Students now have the option to graduate early as some new parameters have been approved for future grads of Exeter Township High School.
At the Nov. 19 Exeter Township School District Board of Supervisors meeting, the board approved a reduction in the number of credits a student needs to graduate; set to begin with the graduating class of 2018.
Previously, students were required to complete a total of 28 credits in their high school years. The new system of requirements will allow students to graduate with less credits.
‘The idea here is to provide flexibility and opportunity for our students… that’s the really driving force behind this recommendation,’ Superintendent Beverly Martin said. ‘We don’t want to limit kids.’
The requirements go into effect with next year’s freshman class. Each student is required to complete a total of 25 credits throughout grades 9 to 12.
According to the new graduation requirements, every student is required to complete four credits of English, social studies, mathematics and science; two credits of Arts and Humanities; two credits of Fitness and Wellness; and five additional electives credits.
Martin said there ‘are a lot of kids very much in favor of this’ but that she anticipates most students continuing with a traditional course load and schedule.
With the new requirements early graduation is possible on a case-by-case basis.
‘Typically they’re going to take seven classes day,’ Martin said. If students choose to graduate early Martin said those students ‘could attend college in that last semester.’
‘We’re optimizing kids chances for success,’ Russell Diesinger, board member, stated in favor of the change.
In addition, students will be restricted to only taking one study hall per day.
The change in graduation requirements passed with vote of 8-1. Board member Timothy Tumura voted in opposition.
