- Maple River High School
- Graduation Requirements, Curriculum, Special Programs
Graduation Requirements
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The graduation requirements for Minnesota and Maple River High School are provided through the links below. (Note: Both the Minnesota Graduation Requirements AND the Maple River High School Graduation Requirements need to be fulfilled before any student receives their Diploma.) Additionally, our high school course catalog is included in its entirety. Please contact our high school if there are specific questions regarding the information on this page.
Minnesota Graduation Requirements
In Minnesota, students are required to complete two kinds of requirements by the time they graduate. Students must:
- Satisfactorily complete all state academic standards or local academic standards where state standards do not apply.
- Satisfactorily complete the state course credit requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.024.
Students complete the academic standards by taking a core course of study that equips them with the knowledge and skills they need for success in postsecondary education, highly skilled work, and civic life. In order to graduate, your child’s high school coursework must include at least the minimum state course credit requirements. A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic year of study or mastering the subject matter, as determined by the local school district. Students must complete a minimum of 21.5 course credits as follows:
4 credits of language arts
3 credits of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, statistics and probability sufficient to satisfy the standards. Students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent as part of the 3-credit requirement. In addition to the high school credits, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must also complete an algebra credit by the end of eighth grade.
3 credits of science, including a biology credit. In addition, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must complete a chemistry, physics, or Career and Technical Education (CTE) credit as part of the 3-credit requirement. (The CTE credit must meet the standards underlying the chemistry or physics credit.)
3½ credits of social studies, including U.S. history, geography, government and citizenship, world history and economics.
1 credit in the arts
7 elective credits
An agriculture course may fulfill a general science credit requirement. A CTE course may fulfill a general science, mathematics, or arts credit requirement. School districts may require additional course credits or other requirements for graduation beyond the minimum required by the state.
Graduation Rates
Read about calculating graduation and frequently asked questions below.
- Calculating Graduation Rates - 2/27/18
Minnesota graduation testing requirements can be found here (Minnesota Department of Education)Parent/Guardian Refusal of Participation in Statewide Testing Form (Minnesota Department of Education)Parent/Guardian Guide to Statewide Testing (Minnesota Department of Education)Questions and Answers about the MCA in Mathematics, Reading and Science-Parent Fact Sheet (Minnesota Department of Education)Questions and Answers about the MTAS in Mathematics, Reading and Science-Parent Fact Sheet (Minnesota Department of Education)Questions and Answers about the ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (Minnesota Department of Education)Test Preparation Suggestions for Teachers and Parents (Minnesota Department of Education)Frequently Asked Questions Why Test Results Matter (Minnesota Department of Education)Maple River High School Graduation Requirements
Special Programs
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Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows public and nonpublic students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades to earn college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible postsecondary institutions. Students generate both college credit and high school credit by successful completion of the course. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th-graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09.PSEO for 10th-Graders to take Career and Technical Education (CTE) CoursesLegislation allows public and nonpublic 10th-grade students to enroll initially in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) course through PSEO. If the student earns a “C” or higher grade in this first course, she/he is eligible to take additional CTE courses while in 10th grade. In order to be eligible, a 10th-grade student must have met the proficiency level of “meets or exceeds” on the 8th-grade MCA reading test. If the student did not take the MCA, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative options to demonstrate reading proficiency. Access the Alternate Eligibility Options Policy and Modification Request Form below.Eligible Courses and InstitutionsCourses taken through PSEO must meet graduation requirements at their high school. Only nonsectarian and non-developmental courses are considered eligible by statute. Courses must be offered by Minnesota PSEO eligible postsecondary institutions. Access the list of Participating Postsecondary Institutions for a list of schools and their contact information. Postsecondary institutions are required to allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.How to Enroll in PSEOStudents must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act and explained in the PSEO Reference Guide (below). Interested and eligible 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students should contact the postsecondary institution to find out their admissions requirements, which courses are offered and what the application process/timeline is at that institution. Public school students should meet with their high school counselor to discuss graduation requirements and the benefits and risks of enrolling in the PSEO program. All students must complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration (listed at the bottom of this page) for the school year during which they intend to enroll.Tuition, Fees and Transportation ReimbursementsThere is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed or for textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies. Public school students may be responsible for tuition costs if they do not notify the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement.Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for PSEO students whose families are at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government, to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions. If you have any questions regarding the mileage reimbursement for low-income students' participation in the PSEO program, contact Kelly Garvey at 651-582-8524.Additional Information for Public School Students:
