The Maryland High School Graduation Task Force recommended revising the graduation requirement that students must pass assessments in algebra, English, science, and government. The score received on the assessment would move from a stand-alone, pass/fail assessment requirement to an end-of-course (EOC) assessment requirement, which would count for 20 percent of the student's final grade in the respective course. The State Board approved MSDE's request for permission to publish amendments to COMAR 13A.03.02 Graduation Requirements for Public High Schools in Maryland at the February 2021 State Board meeting. The State Board adopted the amendments on May 25, 2021, and the final regulation was published in the Maryland Register on June 14, 2021, 48: 12 Md. R. 474. For more information please visit https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DAAIT/Assessment/MCAP/EOC-FAQ.pdf.

This requirement was scheduled to begin in the 2022-2023 school year; however, on June 28, 2022 the State Board approved a waiver from the EOC requirement for all courses in the 2022-2023 school year. Students enrolled in algebra 1, English 10, biology, and government must take the respective assessment during the 2022-23 school year, but it will not be part of a student's grade.  Students who intend to graduate in May of 2023 will need to have either taken the test or earned a waiver or exemption. Students who are missing scores will be required to test before graduation.