Hundreds of high school seniors in the Maryland suburbs are at risk of not receiving a diploma this spring because of a first-time requirement to pass graduation tests.
In Prince George’s County, more than 900 seniors have not passed the High School Assessments or completed alternative “bridge” projects in at least one of four subjects: English, algebra, biology and government.
“It’s a worry every day,” said Prince George’s Schools Superintendent William Hite. “We hope that as we continue to score the bridge projects, that number will come down.”
In the past three weeks alone, the district has approved 918 projects, said Hite’s high school consortium director, Monica Goldson.
“The numbers are changing every day,” Goldson said, but the grading must be completed by May 22.
In Montgomery County, about 700 students hadn’t met graduation requirements by the end of April, said schools spokesman Steve Simon. He said the number was likely less than 400 now, because of the completion of bridge projects. In addition, about 300 Montgomery students will receive an HSA test waiver because they’ve met all other graduation requirements, including the proper number of course credits and service learning hours.
The Maryland state legislature created the waivers earlier this year because thousands of students across the state were on track to graduate in every way except for the graduations tests.
Prince George’s still is processing its waiver requests, but expects about 300 students, as well.
Edward Burroughs, a junior at Crossland High School and student member of the Prince George’s school board, said the tests have created a culture of urgency among the seniors at his school.
“There’s been a change of attitude,” Burroughs said. “At first, it was like if enough people don’t pass it, it’ll go away. But that’s out the window.”
Even so, some worry that the tests and bridge projects are one more hoop to jump through.
“At the end of the day, have the HSAs added any value to the Maryland state high school diploma?” asked Montgomery board member Pat O’Neill. “Will some university somewhere say, ‘Woo-hoo, this student passed?’ ”