Participation in High School ActivitiesEnrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.Notification of Intent to EnrollTo assist the district in planning, public school students are required to inform their district of their intent to enroll in PSEO courses during the following school year by May 30. If public school students do not notify the enrolling district by May 30, 2020, and the enrolling district does not waive the deadline, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary tuition expense.Dissemination of InformationBy March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the date a student registers for courses for the following school year (whichever is earlier), a district must provide up-to-date information on the district's or charter school’s website and in materials that are distributed to all students and their parents in grades eight through grade 11 about the program, including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit.District Grade Weighting Policies and Access to Technology for PSEO studentsEach year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades. School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.Credits and TranscriptsDistricts must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Districts have the authority to decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between the district and the student regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the student may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits will be final.Extended Eligibility for Public School Students Not on Track to GraduateIf a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may still continue to participate in PSEO. For the purposes of PSEO eligibility, school districts must complete the Verification of Extended PSEO Eligibility Form (below) for each instructional term and postsecondary institution the student attends.PSEO State-Approved Early/Middle College ProgramsPSEO funding can be used for developmental coursework only when a student enrolls full-time in a State-Approved Alternative Program’s Early/Middle College. This program must be specifically designed to allow the student to earn dual high school and college credit with a well-defined pathway leading to a postsecondary degree or credential. Each alternative program and its partnering postsecondary institution must complete and submit the Early/Middle College Program Identification Application and companion Narrative Template (both available below) with required documents to be considered for PSEO funding for developmental coursework for alternative students.- Participating Postsecondary Institutions - 6/30/20
A list of postsecondary institutions approved to participate in the PSEO program. Please contact each campus directly for specific PSEO program information. - 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Verification of Extended PSEO Eligibility - Word Version - 6/2/20
- 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Verification of Extended PSEO Eligibility - Typed Signature Option - 6/1/20
- 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Verification of Extended PSEO Eligibility - 5/7/20
- 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program Registration Form - Word Version - 3/26/20
- 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program Registration Form - Typed Signature Option - 3/26/20
- 2020-21 Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program Registration Form - Digital Signature Option - 3/26/20
- 2019-20 Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program Registration Form - Word Version - 3/20/20
- List of State-Approved Early/Middle College Programs 2019-20 - 1/24/20
- Suggested PSEO Language for Districts - 1/15/20
- Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Reference Guide - 8/20/19
A reference guide to assist students and parents, high school educators and Minnesota Colleges and Universities. - Alternate Eligibility Options Policy - 12/14/15
For 10th-Grade Students with a Disability Who Wish to Participate in Career and Technical Education Classes through Postsecondary Options. - Postsecondary Education Option Eligibility Modification Request - 12/14/15
Procedures for 10th-Grade Postsecondary Education Option Eligibility Modification Request. - Reasonable Modification Request Form - 12/14/15
Application for students to apply for an alternative to using the 8th-grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) reading proficiency score to demonstrate reading proficiency.
- Participating Postsecondary Institutions - 6/30/20
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Concurrent Enrollment Program
Concurrent Enrollment Program
College Now Program through Southwest Minnesota State University
Mission Statement: The SMSU Concurrent Enrollment program provides high school students the opportunity to earn college credit by means of a high quality experience in the high school comparable to that of the university classroom.
Program Description
College Now classes are university level classes offered at the high school to junior and senior students during their regular school day. (High school students reduce duplication of classes and save time and money by earning both high school and university credits at the same time.) Our program is accredited by the National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), which ensures that the courses offered through College Now are being taught at a rigour equivalent to courses offered on our campus.
Instructors are qualified high school teachers who meet SMSU requirements and faculty approval to be facilitative teachers. Instructor qualifications, syllabi, assignments, textbooks, exams and grading requirements are equivalent to those at SMSU. Classes are monitored by supervising faculty from SMSU.
SMSU has selected a group of courses appropriate for delivery to regional high schools via College Now. The majority of these courses are lower-division, general education courses that have been certified as meeting the requirements of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. This designation indicates the course meets state-wide curricular standards. Students who successfully complete such a course (with a grade of C- or better) are assured of course acceptance at any of Minnesota’s public colleges and universities. Additionally, the courses are generally accepted at any college or university. SMSU believes these courses offer College Now participants flexible educational options for their future college careers and support statewide higher education goals.
The goals of College Now are to:
- Inspire increasing numbers of high school students to attend college;
- Promote student self-confidence;
- Provide advanced-learning opportunities for motivated students;
- Introduce students to the procedures and protocol of the university setting;
- Increase the probability of students completing a degree in four years or less; and
- Strengthen relationships between high schools and SMSU.
