Family & Community Students & Families Student and Secondary Support
College and Career Readiness

MassCore

What is MassCore?

The Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore) is intended to help our state's high school graduates arrive at college or the workplace well prepared and reduce the number of students taking remedial courses in college. MassCore recommends a comprehensive set of subject area courses and units as well as other learning opportunities to complete before graduating from high school.

The recommended program of studies includes: four years of English, four years of Math, three years of a lab-based Science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program and five additional "core" courses such as business education, health, and/or technology. MassCore also includes additional learning opportunities including AP classes, dual enrollment, a senior project, online courses for high school or college credit, and service or work-based learning.

MassCore Toolbox

As a new initiative, we strongly encourage schools and districts to communicate with educators, parents, students, business, and community-based and other organizations about the importance of a rigorous, high school program of study for all students.

Below are some resources to use with different constituencies to spread the word and begin conversations concerning MassCore and the need for a rigorous course of study. We hope with public input to increase the amount of information on this page.

If you have items of interest to add, particularly around course syllabi, programs of study or success stories, please email us at masscore@doe.mass.edu.

MassCore Resources

1. General Resources
2. Course Specific Resources
3. External Web Resources
4. Background to the Development of Masscore