3531 - High School Graduation Requirements - Policies - Section 3500

3531 (IKF) High School Graduate Requirements 3531 (IKF)

In pursuit of our goal of ensuring all students reach their learning potential and are prepared for post-secondary and career opportunities, students must meet or exceed the Milford School District’s academic standards, credit requirements, and additional graduation requirements set forth in this policy to obtain a diploma. High school credits are awarded when a student achieves proficiency relative to a locally defined graduation competency. As described in Board policies 3529 (IK) - Earning of High School Credit, 3537 (ILBAA) - High School Graduation Competencies, and 3528 (IMBC) - Alternative Credit Options, graduation competencies and credits may be earned through multiple pathways, including extended learning opportunities (ELOs), CTE programs, transfer credits, a dual or concurrent enrollment opportunity, home education programs, remote instruction programs, and other alternative learning opportunities. Additionally, and especially for students entering 9th grade in or after 2026-2027, the required “credits” in the tables in Section C below may include competencies that can be earned in more than one subject area. Awarding of alternative credits to be applied toward high school graduation requirements will be determined by the high school Principal on a case-by-case basis.

The Board reserves the right to impose additional academic requirements necessary to graduate and/or receive a diploma. Credit will be awarded only once for a specific required course with the same content during the secondary school experience.

GRADUATION AND DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

Recognizing that graduating students have diverse interests and aspirations for

life after high school, the District offers its graduating students the

following diploma options to best suit the individual student’s needs. Other than the NH Scholar recognition, the written program for the graduation ceremony will not indicate the type of diploma a student will be receiving.

1. Milford High School Diploma

a. The Milford High School Diploma is the standard diploma awarded to any student who earns a minimum of 26 credits, including those listed in Section C below, as well as all requirements in Section D below and in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies, available on the high school website.

b. See Table 1 for the content area requirements.

1. Milford High School State Standard Diploma
  
  a. A Milford High School State Standard Diploma may be awarded to any student who completes the state minimum required units of study as defined by Ed 306.23 and as listed in section C below,
  well as meets all requirements in section D below and in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies.
  
  b. A total minimum of 20 credits and acceptance into the program is required.
  
  c. See Table 2 for the content area requirements.
2. NH Scholars Recognition
  
  a. NH Scholars Recognition is added to the diploma, transcript, and graduation program for any student who completes the additional required units of study listed in Section C below, as well as all requirements in Section D below and in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies.
  
  b. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 at the time of graduation is required for NH Scholars, and 3.25 is required for the STEM and Arts options. Courses must be taken at the College and Career Preparation, Honors, or AP level. Detailed information regarding coursework is available in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies.
  
  c. See Table 3 for the content area requirements.
3. Milford High School Certificate of Completion
  
  a. A Milford High School Certificate of Completion may be awarded to students with an Individual Education Program (IEP). The intent to receive a Certificate of Completion will be documented in the student’s current individualized education program (IEP) as part of the student’s transition plan. Under Ed 306.23 (d)(4), these certificates shall not be equal to a Milford High School Diploma.
  
  b. The following conditions will apply to students earning a Certificate of Completion:

i. The student is identified with an eligible educational disability and is eligible to receive special education services,
ii. The student has a current, signed IEP with an agreed-upon transition plan, Individualized Education Program (IEP), or other documentation,
iii. The student has spent a majority of their high school program in either non-credit-granting courses or was unable to demonstrate competency in required courses as documented in the student’s official high school transcript and, therefore, was unable to attain sufficient credits for a regular high school diploma, and
iv. The student was considered or enrolled as a full-time student for a minimum of four years of high school.

c. The IEP Team will determine if the student has met the criteria for a Certificate of Completion as documented and agreed upon in writing by the student’s IEP team, which writing shall include the IEP team’s decision as to when the student will receive the Certificate in one of three predetermined opportunities:

i. At the time of graduation with common age peers,
ii. At the conclusion of the student’s agreed-upon IEP program, or
iii. Upon reaching the age of 22 (the graduation ceremony must occur prior to their 22nd birthday).

d. The granting of the Certificate of Completion and/or participation in the commencement activities does not negate the right of a special education student to receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) until they reach age 22. Rather, a student eligible for special education is entitled to continue their high school educational program until such time as the student has earned a Milford High School diploma, has attained the age of 22, or the IEP team responsible for evaluating the student and determining whether the student has a disability determines that the student no longer has a disability, whichever comes first.

5. Milford High School Alternative Diploma

a. The Milford High School Alternative Diploma may be awarded to certain students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in accordance with policy 3533 (IKFC) - Alternative Diploma for Students with Cognitive Disabilities.

b. Consistent with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Alternate Diploma may be awarded to students who:

i. Have significant cognitive disabilities,
ii. Have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP), and
iii. Participate in the state-authorized alternate assessment (currently Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)).

c. The Alternate Diploma is only available to students with an IEP; therefore, students with Section 504 plans are excluded from receiving this type of diploma.

B. EARLY GRADUATION

The Board supports early graduation as a means to earn a high school diploma.

Parental involvement for students under the age of 18 is required. The high

school Principal shall approve such requests if he/she and a School Counselor

determine that all state and local graduation requirements will be met and that

early graduation is related to the career and/or educational plans of the student

making the request. Upon approval by the high school principal, the minimum

three (3) credit requirement per year for enrolled students shall be waived, and

the student shall be awarded a high school diploma. An early graduation

application and credit sheet can be found on the District website or in the School

Counseling office.

