High School Graduation - Medford,MA

There are a lot of variables here, but fact of the matter is a lot of students don't *know* they're going to fail until finals are tallied. The teacher can tell you he's having trouble, or in danger of not passing, but I am assuming you knew that since you were in contact with the teacher before she left on maternity leave. I know it is frustrating, but at this point dwelling on what might of been just isn't productive. Is the school working with you on how he can make up the credit over the summer?

You should have been contacted! Speak with the principal, if that does not do anything speak with the superintendent of schools . He will need to make up the class but may be able to walk in the graduation with his classmates.

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That's a tough pill to swallow.
I suggest you go to the Superintendent.
It may not get you anywhere, but at least you'll have been heard. Summer school is an option and hopefully, he will receive his diploma after that.
LBC

Wow, sounds like the headmaster at this school should not be in the education field. Isn't it his job to make sure kids do graduate? And he is deliberately making sure yours doesn't? My suggestion would be to call the superintendent. If you have family/friends that are traveling in for this, then they have obviously already spent money to do so. I would explain to the superintendent the cost to all of them, and ask that he at least be allowed to walk at graduation, and make up the credits in summer school before getting the actual diploma. If that doesn't work, tell then that you are going to call any or all of your local news reporting agencies and have them investigate the fact that the school administration is not living up to their responsibilities as an educational institution. IMO the last thing they are going to want is a PR nightmare, and you definitely have the power to make that happen. Especially living in the Boston viewing area.

You can contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden and get advice. You do have the option of seeking help from the state officials who, in theory, monitor and supervise local school districts and mediate local disputes. It may also help others whose children are facing, or will face, the same issues at this school. Good luck!

Hmmm. My kids' public high school sends out report cards as well as progress reports in between stating what the current and final grades are. It also shows how many credits they've received and what their G.P.A. is. Report cards and progress reports are mailed and then signed and returned by the parent(s). If they don't get them back, they call the parents by phone.
I completely disagree that their only responsibility is informing the student. There are too many kids who wouldn't want their parents to know they are getting bad grades. Also, it's practically impossible to cut school because any tardy or absense that isn't confirmed by the parents is reported to the parents the day it happens.
If you weren't getting report cards all along, there is something definitely wrong somewhere.
My stinking stepson goofed off so much that the school was calling us constantly. They made us well aware that he probably wouldn't graduate. He ended up doing just well enough on a make up test to have the bare minimum credits and we didn't know until 4pm THE DAY of graduation if he was going to make it or not.
If your son doesn't have the credits, he doesn't have the credits and at this point there might not be anything you can do about that unless he's close enough to do summer school and then get his diploma.
Why they didn't make you aware there was a danger of this I have no explanation for. Definitely contact the guidance counselor and discuss this in depth with them. Find out how many credits he's lacking and if taking a semester or so in the Fall will be enough.
In California, kids can't graduate unless they pass their exit (competency) exams. My son is a sophomore and has already passed all of his except for math. Again, parents are notified by mail of the requirements.

I hope you can get to the bottom of it.
Best wishes.

I agree that the school should be obligated to tell you. However, I'm sure that most mamas would agree there are a lot of things are public schools should do, but don't. They follow their policies as ridiculous as the policies may be at times.

In our school district, I can check my child's grades on line at any time. I can also contact the guidence dept. at any time if I have questions or concerns. I can e-mail the teacher, guidence councelor, or principal and usually have a response within a few hours.

I don't know the whole situation, but if you knew your son was having problems, did you stay in touch with the substitute. Did you notify the administration that the substitute was not staying in touch with you? Did you schedule a meeting?

I think you need to concentrate on the future and see what needs to be done to be sure that your child does get a dipolma... extra credit, summer school, etc.