Graduation Guidelines - Industry Certificate (2024)

FAQs

What is the passing score for the MCAS? ›

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MCAS SCORES

A score of 220 or above is required to pass the Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) MCAS. A score of 240 is the baseline for proficiency for the English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics tests of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

Students who do not pass the MCAS tests in grade 10 may take retests according to these participation guidelines in grades 11 and 12 and beyond. Some students may also be able to participate in an appeal process as described below. The tables below describe the CD requirements based on students' graduating class.

To graduate with a Standard Diploma, a student must earn at least 22 standard units of credit by passing required courses and electives, and earn at least six verified credits by passing end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the Board of Education.

An industry certification is a voluntary process where individuals are assessed by an independent, third-party certifying entity, using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies.

According to figures presented at Monday's hearing by Rob Curtin, an associate commissioner in the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, of the roughly 71,000 Massachusetts students who were in 12th grade in 2019, 2,752 failed to pass the MCAS after four tries.

This month we're taking a closer look at the implications of the ballot initiative, the graduation requirement itself, and what proponents and opponents of the ballot initiative have to say. The debate around MCAS has been swirling for decades, especially since passing the exam became a graduation requirement in 2003.

For example, in Massachusetts a certain score on the MCAS makes students eligible for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, which waives the tuition for any state school in Massachusetts (e.g. the UMass System, Framingham State, Bunker Hill Community College).

A top score of 280 is uncommon in English and even rarer in math. Typically, fewer than a half of 1 percent of all children who take the exam manage the feat.

Scaled scores range from 440 to 560. Students not meeting expectations score 440-469, students partially meeting expectations score 470-499, students meeting expectations score 500-529 and students exceeding expectations score 530-560.

In general, you will need to make up the failed class in order to graduate. You can do this by taking the class again during the summer or next school year, or by completing a credit recovery program.

Do colleges look at your SOL scores? ›

In summary, while SOL scores may be an important benchmark within your state's K-12 educational system, they don't carry much weight in college admissions.

Virginia law does not provide for students to 'opt out' of the SOL tests. But it does allow parents to refuse participation in SOL testing for their children.

91% of hiring managers report certification is an important criterion for hiring. Certification makes job candidates stand out in a crowded job market. Certification makes a better case for that big raise or promotion. Third-party validation of skills is far more powerful than self-promotion of knowledge.

An industry certification verifies a student possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in a specific area or field. The standards and topics addressed in an industry certification exam are established and verified by industry leaders.

An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry at the local, state or national level. It could be an assessment, an examination or a license that is administered and recognized by an industry third-party or governing board.

For the MCAs, a scale score always begins with the grade of the assessment (G) followed by a score that can range from one to 99. How are scale scores assigned? A scale score of G40 always corresponds with the minimum score for the achievement level of partially meeting standards.

Out of the more than 52,000 students who took the test last year, a total of 1,200 earned the highest possible scaled score on the math, science, history or English portion of the test.