UPDATED Graduation Requirements

PARCC results for the 16-17 school year were recently mailed home.  These results have some ramifications related to graduation requirements.  Over the last few years, the NJ Department of Education has made changes and updates related to high school graduation requirements.  

The State Board of Education approved updated state regulations for the high school graduation assessments requirements in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics for the Classes of 2018 through 2021 and beyond.

NJDOE memo regarding Graduation requirements (Updated) August 2017

Students graduating as members of the classes of 2018 through 2019 (Current Juniors & Seniors) can meet graduation assessment requirements through a variety of ways, including:

(1) Achieving passing scores on certain PARCC assessments;

(2) Achieving certain scores on alternative assessments such as the SAT, ACT or Accuplacer (See chart below); or,

(3) The submission by the District of a student portfolio through the Department’s portfolio appeals process.

(Special Education students whose Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) specify an alternative way to demonstrate proficiency will continue to follow the graduation requirements set forth in their IEPs.)

The Class of 2020 (Current 10th Graders) can demonstrate graduation assessment proficiency through the same alternative means as those in the Classes of 2018 through 2019, provided that students in the Class of 2020 take all end-of-course PARCC assessments for which they are eligible as of the effective date of when the amendments were adopted by the State Board of Education.

(Like last year, all current 10th graders will need to take this year's PARCC assessments in April/May)

The Class of 2021 and Beyond (Current 9th Graders) – Starting with the Class of 2021, students will only have two pathways to meet the high school graduation assessments requirements:

(1) Pass the ELA 10 and Algebra 1 assessments;

(2) The submission by the district of a student portfolio through the Department’s portfolio appeals process, assuming the student has taken all PARCC assessments associated with the high-school level courses for which they were eligible* and receives valid scores.

General Resources for all Grade Levels

In addition to the PARCC Assessment, students can meet the graduation requirement by demonstrating competency in one of the alternative assessments approved by the NJDOE in  both English Language Arts and Math. See chart below: