Competency Determination, Graduation Requirements, Awards and 10/29 Early Release Day Schedule

Dear Norton High School Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you of an important policy change that affects graduation requirements for all Norton High School students.

What Has Changed?

In November 2024, Massachusetts voters approved Question #2, which eliminated the MCAS requirement for earning a high school diploma. In response, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) now requires all school districts to establish a new Competency Determination Policy by December 31, 2025.

The Norton School Committee voted to accept our district's Competency Determination Policy on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. This policy outlines how students will demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge in core academic areas to meet graduation requirements.

What Students Need to Demonstrate:

To earn a competency determination, students must successfully complete coursework that demonstrates mastery in the following areas:

• English Language Arts: Two years of high school English (English I and English II)

• Mathematics: One year each of Algebra I and Geometry 

• Science: One year of Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Technology/Engineering

• U.S. History: One year of U.S. History (beginning with the Class of 2027)

Students must earn full credit in these courses with a minimum passing grade of 60% in accordance with our district grading policy.

What This Means for Your Student:

• Students MUST participate in all state-required assessments (including MCAS)

• Course completion and demonstrated mastery replace the previous MCAS graduation requirement

• All requirements are based on coursework taken in grades 9-12 (with some exceptions for advanced middle school math courses)

• Students still need to meet all current local graduation requirements

Additional Information:

The complete Competency Determination Policy and updated Graduation Requirements Policy will be available on the Norton Public Schools website. These documents provide detailed information about:

• Aligned courses that meet the requirements

• Accommodations for students with disabilities and English Language Learners

• Guidelines for late-enrolling students

• The appeals process for families who wish to contest a competency determination decision

Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award Information

Current Grade 11 and 12 students have the option to take the November ELA and Math MCAS exam(s) if they have not met the following initial eligibility scores to qualify for this award.  If a student would like to participate in this November MCAS test administration, please contact me at tflanagan@norton.k12.ma.us by October 30th. Here is a link to learn more about the Koplik  Award.  

Questions?

If you have questions about how these changes affect your student, please contact our Guidance Department. We are here to support your student's success and ensure they are on track to meet all graduation requirements.

We will continue to keep you informed as we implement this new policy and work to ensure every Norton High School student has a clear path to graduation.

Sincerely,

TJ Flanagan, Principal