High School Graduation Requirements

The Sharon Academy’s graduation requirements are no longer 24 “Carnegie units”, composed of a specific minimum number of “credits” earned in English, Math, Science, History, World Language, Art, Physical Education and Community Service.

Instead of all students being required to earn 4 credits of English, 3 credits of Math, 3 credits of Science, etc., all students must demonstrate proficiency of the 7 Essential Transferable Skills listed below.

These 7 Essential Transferable Skills are our new graduation requirements, which means that a student is ready to graduate from TSA when s/he has produced adequate evidence of these skills at an appropriate rigor level.

Students generate evidence of their proficiency in all classes, electives, sports, the musical interim, and many other extracurricular activities.

Student progress on these transferable skills is assessed using Universal Rubrics: this means that all students are assessed on all graduation requirements with the same criteria.

Students who enroll in a traditional course load each year and successfully complete each course are on track to meet the new graduation requirements. But taking a traditional course load is not the only way to meet them and graduate. Other learning pathways, such as internships, dual enrollment, and independent courses, are just some of the additional ways in which evidence of proficiency of the Essential Transferable Skills can be generated.

For a detailed explanation of proficiency-based education and why we decided to shift away from Carnegie Unit graduation requirements, please visit About Personal Proficiency.

TSA’s Essential Transferable Skills

In order to graduate, a student must be proficient in each of these essential transferable skills:

1: ACQUIRE: Acquire Information Critically

1. Analyze Text
2. Frame Questions
3. Analyze Sources
4. Research

2: REASON: Think Critically and use Evidence in Arguments

1. Cause & Effect
2. Generalization & Specificity
3. Make a Claim
4. Critique

3. DESIGN: Perseverance and Creativity in Problem Solving

1. Analyze a Problem
2. Make Use of Previous Knowledge
3. Use Appropriate Tools
4. Develop Models
5. Find the Best Solution
6. Analyze Results

4. COMMUNICATE: Communicate Effectively

1. Written
   1. Organized and Purposeful
   2. Well Evidenced
   3. Well Developed
   4. Mechanics & Style
2. Oral
   1. Interpersonal
   2. Presentational
3. Multimedia/Artistic Expression
4. Performance

5. SELF-DIRECT: Take Responsibility for Learning and Growth

1. Identify and assess new opportunities to learn
2. Set goals and make informed decisions
3. Take initiative and responsibility for learning
4. Revise and Persist
5. Collaborate effectively
6. Reflect

6: ENGAGE: Community and Responsible Citizenship

1. Community Service
2. Ethics
3. Diversity
4. Digital Citizenship
5. Global Perspective
6. Broadened Horizons
7. College/Career Plan

7: SUSTAIN: Social, Emotional, and Physical Well-being

1. Social/Emotional Well-Being
2. Physical Well-Being