Promotion Requirements for All Grades
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Students must fulfill several requirements to be promoted to the next grade. All students must earn passing grades in certain courses and maintain good attendance.
Schools may establish promotion requirements that exceed those listed below. The School Site Council must approve these additional requirements.
Boston Public Schools is reviewing its graduation requirements in order to better align them with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education expectations and the Massachusetts Core High School Program of Study.
Middle School: Summary of Promotion, Testing, and Homework Requirements
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To be promoted from Middle School, students must...
- pass five out of six courses in English Language Arts (ELA)/English as a second language (ESL) and mathematics
- pass ten out of twelve courses in science, history, math, and ELA/ESL
- complete three semesters of instruction in the arts
- complete three semesters of instruction in physical education
- complete two semesters of instruction in health
*School Site Councils may vote to establish course and test requirements that exceed those listed.
Assessments that Students Take in Middle School
Assessment
Grades
What does it test?
End-of-Unit Curriculum Assessments
6-8
Assessments of content taught in previous 4-6 weeks in each subject area
BPS Interim Assessments
6-8
ELA and math grade-level standards proficiency
MAP Growth
6-8
Universal screen for reading that provides a growth measure (between two assessment administrations)
Exam School Admissions Test
6 and 8
Please view the Exam School Admissions Policy
Next-Generation MCAS 2.0
6-7
8
ELA and math
ELA, math, and science and technology/engineering
ACCESS for ELLs
6-8
English language reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills for English Learners
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
8
Reading, math (given every other year)
Homework Recommendations
Boston Public Schools educators believe that when students spend time on meaningful homework assignments, they are more likely to achieve academic success. Homework builds on classroom work and encourages the development of self-discipline and personal responsibility. It is also an important means of promoting cooperation between home and school.
Every BPS middle school student in grades 6–8 should have homework assignments every school day. Teachers in the major subject areas should coordinate homework assignments. Certain subjects should be scheduled for certain nights so the total amount of home assignments is consistent each evening and can be completed within the expected time. Homework should be a factor in a student’s report card grades.
Recommended average time: 2 hours per day
Middle School Promotion Requirements: Grades 6 - 8
Grade 6
To be promoted to grade 7, students must receive a passing grade in a total of three courses from the following subject areas: ELA/ESL, mathematics, science, and history/social science.
- To pass math, students must pass the end-of-year math assessment or end-of-summer math assessment.
- Students who do not pass both ELA/ESL and math must attend the Summer Learning Academies.
- Students who do not pass ELA/ESL and math by the end of the Summer Learning Academies will fail the course(s) for the year and must repeat them.
Grade 7
To be promoted to grade 8, students must receive a passing grade in a total of six courses from the following subject areas in grades 6 and 7: ELA/ESL, mathematics, science, and history/social science.
The courses must include at least:
- three ELA/ESL + math courses
- one science course
- one history/social science course
- Students who do not pass both ELA/ESL and math must attend the Summer Learning Academies.
- Students will earn credit for the course(s) only if they attend the Summer Learning Academies and pass the required coursework. Students who do not attend will fail the course(s).
Grade 8
To be promoted to grade 9, students must receive a passing grade in a total of ten courses from the following subject areas in grades 6, 7, and 8: ELA/ESL, mathematics, science, and history/social science.
The courses must include at least:
- five ELA/ESL + math courses
- two science courses
- two history/social science courses
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Students who do not pass both ELA/ESL and math must attend the Summer Learning Academies.
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Students will earn credit for the course(s) only if they attend the Summer Learning Academies and pass the required coursework. Students who do not attend will fail the course(s).
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Students who do not meet grade 8 course requirements by the end of the Summer Learning Academies will be retained. Students who have already been retained in middle school may be retained again only after a case review by the principal, teachers, support staff, and parents.
