High School Resources

The following general standards govern requirements for graduation from QACPS:

• The student must have been enrolled as a full-time student for four years beyond Grade 8 unless one of the alternatives approved by the State Board of Education is satisfied.

• The student must complete all Service Learning requirements
  
• The student must meet state high school testing requirements. Additional information is available at the Maryland State Department of Education website.

• Credit Requirements (26 total credits required):
  • English – 4 credits
  • Fine Arts – 1 credit
  • Mathematics – 4 credits
    • Fundamentals or Advanced Algebraic Concepts and Topics – 1 credit
    • Fundamental or Advanced Geometric Concepts and Topics – 1 credit
  • Physical Education – 1 credit
  • Health – 1 credit
  • Social Studies – 3 credits
    • Local, State, and National Government – 1 credit
    • American History – 1 credit
    • World History – 1 credit
  • Science – 3 credits
  • Technology Education – 1 credit
  • Required Courses for Program Emphasis – 4 credits
  • Additional credits required to meet the minimum – 6 credits

Important information regarding high school graduation credits:

• Due to the 4-period day, students will have the potential to earn 8 credits per year for a total of 32 credits while in high school. Therefore, all students are encouraged to complete at least one English, Math, Social Studies, and Science credit each year.

• A student who would be eligible to graduate but for attaining credit in either English 12 or Algebra II may obtain that credit by taking a State-approved examination and achieving a passing score.

• All recovery credits must have prior district approval.

• Students with a 3.5+ GPA who complete 2 credits of the same World Language, 3 credits of Math (including Algebra II), 4 credits of English, and 3 credits of Science will qualify for the Maryland Scholars Recognition Program.

In an effort to prepare students for a rapidly changing workplace, QACPS has organized its program of study around career clusters and pathways. Career clusters are broad groupings of occupations and industries based on commonalities of services and function. 

Each career cluster has pathways. These pathways provide a sequence of courses and suggested options that will provide quality preparation for a career in a selected cluster. Students choose a cluster based on their interests and aptitudes.

Please review the Programs of Study below for more specifics about required courses for specific clusters/pathways and course descriptions.

QACPS, in partnership with Chesapeake College, Anne Arundel Community College and Washington College, offers opportunities for eligible students to participate in a Dual Enrollment program in which students will earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Grades will appear on the high school transcript and be calculated in the GPA.

Students can take classes on campus at Anne Arundel, Chesapeake, Washington and/or on the campuses of Queen Anne’s High School and/or Kent Island High School. College credit earned while in high school will be applied toward the 26-credit high school graduation requirement or as additional elective credit. Dual Enrollment offers students an opportunity to jump-start their college education and get early experiences in the college environment. 

College applications must be submitted and requirements for Dual Enrollment must be met. As part of the Dual Enrollment agreement, students will receive a discount on tuition from Anne Arundel and Chesapeake. The discount is 50% off county tuition for Anne Arundel and a 25% off county tuition for Chesapeake. 
Additional information is available in the Program of Study. The School Counseling Office can also assist and advise students on Dual Enrollment opportunities.

QACPS offers a number of opportunities for students to learn in a work-based setting. Learn more about Work-Based Learning in the Program of Study.

Direct Work Experience

Directed Work Experience (DWE) provides career employment in the student’s Career Technology Education (CTE) completer program or the student’s ultimate career goal. A training plan is developed by the employer and the DWE School Contact. Students are visited at the work site by the DWE School Contact, and are evaluated by both the employer and the school. 

A DWE job is real employment: the student interviews for the job and follows the procedure any citizen must follow to obtain a specific career position. No student is hired unless the employer believes he/she meets the job requirements. This could be a paid or unpaid experience. All students will receive credit for the DWE depending upon the student’s needs. All DWE assignments must relate to the student’s program of study.

Internship

The Internship Program provides students an opportunity to experience career exploration at community businesses or agencies. This is a credit-bearing course scheduled on an individual basis, depending upon each student’s need. Students receive no monetary compensation. Through such experiential learning, young people can set and test goals for future education and work, and learn what is required for success in the workplace.

Apprenticeship Maryland

The Apprenticeship Maryland Program is coordinated through a partnership between the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). The program is for students, ages 16 and up, and is designed to lead to sustainable employment and further education in specific career pathways.

The program consists of at least one year of related classroom instruction and a workplace component of at least 450 hours. The workplace component is a paid (at least minimum wage) mentored, on-the-job, work experience with a written, student rating/work-based learning plan, and a formal agreement among the student, school, and employer. All program requirements must be completed prior to graduation.
Learn more about Apprenticeship opportunities on the CTE Apprenticeship page.

Student Support Services is to assist in attaining optimal health, personal, interpersonal, academic, and career development in order that the student may complete an appropriate educational program and become a contributing member of society. School Counselors can help students navigate their individual path toward future academic and employment goals. 

Naviance

QACPS uses the Naviance platform to help students with college, career, and life readiness.

Thank you for your interest in applying to establish a public charter school in Queen Anne’s County. Charter schools are public schools that operated under a charter, or contract, and are accountable to the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education.

The purpose of charter schools is to provide parents and student an alternative means within the existing public school system for additional innovative learning opportunities and creative educational approaches to improve the education of students.

A charger school must focus on and demonstrate positive student achievement, strive for high academic standards, and be accountable for measurable results, or lose its charter.

The application to open a public charter school in Queen Anne’s County includes a three step process:
1. Letter of Intent
2. Concept Proposal
3. Final Application
Maryland State Department of Education Charter School Website

QACPS Contact:
Dr. Felicia Tarason
Supervisor of Title I and Parent & Family Engagement
felicia.tarason@qacps.org or call 410.758.2403 ext 182

S. Matthew Evans
Supervisor of Student Support Services
410-758-2403 Ext. 155
starke.evans@qacps.org

Laura Shroyer
Department Chair, Kent Island High School Guidance Department
410-604-2070 Ext. 4006
laura.shroyer@qacps.org

Bob Willis
Department Chair, Queen Anne’s County High School Guidance Department
410-758-0500 Ext. 117
robert.willis@qacps.org

Jean Cardwell
Administrative Secretary for Student Support Services
410-758-2403 Ext. 154
alice.cardwell@qacps.org