C. GRADUATION CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

Table 1 - Graduation Credit Requirements for a Milford High School Diploma

Content Area	For students entering 9th grade prior to the 2026-2027 School Year (NH DOE Rule Ed 306.23, Table 306-1)	For students entering 9th grade starting in the 2026-2027 School Year (NH DOE Rule Ed 306.23, Table 306-2)
Arts Education	1 credit	1 credit
Digital Literacy	1 credit*	1 credit*
English	4 credits	4 credits (incl 1/2 credit in writing*)
Mathematics	4 credits (incl an algebra credit)	4 credits (incl an algebra credit and 1/2 credit in statistics or data analysis*)
Financial Literacy	NA
Physical Sciences	1 credit	1 credit
Biological Sciences	1 credit	1 credit
Elective Science	1 credit	1 credit
US History	1/2 credit	1/2 credit
NH History	1/2 credit	1/2 credit*
US and NH Government/Civics	1/2 credit	NA
Civics	NA	1 credit
History, Government, and the US and NH Constitutions	NA	1 credit
Economics	1/2 credit (incl Personal Finance)	1/2 credit
World History, Global Studies, or Geography	1 credit	1 credit
Logic and Rhetoric	NA	1/2 credit*
Health and Wellness	1 credit	1 credit
Physical Education	1 credit	1 credit
Career Focused Electives	2 credits	2 credits
Open Electives	6 credits	4.5 credits
Totals	26 credits	26 credits

* This credit can be met in a course that meets the required standards chosen from a list of approved

courses in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies

Table 2 - Graduation Credit Requirements for a Milford High School

State Standard Diploma

Content Area	For students entering 9th grade prior to the 2026-2027 School Year (NH DOE Rule Ed 306.23, Table 306-1)	For students entering 9th grade starting in the 2026-2027 School Year (NH DOE Rule Ed 306.23, Table 306-2)
Arts Education	1/2 credit	1/2 credit
Digital Literacy	1/2 credit*	1/2 credit*
English	4 credits	3.5 credits (incl 1/2 credit in writing*)
Mathematics	3 credits (incl an algebra credit that can be earned through a sequential, integrated, or applied program)	3 credits (incl algebraic concepts and at least 1/2 credit in statistics or data analysis*)
Financial Literacy	NA	1/2 credit*
Physical Sciences	1 credit	1 credit
Biological Sciences	1 credit	1 credit
US History	1/2 credit	1/2 credit
NH History	1/2 credit	1/2 credit*
US and NH Government/ Civics	1/2 credit	NA
Civics	NA	1/2 credit
History, Government, and the US and NH Constitutions	NA	1 credit
Economics	1/2 credit (including Personal Finance)	1/2 credit
World History, Global Studies, or Geography	1/2 credit	1 credit
Logic and Rhetoric	NA	1/2 credit*
Health and Wellness	1/2 credit	1/2 credit
Physical Education	1 credit	1 credit
Open Electives	6 credits	5 credits
Totals	20 credits	20 credits

* This credit can be met in a course that meets the required standards chosen from a list of approved courses in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies

Table 3 - Graduation Credit Requirements for NH Scholars Recognition

Graduation Credit Requirements for NH Scholars Recognition
Arts Education	1 credit***
Digital Literacy	1 credit*
English	4 credits**
Mathematics	4 credits (including algebraic concepts)**
Science	3 credits
Social Studies	4 credits**
World Language	2 credits
Wellness	2 credits
Electives	5 credits
Totals	26 credits

* This credit can be met in a course that meets the required standards chosen from a list of approved courses in the Milford High School & ATC Program of Studies

** A half credit in Personal Finance, Writing, Logic and Rhetoric, and Statistics or Data Analysis will be required of students entering 9th grade starting in the 2026-2027 school year

*** An additional STEM and/or Art class is required for the STEM/Arts NH Scholars options

PASSAGE OF CIVICS EXAM AND U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST

The District will develop a competency assessment of the United States
government and civics, consistent with pertinent and applicable law. This
assessment will be administered to students as part of the high school course in
history and government of the United States and New Hampshire. Students
must attain a passing grade on this assessment to be eligible to receive a high
school diploma or other graduation certificate.

The District will also administer the 128-question civics (history and government)
naturalization examination developed by the 2020 United States Citizen and
Immigration Services (“U.S. Citizenship Test”). This exam may be modified for a
student with a disability in accordance with the student’s individualized education

program by the Department of Education. Students must earn a grade of 70

percent or better to be eligible to receive a high school diploma or other

graduation certificate.

Under RSA 189:11, II, the Superintendent will submit the composite results of the

U.S. Citizenship Test to the NH Department of Education.

FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION (FAFSA)

The Superintendent shall ensure each student eligible for graduation shall
receive information on completing and submitting the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Initial information shall be provided no later than
October 15 of a student’s senior year and shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Eligibility requirements for student financial aid that may be applied for using the FAFSA,
2. Application timelines and submission deadlines, and
3. The importance of submitting applications early, especially when student financial aid may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Before the start of each school year, the Superintendent will designate the

personnel responsible for disseminating the information. The designee will

provide a specific written outline for the Superintendent's approval of the

proposed means of dissemination, which may include such methods as in-class

instruction, college information fairs or programs, family information sessions,

individual or group sessions with School Counselors, or information booklets.

Upon request of a student or person authorized to act on behalf of the student,

the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that either a physical copy or the

online availability of the FAFSA is provided or available to that student.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that any information shared under

this section is handled according to applicable state and federal privacy laws,

regulations, and administrative rules.