Program of Studies

Program of Studies Guide
Introduction
Graduation / Promotion Credit Requirements
Schedule / Course Change Policy / Class Rank
Course Levels
Mass Core and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) Standards
English Department
Math Department
Science Department
History Department
Physical Education / Health
Academy A
Academy B
Academy C
Academy D

2025 – 2026

Schedules, Course Change Policy & Class Rank

Course & Program of Studies

Schedules

Student schedules must include 18 academic and 18 vocational credits per year. A student must successfully pass all MCAS exams currently required by the Commonwealth and earn a minimum of credits in the configuration described above, in order to graduate with a high school diploma and a vocational certificate.

Course Change Policy

Students select their courses in the spring each year for the following school year. Students have the chance to review course offerings, discuss their choices with their parents and teachers, and review their choices with their guidance counselor prior to submitting their final requests. Once these decisions regarding their schedules are complete, course changes are difficult, if not impossible to make.

Class Rank

Rank in class is established by deriving a quality point average (Q.P.A.) based on points accumulated from the grade in each course.

College Prep. = 1.0
Advanced College Prep = 1.1
Honors course grades (marked with an *) = 1.5.
Advanced Placement, college courses (marked with **) = 1.75

Valedictorian and Salutatorian are selected using the weighted Q.P.A. and rank in class. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be determined at the end of the second marking period of their senior year. Specific values are clearly illustrated in the “grading system” section of the Student Handbook. Students should note that outside evaluators often look at rank in class as a basis for making predictions regarding success in employment or Higher Education.