High School Graduation Requirements
Rochester Public Schools
High School Graduation Requirements
For Students Graduating in 2013
What are the graduation requirements for students in Rochester Public Schools?
There are three general requirements for graduation:
1. Students must earn a minimum of 24 semester credits; and
2. Students must pass the State Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma (GRAD) in writing, reading, and math.
What are the graduation requirements?
Each student must take and pass the following courses:
Course Credit
Economics ------0.5
English ------4.0
Fine Arts------1.0
Health ------_------0.5
Math ------3.0
Physical Education ------1.0
Reading ------0.5
Science ------3.0
Social Studies ------3.0
Electives------7.5
Please read the high-school registration guide for specific requirements within each area.
What is the MCA-II/GRAD?
The MCA-II/GRAD is a set of high school tests in writing, reading, and math that all students, beginning with
the graduating class of 2010, must pass to graduate from a public high school in Minnesota.
When will the MCA-II/GRAD be administered?
•Written Composition - Grade 9
• Reading - Grade 10
• Math - Grade 11
Who must take the MCA-II/GRAD tests for writing, reading, and math?
• All students in Grade 9 must take the GRAD written composition test.
• All students in Grade 10 must take the MCA-II reading test, which includes the GRAD component.
• All students in Grade 11 must take the MCA-II math test, which includes the GRAD component.
For students with disabilities, the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team decides how the student
participates in graduation testing:
1. In the MCA-IIs, with or without accommodations, or in the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS); or
2. In the GRAD-only retests, with or without accommodations and with or without an Individual Passing Score.
What is covered on the tests?
These tests measure proficiency on the Minnesota Academic Standards and other essential skills.
The Grade 9 writing test requires students to write a composition, in English, that is focused, organized, developed, coherent, and which clearly expresses a message to the reader. The test will have one prompt and includes reminders of the important elements students should consider in constructing their written responses. The writing test will be scored on the following elements:
• Clarity of central idea
• Coherent focus
• Organization
• Detailed support or elaboration of ideas
• Language conventions
There is no minimum or maximum length. Handwriting will not be scored, but the composition must be readable.
The Grade 10 reading test requires students to read a variety of passages and answer multiple choice and constructed-response questions. Students read both fiction and nonfiction such as poems, short stories, or informational passages. They answer questions about concepts and skills like these:
• Main idea
• Setting, characterization, and plot
• Fact and opinion
• Author’s point of view
• Analysis or evaluation of the text
• Vocabulary in context
• Information contained in charts or graphs
The Grade 11 math test requires students to solve a variety of problems and answer multiple choice, gridded, and constructed-response questions. Students solve problems involving computations and problem solving. They answer questions about concepts and skills like these:
• Identifying patterns in numbers, shapes, tables, and graphs
• Finding mean, median, mode, and range
• Mathematical reasoning
• Number sense and computation
• Patterns and algebra
• Probability
• Shape, space, and measurement
How can students prepare for the tests?
The best way to prepare for these tests is to take English and math courses that address the
Minnesota Academic Standards.
What does it take to pass the MCA-II/GRAD?
Students must receive the following in order to pass the GRAD:
•Writing: A score of 3 or higher.
• Reading: A scale score of 1050 or higher on the MCA-II or a passing score on the GRAD
portion of the MCA-II.
• Math: A scale score of 1150 or higher on the MCA-II or a passing score on the GRAD portion
of the MCA-II.
To receive a diploma, students must meet the GRAD requirements in writing, reading, and math in addition to Rochester Public Schools’ graduation requirements as described in the high-school course registration guide
How will the tests be scored?
Trained scorers read and score the essays, assigning a score between 1 and 6. Computers
score the reading and math tests, while trained readers score the short answers.
What happens if a student does not pass?
Students who do not pass the GRAD written composition test in Grade 9 will be able to take the test in subsequent years during regular testing or retest windows. Students who do not pass the reading or math
MCA-II/GRAD will have many future opportunities to take the GRAD component of the test.
How will students and parents/guardians be informed of test results?
A testing company hired by the Minnesota Department of Education scores the tests and
reports the results to districts. Shortly after receiving the test results, the District will process
individual student results and mail them to parents/guardians.