MARLBOROUGH – A decision on whether to reduce Marlborough High School’s Class of 2023 graduation requirement of 96 credits will be a “gametime decision at graduation,” Principal Daniel Riley told the School Committee on Jan. 24.
Riley said that students have been told to keep to the 96-credit requirement.
He added that the committee will be kept updated in case there are any changes.
Last fall, Riley told the School Committee that as part of their graduation requirements, students in the Class of 2023 would need to pass the English language arts and math portions of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System.
This will also be the last class for which the science portion of the MCAS will be completed with coursework – starting next school year, the MCAS exams in this category will resume.
According to Riley, 44 members of the Class of 2023 took part in MCAS tests in November 2022, with results due at the end of January.
Marlborough Public Schools will offer MCAS Acceleration Academies during the February and April school breaks; according to Riley, two-thirds of the students who participated in these academies in 2022 passed the ELA and/or math portions of the MCAS.
Early College High School, AP courses
Riley reported that 180 students were taking part in the Early College High School (ECHS) program for the 2022-23 school year; 36% of students in the junior and senior classes were in the program – a 19% increase from the 2021-2022 school year.
Courses offered through ECHS include English composition; first year experience; topics in mathematics; statistics; introduction to psychology; and introductory sociology (principles).
The program offers up to 21 free credits for college.
In addition, 155 students were taking AP courses, with an average of 2.3 classes per AP student.
Courses offered for the 2022-23 school year include calculus; language and composition; biology; physics; 2D art and design; and music theory.
Marlborough High has 37 AP Scholars in 2022, an increase of 42% from 2021.
Overall, Riley said that nearly half of the junior and senior classes were taking part in some kind of advanced coursework.
Overall, Riley said that nearly half of the junior and senior classes were taking part in some kind of advanced coursework.
