Incoming freshmen at Muncie Central High School (MCHS) will begin high school on a new diploma track, aligning with Indiana’s upcoming statewide graduation changes. The Indiana Graduate Prepared to Succeed (Indiana GPS) diploma, developed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), is set to go into effect for the Class of 2029—but MCHS is opting in early.
Rather than waiting for the new requirements to take effect statewide in the 2028-29 school year, MCHS has chosen to implement them now for current ninth through 11th graders. These changes include the introduction of three “readiness seals” for students pursuing enrollment in college, employment or military enlistment after graduation.
MCHS Principal Christopher Walker said via email that the process started with families in February when the administration met with the Class of 2029.
“We outlined the new diploma requirements, how each student will be asked to declare a seal at the end of their ninth-grade year, and how their middle school experience is preparing them for high school,” he said.
Since opting into the requirements early means applying them to current students rather than waiting to implement them for the Class of 2029, Walker said the administration will “analyze how the new diploma requirements can be applied to current ninth through eleventh graders.” He added that the primary motivation is to set students up for “greater success” in deciding what to do after graduation.
Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Secondary Education Karianne Polk-Meek said, “Ultimately, the role of any school, any public school institution, is to make sure that they are preparing kids for their future, right?”
The IDEO’s December 2024 “The Future of the Indiana Diploma: Final Diploma Rule” report cites why the new changes are needed.
Though 76 percent of Indiana high school graduates say they intend to pursue higher education, only 53 percent actually enroll. Meanwhile, 58 percent of Indiana jobs require some form of postsecondary skills training—but not necessarily a four-year degree—and military enlistments in the state dropped by 41 percent between 2018 and 2022.
The readiness seals aim to close this gap by allowing students to focus on a pathway tailored to their goals. For instance, according to the “Current & Future Indiana Diploma: Comparison” from the IDOE, the enrollment seal includes options such as earning six college credits, achieving a score of 1250 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT or passing Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams to earn college credit.
Similarly, the employment seal will allow students to focus on work-based learning with a minimum of 150 hours, career credentials and a demonstration of workplace skills like collaboration and communication. For enlistment, students looking to enter the military must complete ASVAB benchmarks, have public service experience or participate in JROTC.
Assistant MCHS Superintendent Eric Grim said early implementation provides more flexibility. Depending on their goals, students have three very different options, and they can change their minds at any point if they feel uncertain about the path chosen.
“I think ultimately the goal is to make sure that Indiana continues to have a robust and thoughtful workforce, and adults who are both ready to take on the workforce, but then are able to have productive, thoughtful, happy lives as a result of the educational experiences they have,” Meek said.
Meek also emphasized how the district is working ahead of schedule to prepare students and teachers for the transition.
To help students adjust, MCS will launch a Freshman Academy, grouping them with English, math, science and social studies teachers.
“These four teachers will have a common planning period where they will meet weekly to talk through strategies and initiatives to best support our students to reach their goals,” Walker said.
According to information given from MCS Chief Communications Officer Andy Klotz, Freshman Academy is a “school-within-a-school” model that also includes a new Freshman Seminar course, designed by MCHS teachers to help students develop skills needed for success in high school and beyond. Lessons cover topics such as note-taking, college and job applications and relationship-building. Each student will also complete a digital portfolio and a final service project by the end of the course.
MCHS has many long-standing partnerships to help increase dual credit and work-based learning opportunities to help students complete the requirements, as well.
“Muncie Central is a fully endorsed Early College program through the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning from the University of Indianapolis, and we offer numerous dual credit options that lead to degree and certification completions through Ivy Tech Community College,” Walker said. “After six semesters, completion of 11th grade, any MCHS student with a cumulative weighted GPA of 3.00 or above will be directly admitted to Ball State University.”
Along with these partnerships, Grim also emphasized the role of career coaches from Project Leadership and the Muncie Area Chamber of Commerce in placing students in internships and job shadows.
“MCS has worked with Project Leadership for a number of years, so we have had embedded career counselors in our high school that meet very deliberately with our kiddos,” Meek said.
She also said that the Muncie Area Chamber of Commerce created an education liaison position to work with employers to help students find those learning experiences.
To assess the impact of the early adoption, MCHS will track graduation rates and the percentage of students earning seals.
“The goal for Muncie Central will be for 100 percent of our students to obtain one of the three seals,” Grim said.
Walker also explained how the staff will focus on three measurements of success: character, knowledge and relationships.
“We will make adjustments where necessary in how we deliver instruction and support to ensure students graduate with high character, a deep knowledge in their chosen career field, and the disposition and value of building positive relationships,” he said.
Grim advises other schools considering opting in early to assess their resources and community partnerships beforehand.
“You're always going to want to put your students in the best positions to graduate. So if you feel that staying on the old Core 40 diploma is what is best for them to graduate, then that's what you do,” he said. “But if you also think that getting a seal is what's best for them at this point, that's what you're going to do.”
The district aims for all graduates to earn at least one diploma seal, ensuring each student leaves high school feeling prepared for their next step, whether in employment, enrollment or enlistment.
Contact Meghan Braddy via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu or on X @meghan_braddy.
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