For more information please contact:
Kim Guenther
Director of Concurrent Enrollment, College Now
BA 266
1501 State Street
Marshall MN 56258
(507) 537-6708
Kimberly.Guenther@SMSU.edu -
Online Supplementary Coursework
Online Supplementary Coursework
Online learning provides a unique way for students to continue, expand or enhance their education. Online learning offers students the ability to engage in learning opportunities they have not had access to before. Some online learning combines traditional classroom courses and online courses at the student's local school, while others allow students to attend classes from home and other locations.
Minnesota public school students may enroll in a full-time online program or they may choose to take supplemental courses (taken in place of a course period during the regular school day). All online courses offered through department-approved programs are:- Taught by Minnesota licensed teachers.
- Meet or exceed state academic standards.
- Transfer to other public school districts.
- Apply toward high school graduation.
All department-approved online learning providers must, as a part of the approval process, outline expectations for actual teacher contact time, student-to-teacher communication, student participation (attendance), and provide definitions for progress, completion, hours online, excused/unexcused absence, and report an absence for purposes of compulsory attendance.Residency
Students who live with parents in Minnesota are considered residents for purposes of generating state aid (SAC 15). Students on extended family trips (for example, students traveling outside Minnesota) are considered non-Minnesota residents while they are outside Minnesota and are ineligible to generate Minnesota state aid (MARRS Manual, Appendix K, p. 350).The guiding document used by School Finance to determine residency is a 1985 Attorney General Opinion. According to that opinion, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that in the context of section 120A.20 (formerly 120.06), the term “residency” does not require an intent to remain indefinitely, and is to be distinguished from the more restrictive term “domicile”. In the context of education, residency is based upon physical presence and a “determination of the source and location of the child’s care and financial support.” In other words, when a child is within a district for the purpose of receiving “personal care, attention, supervision and nurture, such as is usually provided in a home, such child is a resident of the district.”
When students are not physically present in Minnesota and are receiving all “personal care, supervision and nurture” from their parent/legal guardian outside of Minnesota, the students are no longer be considered a resident of Minnesota and are not eligible to generate state aid.
Online Learning is Not New
Online learning is not a new educational delivery model, but it is one that is different than what most students experience in a bricks-and-mortar classroom. Approved public online programs provide information to orient students and parents to the world of online learning, and after a student enrolls in an approved supplemental or full-time program, technologies and people are in place to help students reach their educational goals.
Each of the approved programs has its own website. However, some online learning language may get in the way of understanding the information provided. The documents below will help you understand terms and find a program. Access the Online Learning Vocabulary for a list common online learning terms and definitions.Minnesota Approved Public Online Learning Providers
Access to and the quality of online learning in Minnesota is governed by statute language. These are limited to public school providers (public school districts, intermediate districts, school districts operating under a Joint Powers of Agreement (JPA), and charter schools) that provide online learning in department-approved programs. The process for becoming an approved online provider includes ongoing annual reporting and a three-year review process. Parents, students, and other stakeholders may access information about the MDE approval process for public online learning providers on the Minnesota Office of Revisor Statutes page.
Students over the age of 21 seeking a Minnesota GED Diploma are encouraged to read MDE's warning regarding misleading GED claims.Accreditation and Accrediting Agencies for Non-Public-school Providers
Parents, students, and other stakeholders can find information about the accreditation of non-public school providers on the Non-Public Education Council page. Resources about the accreditation of online schools are offered by the U.S. Department of Education. Please see the list of Related offsite resources provided.
- Minnesota Approved Online Learning Providers - 2/14/17
PDF
List of approved K-12 public online learning providers in Minnesota. - Frequently Asked Questions: Online Learning - 4/20/16
- Online Learning Supplemental Notice of Student Registration Form - 9/9/15
Form for student to submit to apply for a supplemental online learning course from a MDE approved public school online learning provider. - Online Learning Vocabulary - 11/7/14
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Credit Recovery Coursework
Credit Recovery Coursework
Credit recovery is available through an online program to students who have attempted a required core course in Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies or Science and has not passed one or more semesters. Please see Mrs. Langworthy for more information.Protecting Students With Disabilities: All parents and students interested in learning more about the protection of students with disabilities as it relates to school, please click here to read the following publication: "Protecting Students With Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities."Accommodations for Students With Disabilities: Students with a disability may qualify for accommodations for college entrance exams, such as the ACT/SAT. For details, talk to Mrs. Langworthy or visit the following websites: ACT, ACT Testing: Minnesota, or SAT/College Board for information regarding accommodations.
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Non-discrimination Notice: The Maple River School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following people are designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dan Anderson, (507) 524-3918, ext. 223, P.O. Box 515, Mapleton, MN 56065 or Kris Madsen, (507) 524-3918, ext. 290, P.O. Box 515, Mapleton, MN 56065.
