Certificate of Merit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. It’s the MCPS Certificate of Merit, not MD State.

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Montgomery County Public Schools Certificate of Merit (CM)

In addition to the Maryland high school diploma, students who meet the following requirements may be awarded the MCPS Certificate of Merit, a diploma endorsement:

a. Advanced Courses

Students must earn at least 12 credits in advanced courses designated by MCPS as applicable to the Certificate of Merit (CM). CM courses contribute to a weighted grade point average only when the course also is identified as Advanced Level (AL). All courses to be counted toward the Certificate of Merit must be taken for a letter grade.

b. Mathematics Requirement

Students must successfully complete and/or receive credit for an MCPS Algebra 2 course.

c. Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students must obtain at least a 3.0 unweighted cumulative grade point average.

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It’s unclear whether honors count as “advanced courses.” I guess so, because DD didn’t have 12 APs. Wind Ensemble is indicated on her transcript as ADV. I’m also curious if this is a fairly common endorsement by MCPS, given that so many kids take honors and AP classes.

Interesting. I wonder if the requirement for an algebra 2 credit excludes Blair magnet kids from getting this or whether accept magnet precalc in its place as it does cover algebra 2, I think. They have a lot of AL classes

[Anonymous]

If you look on their report card, there's a CM next to the courses that count towards it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. It’s the MCPS Certificate of Merit, not MD State.

TOP
Montgomery County Public Schools Certificate of Merit (CM)

In addition to the Maryland high school diploma, students who meet the following requirements may be awarded the MCPS Certificate of Merit, a diploma endorsement:

a. Advanced Courses

Students must earn at least 12 credits in advanced courses designated by MCPS as applicable to the Certificate of Merit (CM). CM courses contribute to a weighted grade point average only when the course also is identified as Advanced Level (AL). All courses to be counted toward the Certificate of Merit must be taken for a letter grade.

b. Mathematics Requirement

Students must successfully complete and/or receive credit for an MCPS Algebra 2 course.

c. Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students must obtain at least a 3.0 unweighted cumulative grade point average.

TOP

It’s unclear whether honors count as “advanced courses.” I guess so, because DD didn’t have 12 APs. Wind Ensemble is indicated on her transcript as ADV. I’m also curious if this is a fairly common endorsement by MCPS, given that so many kids take honors and AP classes.

Interesting. I wonder if the requirement for an algebra 2 credit excludes Blair magnet kids from getting this or whether accept magnet precalc in its place as it does cover algebra 2, I think. They have a lot of AL classes

Honors, AP, and AL (post AP classes like multivar calc, and some non AP classes like upper level electives in multi year sequences) are all quality point weighted. Some classes are CM tagged but not quality point weighted. Also that paragraph in the document is technically incoherent and uses the term Advanced Level incorrectly.

Blair/PHS Precalculus and Functions meet the objectives of Algebra 2 and counts as an Algebra 2 credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does this mean? DD received this endorsement on her diploma and it’s unclear how she qualified. According to MCPS, one needs 12 AL credits, a 3.0 GPA, and the minimum SSL hours. It’s not clear what’s meant by AL. She’s had 8 APs, 15 Honors, and 3 AL band. Is this a made up honor that most kids get? Something to put on her resume?

It’s a graduation honor that is only useful to help borderline students and their parents commit to a higher academic level courseload, and can be a differentiator for a non college bound student seeking a white collar job. Going to college with a transcript that shows the concrete academic components of the Certificate (and more) is more meaningful than the certificate.