Graduation Requirements

On September 5th, Senior parent night was held at John A. Ferguson Senior High School in the auditorium, where they hosted all three sessions. If parents were not able to make it to the earliest session at 5:15, the second session was at 6:15, and the last one at 7:15. With the start of the new year, many parents of the senior class don’t know what their son or daughter will be doing during their final year of high school. “Senior parent night is used to inform the senior’s parents about all our activities, requirements, and rules for senior year,” states Kayla Zapata, vice president of the senior board. Seniors are meant to meet the requirements, in total, they would need 24 credits to graduate and this meeting explains it to the parents.

  The credits that the seniors need to have been earned through all 4 years of high school. To graduate they need 4 credits in English, with a major concentration in composition, reading for information, and literature. In mathematics, 4 credits are needed one of which must be in Algebra 1 or its equivalent and one of which must be Geometry or its equivalent. 3 credits in Science, two of which must have a laboratory component and one must be Biology 1 or an equivalent course or a series of courses. In Social Studies 1 credit in World History, 1 credit in United States History, .5 credit in United States Government, and .5 credit in Economics. Seniors must also attain 1 credit in either  fine or performing arts, speech, and debate, or practical arts. In Physical Education they need 1 credit to include the integration of health. For electives, there needs to be a total of 8 credits. Foreign Language is not required for high school graduation, but it is required for admission into state universities.

  The Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements is Cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. As for State Assessment requirements, Students must earn a passing score on the Grade 10 FSA 2.0 Reading. They must earn a passing score or attain an equivalent score on the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment in order to earn course credit. To pass students must also pass the Geometry and Biology 1 EOC, Assessments are required, and the results will constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.

  During the meeting, the parents were also told what activities their son/daughter would be doing this year. Including senior picnic, senior brunch, grad bash, and prom. Of course, many of the senior class would like to participate. “After the presentation, the parents will go to the cafeteria and receive a paper where it lists everything that their child is missing for graduation,” Kayla Zapata said. Inside the cafeteria, there were tables lined up and the first letter of the last names were placed on the tables where parents could go and receive the correct paper to see what their children were missing.