Next year’s incoming Concord High School freshmen will be tackling a more ambitious graduation credit requirement, as the school plans to have seniors complete more courses than the 20-credit minimum New Hampshire state law requires.

The Concord School Board voted unanimously this month to implement the new graduation credit requirements in two phases.

Beginning with the class of 2027, the graduation credit requirement will rise from the current state minimum of 20 credits to 22.5 credits. Phase one includes an increase in math from 3 to 4 credits, an increase in social studies from 2.5 to 3 credits and an increase in electives from 4 to 5 credits. Administrators believe the additional social studies credits will help students prepare for the 128-question civics naturalization exam, which is now required to graduate, according to a New Hampshire law passed in 2021.

Then, starting with the class of 2028, the graduation credit requirement will rise to 24 credits. Phase two includes an increase in science from 3 to 4 credits and it may also include an out-of-classroom learning requirement that is still in the concept stage.

The majority of Concord High students already graduate with more than 20 credits. Only about 5% of students graduate with the minimum state requirement of 20 credits, while most students graduate with between 24 and 27 credits, according to Concord High School graduation data from 2018 to 2022.

“This really is going to affect a small number of our students,” said School Board member Brenda Hastings. “We are hopeful that with the pathways programs we have it wont just be a number, it will be beneficial to them.”

When proposing the idea to the school board, Concord High Principal Michael Reardon said the credit number itself less important than the learning students will be doing to meet that number. The school believes the extra education students will get by completing those extra requirements will make a difference, and can help fill idle time for students with many free periods who would otherwise have multiple study halls.

The increased credit requirement brings Concord High in line with other high schools in the area. Bow and Hopkinton high schools both require 24 credits to graduate, while Kearsarge requires 23 and John Stark Regional High School requires 22. Nashua’s high schools, which are similar in size to Concord High, require 27 credits.

Results from surveys sent to Concord High and Rundlett parents in September show that 74.4% of parents are in favor of raising the credit requirement, while 25.6% are not. The majority of those who said yes added that 24 credits is their preferred number. Respondents said they’d most like to see credit requirements rise for science, technology education, business and social studies.

In addition, 64% of parents said they are in favor of adding a requirement for an out-of-classroom learning credit. Reardon said the requirement will likely be a “menu” of options, including community service, a capstone project, college courses and more.

Hastings emphasized that the out-of-classroom learning credit is just a proposal, and is going to take a lot more planning.

“There has been a lot of consideration on the high school team for making sure this is something all students would be able to do,” Hastings said. “A lot of our students have other responsibilities outside the classroom and don’t always have the means or supports to do an out-of-classroom project, so there’s plenty of thought being put into how can we make this doable for all of our students.”

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