DBS CODE: 6146 DBS CODE: 6146INSTRUCTION:
Graduation Requirements/Standards of Proficiency
The Administration shall submit to the Board of Education through the Superintendent their detailed requirements and standards of proficiency. The faculty will apply both objective and subjective measures of achievement to provide evidence that each student has progressed far enough toward school goals to warrant graduation. Such requirements and standards shall be approved by the Board of Education.
Graduation requirements shall be established by the Board of Education. Any change of the requirements shall be submitted to the Board of Education by the Superintendent or his designee for approval.
Graduation may involve awarding to students a Somers High School Diploma or a Certificate of Completion of a Program of Special Studies. The Board of Education shall award a high school diploma to any World War II veteran, veteran of the Korean hostilities, or Vietnam era requesting such diploma who left high school for military service as defined in the statutes.
A Capstone Project (1.0 credits) will be required starting with the class of 2023
A Personal Finance Course (0.5 credits) will be required starting with the class of 2024.
Graduation Requirements:
Credit Distribution Requirement (Beginning with the class of 2023)
Credit Distribution Requirement (For the class of 2024) and beyond)
Subject Area: Humanities (9) Credits | Credits | Description |
English | 4 | Must include English 9, 10, 11, 12 (any level) |
Social Studies | 3 | 1 credit from each World History US History 1/Civics 1 or Honors Civics/Pre-AP History US History 2 or AP/UCONN ECE US History |
World Language | 1 | Spanish or French |
Humanities Electives | 1 | Must include .5 credit in the Fine Arts-Music/Art, and .5 credit in humanities electives) |
STEM (9) Credits | ||
Math | 4 | |
Science | 3 | Integrated Science, Biology, Science Electives. |
STEM Electives | 2 | (.5 credit must be satisfied in Technology, Innovation Design, and Engineering) |
Physical Education and Wellness | 1 | 5 credit in Grades 9 and 10 |
Health and Safety | 1 | .5 credit in Grades 11 and 12 |
Mastery Based Capstone Project | 1 | Required course for Grade12 .5 credit for course .5 credit for successful completion of project, presentation and mentorship |
Required Personal Finance (Starting with Class of 2027) Additional Electives | .5-1.0; 3.0-3.5 | Course Options: Computer Applications, Personal Finance, Consumer Math |
Carnegie Units Total | 25 |
Cross Reference: Policy # 5127
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-14n Statewide mastery examination. Conditions for reexamination. Limitation on use of test results.
10-16(l) Graduation exercises. (As amended by PA 96-108, An Act Concerning Student Use of Telecommunication Devices and the Establishment of Graduation Dates)
10-221a High school graduation requirements. (As amended by P.A. 00-124, An Act Concerning High School Diplomas and Veterans of World War II, P.A. 00-156, An Act Requiring A Civics Course for High School Graduation, and P.A. 08-138, An Act Concerning High School Credit for Private World Language Courses and Other Subject Areas, P.A. 10-111, An Act Concerning Education Reform in Connecticut and P.A. 11-17, An Act Concerning High School Diplomas to Korean Veterans, P.A. 13-57, An Act Concerning Honorary Diplomas for Vietnam Veterans, P.A. 13-122, An Act Concerning Minor Revisions to the Education Statutes
10-233(a) Promotion and graduation policies. (as amended by PA 01-166)
Adopted: September 28, 1981
Revised: June 26, 1989
Revised: May 28, 2002
Revised: March 5, 2007
Revised: July 9, 2009
Revised: January 23, 2012
Revised: May 26, 2015
Revised: February 26, 2018
Revised: October 28, 2019
Revised: April 20, 2020
Revised: February 13, 2023
Revised: January 13, 2025