IKF Graduation Requirements
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS As a minimum for graduation from Morse High School, the prospective graduate must have completed successfully a total of 23 credits at the secondary level (grades 9 through 12). Required credits include the following:
• English – 4 credits,
• Mathematics– 3 credits,
• Science – 3 credits, including at least one year of laboratory study,
• Fine Arts – 1 credit, which may include art, music, or drama,
• Health – ½ credit,
• Physical Education – 1 credit, and
• Elective Courses – 7 ½ credits
Elective credits may be selected by the student based upon the student’s interests, abilities, and the requirements of the field that the student plans to enter upon graduation.
While most students will satisfy graduation requirements over the course of a four-year academic program, students may also satisfy Morse High School’s graduation requirements during a period of time that is either accelerated or lengthened, based on the student’s distinct learning needs.
A student who has not met the above-listed requirements may meet those requirements through a post-graduate course, an approved Adult Education course(s), an approved summer school program, an approved correspondence course, approved tutoring, and/or enrichment opportunities approved by the principal in advance of registration. If a student is seeking Morse High School credit, prior approval is required.
The required credits for students participating in the CTE program are slightly adjusted to allow for access to appropriate programming and accrual of credits.
All students who complete two years of CTE programming will have the below core requirements rather than those listed above.
• English – 4 credits,
o Up to two of the above four English credits may be earned by successfully completing CTE English if students are unable to fit a required MHS English class into a schedule.
• Mathematics – 3 credits,
o One of the above math credits may be earned by successfully completing two consecutive years in Carpentry, Automotive, Electricity or Engineering which is equivalent to one Vocational Integrated Math class,
• Science – 3 credits, including at least on year of laboratory study,
o Once a student has completed a lab science requirement, the third science credit may be earned by successfully completing two consecutive years in Automotive, Culinary, Cosmetology, Engineering, Health Science, Electricity, or Welding which is equivalent to one Vocational Integrated Science class. Successful completion of two consecutive years in Criminal Justice is equivalent to .5 Vocational Integrated Science credit.
• Fine Arts – 1 credit, which may include art, music, or drama,
o This credit may be earned by successfully completing two consecutive years of Early Childhood, Graphic Design, Engineering, or Culinary Arts (if culinary arts is used for art credit, the possible science credit earned would be 0.5).
• Health – ½ credit
• Physical Education – 1 credit, and
• Elective Courses – 7 ½ credits
o If a student has earned all required math, science, and fine arts credits, each successfully completed year of any CTE course will earn the student 4 elective credits.
When earning CTE science, math, fine art, or English credits, a student will also earn up to three elective credits, thus accumulating a total of four credits per half-day in CTE coursework. Students who elect to earn a Vocational Integrated Math or Science credit for two consecutive years in a single CTE program must choose either a math or science credit. They cannot earn both types of credit from two years in one program. If a student elects to use two consecutive years of culinary arts to earn 0.5 Fine Arts Credit, then the maximum amount of vocational integrated science credit they can earn is 0.5.
Also students who are unable to meet those requirements may be eligible to earn a Morse High School Pathways Diploma for an alternative route to graduation. The student must demonstrate a desire to finishing high school. Additionally, two or more of the following criteria statements may apply:
• Repeated a grade at some point during grades 1-8
• Has previously unenrolled from school or has a pattern of being absent
• Has not yet been able to find success in mainstream courses, that would likely prevent the student from graduating with their cohort
• Has experienced a documented adversity which has created barriers to graduation such as:
o McKinney Vento Status
o A medical or mental health condition and/or diagnosis
o Placement in foster care
o Treatment for substance abuse
o Attended more than three high schools
o Or another extreme hardship
Students who are enrolled in the Morse High School alternative education program and meet the requirements for a Pathways Diploma must apply for this exception and include an individualized graduation plan with the application, with the support of their school counselor. Applicants will be reviewed by a panel made up of school counselors, administrators, teachers, and parents. Approved applicants will be assigned a mentor to develop and carry out a support plan and monitor progress toward graduation. The Morse Pathways Diploma cannot be used to graduate early from high school. The pathways diploma application process must be completed prior to the student’s final semester at Morse.
In order to earn a MHS Pathways Diploma, a student must earn at least 17 credits and meet the following minimum graduation requirements:
• English – 4 credits,
• Mathematics– 2 credits,
• Science – 2 credits, including at least one year of laboratory study,
• Fine Arts – 1 credit, which may include art, music, or drama,
• Health – ½ credit,
• Physical Education – attempted 1 credit, and
• Elective Courses – 5 ½ credits (if a student earned their PE credit, only 4 ½ elective credits are needed)
Students seeking outside credits must complete the following steps:
• The student must be accepted into the outside program.
• The student must meet with his/her/their School Counselor, who will consult with the Department Head, to write a proposal to be approved by the building principal.
• After completing coursework, the student must submit proof of completion to his/her/their School Counselor. The student may participate in the next regular graduation ceremony following the successful completion of the requirements. Students who have accepted an early admission at the collegiate level may graduate with their class if they so inform the high school principal at the time of their acceptance into the early admissions program.
Morse High School offers all students multiple learning options that allow students to demonstrate proficiency on expected learning standards, earn academic credit, and satisfy graduation requirements. Morse High School also encourages its students to explore a broad range of learning experiences, including outside-of-school options.
Learning options may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Academic courses offered by the school
• Dual enrollment or early college courses
• Career and technical education programming
• Online or blended learning options
• Alternative or at-risk programming
• Independent studies including apprenticeships, internships, fieldwork, long-term projects or exchange experiences
• Adult education
In order for a student to participate in graduation, the student must have successfully completed all of the above-listed requirements.
Students are eligible for the following endorsements on their diploma upon the completion of the required district, state, or national requirements for:
• RSU1’s STEAM Academy Seal
• MDOE’s Biliteracy Seal
• College Board’s Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma Seal
Adopted: June 17, 2019
Revised: November 28, 2022, March 27, 2023; January 22, 2024