Course Selection & Program of Studies

Competency Determination

Following the 2024 vote to abolish MCAS as a Competency Determination, individual districts were required to create Competency Determinations under 603 CMR 30: Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements. As of November 6, 2025, Pembroke Public Schools’ Competency Determination can be found in School Committee Policy, IKFE: Competency Determination

Graduation Requirements

School Committee Policy IKF:

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive a Pembroke High School diploma, students must meet all graduation requirements detailed in SC Policy IKF and successfully meet the Competency Determination. All students must successfully complete 88 credits in the identified disciplines and complete community service in order to become eligible to earn a diploma. For each year-long course passed, a student will earn 4 credits; for each semester course passed, a student will earn 2 credits, and for each quarter course, a student will earn 1 credit.

All Students Must Pass: Total Earned Credit

4 Years of English 16
4 Years of Mathematics 16
3 Years of Social Studies 12*
3 Years of Science 12**
2 Years of World Language 8***
1 Semester of Visual & Performing Arts 2
4 Semesters of Wellness 8****

* Students must enroll in English and Math each year. World Language and VPA requirements are effective with the Class of 2029

* Community Service 40 hours over 4 years.

*Students must pass 3 years of history, including 1 year of US II or Advanced Placement US History. *Students must pass Biology and either Chemistry or Physics 2 years of World Language in the same language is highly recommended ****Please see Chapter Nine ( Wellness) for additional information regarding wellness requirements.

PHS Course Selection & Program of Studies

The Course Selection Process for the 2025-26 school year is now upon us. Please make note of the timeline below and reach out to your child's guidance counselor or a school administrator with any questions:

Feb. 2-27 - Throughout February, teachers will begin to make course recommendations for students for next year. Students can only select the courses for which they are recommended. Students and families should refer to our Program of Studies (p12) to read about the process for overriding a teacher recommendation.
Feb. 11-13 - Students will attend grade-level Course Selection Assemblies during Titan Time. This is a chance for them to hear from our content supervisors about course offerings, especially new offerings, as well as important information about our Pathway Programs.
- Feb 11 - 9th Grade Assembly
- Feb 12 - 10th Grade Assembly
- Feb 13 - 11th Grade Assembly
Feb. 26 - our annual Program of Studies evening. Please join us in the Randall Auditorium from 6-8 p.m. for an overview of our Course Selection Process as well as our course offerings/Program of Studies
March 3-6 - Junior course selections in Guidance Seminars during Titan Time
March 10-13 - Sophomore course selections in Guidance Seminars during Titan Time
March 17-20 - Freshman course selections in Guidance Seminars during Titan Time
April 10 - The deadline to override a course/level recommendation