Graduation Requirements

Malden's Graduation Requirements

Students in the Class of 2026 and beyond must meet the Competency Determination and pass a minimum of 22 credits based on the following requirements:

4 years/credits of English (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade English)
4 years/credits of Mathematics, one of which must be an Algebra course (for class of 2015 and beyond)
3 years/credits of Science, one of which must be Biology (with lab requirement)
3 years/credits of Social Sciences, which must include United States History I and II and the other in World History
2 years/credits of Wellness (Physical Education and Health)
2 years/credits of the same World Language (or meet Seal of Biliteracy Requirements)
1 years/credits from the following disciplines: Business, Technology Education, Fine or Performing Arts
1 years/credits from the Fine or Performing Arts
2 core/elective years/credits from any discipline

Competency Determination (CD)

What is a Competency Determination Policy?

According to Massachusetts General law, Massachusetts students have to meet both their district’s local requirements and the standards of a Competency Determination to graduate. As of November, 2024, Competency Determinations are set by local School Committee policy.

Competency determinations include two measures: satisfactorily completing coursework and demonstrating master of skills. These two measures must be met in 10th grade core subject area classes.

Why were changes made to Malden's Competency Determination Policy?

Voters' passage of question 2 in November 2024 eliminated the use of MCAS in determining whether students had met the CD. As a result, districts were required to revise their policies to make it clear how students in the class of 2025 were to meet the CD. In February, the Malden School Committee unanimously voted to approve a revised Competency Determination policy. The new policy established a Competency Determination measure aligned to the 10th grade content areas but no longer based on MCAS results.

In May 2025, the state Board voted to amend regulations related to Competency Determination requirements. According to the amended regulations, Competency Determinations for the class of 2026 must represent two accomplishments: showing a mastery of skills in English language arts, mathematics, and science; and the satisfactory completion of relevant coursework aligned to the standards measured by the high school English language arts, mathematics, and science MCAS assessments administered in 2023. For the class of 2027, students must also show mastery and satisfactorily complete coursework in United States History.

In December 2025, The Malden School Committee unanimously voted to approve another revised Competency Determination measure that includes measures for both the satisfactory completion of coursework and the mastery of skills in each 10th grade subject area.

What community input was used in creating the updated policy?

Staff and caregivers were asked for input around two questions: (1) what should the new measure of mastery be, and (2) when should this change be implemented.

1. What should the new measure of mastery be?

Caregivers were split on this answer, with a majority preferring an end of course assessment. Many caregivers also shared that they weren't sure if one choice made sense for all subject areas.
Staff members were asked to answer this question by subject area: in ELA, staff preferred a portfolio; in Math, staff preferred an assessment; in Science and US History, staff were unsure about the best way to measure mastery

2. When should this change be implemented?

Caregiver and staff advisory committees weighed in on this question. The majority felt that an incremental approach that doesn't change the requirements for students already near graduation would be best.

The adopted policy reflects these points of input. The policy allows the district to create different measures of mastery by subject area as indicated by community input in the first question. The policy also features a phase-in approach with graduation requirements really changing for the classes of 2030 and beyond.

What does meeting the CD requirements look like for my student?

Class of 2026

There will be no changes in graduation requirements for students in this years graduating class.

Students in the class of 2026 must complete the following to graduate:

Satisfactorily Complete Coursework: Students must satisfactorily complete coursework in the areas measured by the 2023 MCAS high school tests, as evidenced by earning full credit for the course in accordance with the district’s grading policy (earning a course grade of 60 or above at the end of the year is considered a “passing score,” and shall result in awardance of full credit.) These courses include:
- ELA: English 10 CP or H, or equivalent course
- Math: Math II CP or H, or equivalent course
- Science: Biology CP or H, Physics CP or H, Chemistry CP or H, The combination of: Introduction to Engineering (Half-year course) + one of the following three courses (Engineering for Our Community, Engineering for Our Future, and Creative Design & Engineering), or equivalent course.
Demonstrate Mastery: Students must demonstrate mastery of the skills, competencies and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the 2023 MCAS high school tests by:
- For students in the class of 2026 the determination of mastery shall be made based on the student’s attainment of a passing score, according to the district’s grading policy, in the following courses or equivalent courses:
  1. ELA: English 10 CP or H, or equivalent course
  2. Math: Math II CP or H, or equivalent course
  3. Science: Biology CP or H, Physics CP or H, Chemistry CP or H, The combination of: Introduction to Engineering (Half-year course) + one of the following three courses (Engineering for Our Community, Engineering for Our Future, and Creative Design & Engineering), or equivalent course.

Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029

The graduation requirements for the classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 (students currently at Malden High) are nearly the same as those for the class of 2026. The CD for these graduating classes includes a US History requirement not included for the class of 2026.

Students in the classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 must complete the following to meet the CD requirement for graduation:

Satisfactorily Complete Coursework: Students must satisfactorily complete coursework in the areas measured by the 2023 MCAS high school tests, as evidenced by earning full credit for the course in accordance with the district’s grading policy (earning a course grade of 60 or above at the end of the year is considered a “passing score,” and shall result in awardance of full credit.) These courses include:
- ELA: English 10 CP or H, or equivalent course
- Math: Math II CP or H, or equivalent course
- Science: Biology CP or H, Physics CP or H, Chemistry CP or H, The combination of: Introduction to Engineering (Half-year course) + one of the following three courses (Engineering for Our Community, Engineering for Our Future, and Creative Design & Engineering), or equivalent course
- US History: US History II, Advanced Placement US History, or equivalent course (class of 2027 onwards
Demonstrate Mastery: Students must demonstrate mastery of the skills, competencies and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the 2023 MCAS high school tests by:
- For students in the class of 2027, 2028 and 2029, the determination of mastery shall be made based on the student’s attainment of a passing score, according to the district’s grading policy, in the following courses or equivalent courses:
  1. ELA: English 10 CP or H, or equivalent course
  2. Math: Math II CP or H, or equivalent course
  3. Science: Biology CP or H, Physics CP or H, Chemistry CP or H, The combination of: Introduction to Engineering (Half-year course) + one of the following three courses (Engineering for Our Community, Engineering for Our Future, and Creative Design & Engineering), or equivalent course.
  4. US History: US History II, Advanced Placement US History, or equivalent course (class of 2027 onwards)

Classes of 2030 and Beyond

For students in the classes of 2030 and beyond, the demonstrate mastery measure of the CD requirement will change to include and end of year assessment or portfolio that allows students to demonstrate a mastery of skills in each core course.

Students in the classes of 2030 must complete the following to meet the CD requirement for graduation:

Satisfactorily Complete Coursework: Students must satisfactorily complete coursework in the areas measured by the 2023 MCAS high school tests, as evidenced by earning full credit for the course in accordance with the district’s grading policy (earning a course grade of 60 or above at the end of the year is considered a “passing score,” and shall result in awardance of full credit.) These courses include:
- ELA: English 10 CP or H, or equivalent course
- Math: Math II CP or H, or equivalent course
- Science: Biology CP or H, Physics CP or H, Chemistry CP or H, The combination of: Introduction to Engineering (Half-year course) + one of the following three courses (Engineering for Our Community, Engineering for Our Future, and Creative Design & Engineering), or equivalent course
- US History: US History II, Advanced Placement US History, or equivalent course (class of 2027 onwards)
Demonstrate Mastery: For students in the class of 2030 and beyond, the determination of mastery shall be made based on the student’s successful completion, in accordance with the district’s grading policy: (1) the final assessment for the course; or (2) a capstone or portfolio project; or (3) an equivalent measure identified in the district’s Competency Determination policy for each of the courses listed above (or equivalent coursework, the definition of which is described in subsequent sections of this policy).

The School Committee will approve and communicate the specific assessments or portfolio requirements for each content area required by state regulations no later than May 4, 2026. These assessments and/or portfolios will be piloted in spring 2027 with students. After a thorough administrative review of assessment results, revisions to the definitions of mastery will be presented for School Committee approval no later than 8/1/2027.

Based on this work, the assessments or portfolio requirements will be fully operational for administration in Spring 2028, when the Class of 2030 will have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery on these assessments for their Competency Determination. The specific assessments and/or portfolio requirements for each content area will allow students to demonstrate mastery of the required skills, competencies, and knowledge by content area, as specified in DESE guidelines.