Plainville Community School District

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS  

In order to satisfy the high school graduation requirements within Plainville Community Schools, a student must have satisfactorily completed his or her prescribed courses of study, demonstrated proficiency in basic skills identified by the Plainville Board of Education and satisfied the legally mandated number and distribution of credits required to graduate from high school.           

The Plainville Board of Education may establish, at any point during the school year, a firm graduation date no earlier than the 180th day of the Board adopted school calendar for that year. 

Required Coursework and Credits for Graduation 

The Plainville Board of Education conforms with state law regarding credits for graduation from high school.                  

PLAINVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS           

*All students are required to carry at least 6 credits each school year.           

In order to participate in graduation ceremonies, seniors must earn at least 6 credits in their senior year.  Seniors are required to carry no less than 6 credit bearing classes per semester. Special circumstances and principal approval are required to waive the above requirements.

Graduation prior to the end of senior year -  No student shall be permitted to graduate prior to their senior year, regardless of whether the student has the required credits to graduate.  If a student wishes to graduate upon the completion of their fall semester of senior year, a written request will be required from the parent or legal guardian by November 1 of said senior year, which will include the reason for graduating early.  This request must be submitted to the high school principal, and a meeting must take place with the principal to review the request.  If the principal grants approval, the request will be forwarded to the Superintendent and/or designee for final approval.  If approval to graduate early is granted by the Superintendent and/or designee, the student will forfeit all remaining senior year activities. Students approved to graduate early who wish to participate in the end of the year graduation ceremony,  must make a formal request to the high school principal.  This approval is at the discretion of the principal.  

Students who return for a fifth year of study in order to graduate must obtain a written approval from the principal before school begins.

Explanations

• STEM electives and Humanities electives are designated in the program of studies. Once a student has fulfilled the required courses in either STEM or Humanities, the credits automatically apply as elective credits. 

• The Financial Literacy requirement can be satisfied by taking the Personal Finance course offered at PHS. 

• Students are encouraged to select elective courses that align with their anticipated post-secondary goals and interests (college and career pathways).            

 

PLAINVILLE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS           

MASTERY BASED GRADUATION REQUIREMENT:

This 1.0 credit will be broken up into two .5 credit components and is a graduation requirement for ALL Students. Both components will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis:

• .5 Credits earned for Academic Excellence

• .5 Credits earned for the WebPage Production/Summary of your Student Success Portfolio
  
  

 

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CITIZENSHIP – Students will evidence the ability to be a contributing member of the school and local community, and demonstrate knowledge and skills in career activities by meeting ALL of the following criteria:

Satisfactory completion of 20 learning through service hours over 4 years

AND

Successful completion of a career exploration activities           

 

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SOCIAL STUDIES – Students will evidence knowledge of diverse cultures and world issues by meeting all of the following criteria: 

Obtain at least 3 credits in Social Studies

INCLUDING

Earn 1 credit in U.S. History, .5 credit in Civics/Government, and 1.5 additional credits in social studies electives            

 

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THE ARTS – Students will create, perform and respond to one or more art forms and demonstrate understanding 

 

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS – Students will exhibit evidence of participation in activities that promote lifelong health and physical fitness by meeting ALL of the following criteria:

 

Obtain 1 credit in Physical Education, .5 in Safety and .5 in Health

INCLUDING

Development of an individual fitness program utilizing personal fitness testing indicators

AND

Implementation of  an individual fitness program utilizing personal fitness testing indicators 

AND

Successful completion of the 9th grade swim unit. 

 

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A student who presents written documentation from a physician, advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant stating that participation in physical education is not advisable because of the physical condition of the student, shall be excused from the physical education requirement.  In such a case, another subject must be substituted. 

Any student who is deaf or hearing impaired may be exempted from any world language graduation requirement if his or her parent or guardian requests such exemption in writing. 

A credit is defined as not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period for each school day of a school year except for a credit or part of a credit toward high school graduation earned (1) at an institution accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited, (2) through on-line coursework that is in accordance with Board policy, or (3) through a demonstration of mastery based on competency and performance standards, in accordance with guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education. 

Only courses taken in grades nine to twelve inclusive, and that are in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards, adopted by the State Board of Education, shall satisfy the above graduation requirements, except that the Board will grant a student credit: 

High school graduation credit will be granted to students upon the successful demonstration of mastery of subject matter achieved through educational experiences and opportunities that provide flexible and multiple pathways to learning, including:

• Cross-curricular graduation requirements,

• Career and technical education,

• Virtual learning,

• Work-based learning,

• Service learning,

• Dual enrollment and early college

• Courses taken in middle school, and

• Internships and student-designed independent studies;

Provided that such demonstration of mastery is in accordance with such state-wide subject matter content standards.  

High school graduation credit will be granted to students for courses successfully completed in grades seven and eight so long as the primary focus of the course corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement at the high school level.  

High school graduation credit will be granted to students upon the successful completion of on-line coursework in accordance with the Board’s on-line coursework policy (#6201). 

The Plainville Board of Education shall award a high school diploma to any World War II veteran or veteran of the Korean Hostilities or Vietnam Era veteran requesting such diploma who left high school for military service as defined in the statutes.           

The Plainville Board of Education shall award a high school diploma to any person who (1) withdrew from high school prior to graduation to work in a job that assisted the war effort during World War II, December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946, inclusive, (2) did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such work, and (3) has been a resident of the state for at least (50) consecutive years.             

FAFSA Requirement for Classes Graduating in 2027 and Thereafter 

Students graduating in 2027 and beyond are required to have satisfied one of the following prior to graduation: 

1. completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”);

2. for students without legal immigration status, completed and submitted to a public institution of higher education an application for institutional financial aid; or

3. completed a waiver of completion of the FAFSA and/or financial aid application, as applicable, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, signed by the student’s parent or guardian or signed by the student if the student is eighteen or older. 

On and after March 15 of each school year, a principal, school counselor, teacher, or other certified educator may complete the waiver on behalf of any student who has not satisfied the above requirements if such principal, school counselor, teacher, or other certified educator affirms that they have made a good faith effort to contact the parent/guardian or student about completion of such applications.

Graduation During Period of Expulsion 

A student may graduate during an expulsion period if the Board determines that the student has completed the necessary credits required for graduation. 

Legal References:

Public Act 17-42, An Act Concerning Revisions to the High School Graduation Requirements 
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-5c 
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-14n 
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-16b 
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-221a 
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-223a