There’s been rumors of possible graduation requirement changes. I interviewed Mr. Geocaris, the Assistant superintendent, to clear the air. 

Why was it lowered in the first place? 

“Graduation credit requirements were reduced in the summer of 2021 from 22.5 to 18.5 credits.  The reduction was in Elective requirements.  Under the previous requirements 5.5 credits of electives were required for graduation.  In the current structure, 1.5 credits are required.  Each credit is equivalent to 1 semester of instruction.  The reductions were part of district cuts prior to the referendum being passed in the summer of 2022.  If the referendum was not successful, the district would have had to move to a 7 period day, and students at Warren would not have been able to meet the 22.5 credit graduation requirement.  Thankfully, the referendum passed, and the district was able to maintain its 8-period school day.”

Will it be lowered?  

“There are no plans to further lower graduation requirements.”

Does it affect people who are already going to school or only underclassmen?  

“If graduation credits are lowered, then it can be applied across grades 9-12.  If graduation credits are increased, then they must be implemented on a rolling basis.  They are applied to the incoming freshman class only during the first year, then with each class thereafter.  Essentially, once a cohort of students begins at Warren, their graduation requirements cannot be increased.”

What is the change?  

“Graduation credit requirements were reduced in the summer of 2021 from 22.5 to 18.5 credits.  The reduction was in Elective requirements.  Under the previous requirements 5.5 credits of electives were required for graduation.  In the current structure, 1.5 credits are required.  Each credit is equivalent to 1 semester of instruction.”

To summarize, graduation requirements are remaining at 18.5 and if any graduation requirements were to be passed they wouldn’t affect students already in school it would only affect future classes.