Graduation Requirements

To be named MHS valedictorian, the student must complete a minimum of 100 credits on the McFarland High School campus. The student must complete the A-G courses. A student’s GPA must be 4.5 or higher. A student’s GPA will be based on a full caseload of classes (7 classes), even if the student has early release.

A GPA of 4.0 or above will be recognized at graduation by wearing a gold stole. Students who earn a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 will be recognized at graduation by wearing a black stole. To be recognized with “honors” at graduation, a student must complete the college prep curriculum and complete eight full semesters of high school.

To participate in graduation ceremonies, a senior must complete the following:

• Maintain 90% attendance of the days enrolled in the McFarland Unified School District during the senior year. Exceptions to this requirement:
  • Illness verified with a doctor’s note.
    • If the illness is of a long-term nature, a doctor’s excuse must be renewed each quarter or upon request.
    • For long-term illnesses, a parent/doctor’s note must still clear each absence.
    • All doctor notes shall be submitted to the attendance office within ten school days of visiting the doctor.
  • Quarantine directed by a county or city health officer.
  • Subpoena/Jury Duty–would be on a daily basis.
  • Attending the funeral service of a member of the pupil’s immediate family (see Class I absence).
    • Three (3) days if within 250 miles one way.
    • Five (5) days if travel of more than 250 miles one way is required.
  • School activity absences, limited to ten (10) day/periods per class, per semester, excluding athletics.
    • County/state or national competition shall not count in the total.
    • The following shall not count in the total: FFA fair showing, military, religious, college visitation, and any previously approved school activity.
    • A student must miss more than 29 minutes of the class period to be considered an absence.

With a seven-period school day and a 180-day school year, the percentage would be:

180 days x 7 periods = 1260 periods
10% absence = 126 periods per year

Seniors who are below the 90% mandatory graduation requirement can attend Saturday School to make up their attendance hours at four hours per Saturday School. Students must bring 4 hours of classwork and may not participate in Saturday campus cleanup. E.C. 37223.

Students who meet all graduation requirements to receive a diploma, but fail to meet graduation ceremony requirements shall receive their high school diploma from the high school principal on the day following graduation ceremonies. Pupils in grade 12 shall be enrolled in at least five courses each semester, which may include ROP, work experience. E.C. 46145.

• No more than one (1) out-of-school suspension (any length of time for E.C. 48900) during the senior year for any item enumerated in the Code Violations and Consequences of Inappropriate Behavior.
• No time on expulsion during the senior year.
• Transfer policy to or from an alternative program (a program which also grants a diploma). A senior who transfers into alternative education at the beginning of their senior year will have the option to return to the main campus at the semester break, if all requirements for transfer are met.
• Have no pending detention minutes (includes Saturday school).
• Earned 50 units in the senior year. (Mid-term graduate, earned 25 units during fall semester). Education Code 46145 (minimum of five courses for senior year).
• Maintain enrollment in all (five or more) classes in each semester attended during the senior year. (No unscheduled time while on campus).

Final decisions may be appealed to the superintendent.

It is our expectation that the school community wants a safe and dignified ceremony. We also hope that the supervision efforts of our staff will be respected as we try to ensure the safety and dignity of our ceremony. Consequently, we are expecting the following from our graduates:

1. We expect the graduates to retain the “normal” appearance of their caps and gowns. Writing on or other alterations of the caps and gowns will not be permitted, except if the writing and color refer specifically to a university, college, or branch of the armed services. No items (cords, sashes) may be worn over the gowns unless they have been issued by the school specifically for graduation. Please be advised that any graduate who arrives with writing or other alterations of the caps and gowns will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. If the blemish can be corrected, the student may be allowed to participate in this school activity.
2. We expect the graduates to arrive in appropriate civilian clothes. We expect these civilian clothes to be consistent with the MHS dress code, which includes no sandals, colored hair, or piercings. (See School Dress Code). Graduates who arrive in their caps and gowns will be required to remove them prior to entering the gym.
3. All graduates will be searched for unauthorized objects, including beach balls, tissue paper, tortillas, and other materials that are deemed inappropriate. Please be advised that school officials will not allow a graduate to participate in the ceremony if they discover unauthorized objects during the course of a search.
4. We expect graduates to conduct themselves in a safe and dignified manner during the graduation ceremony and to remain seated except for the national anthem and when appropriate. We expect graduates to refrain from making use of any unauthorized objects. If any graduate refuses to remain appropriately seated, or if any graduate throws or otherwise uses any unauthorized object, please be advised that school officials have been requested to remove the individuals from the ceremony.