QUINCE ORCHARD High School

Health Education

Mission: The goal of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) standards-based Comprehensive Health Education program is to empower students with skills and strategies that encourage lifelong wellness. Comprehensive health education contributes to a student’s ability to successfully practice behaviors that protect and promote health and avoid or reduce health risks (National Health Education Standards: Achieving Excellence, 2007). Knowledge, concepts, skills, and strategies essential to making healthful decisions throughout the life cycle are taught and practiced. The development of lifelong positive health-related attitudes and behaviors are emphasized to promote self-reliance and self-regulation.

Health-literate students apply knowledge and skills to maintain and enhance personal health and fitness, create and maintain safe environments, and access and utilize personal and community resources. A comprehensive school health education program supports increased depth of understanding that promotes student commitment to lifelong health and well-being. Emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social dimensions of wellness are presented with greater depth as students’ progress from adolescence to adulthood.

Health Education Requirement Change

The Maryland State Board of Education recently changed its graduation requirement for health education. Students in the Class of 2025 and beyond must now earn one full credit for graduation; previously, they earned one half-credit. Again, this requirement begins with the Class of 2025. The change does not impact students in the Class of 2023 or 2024. Students will now take two separate semesters of Honors Health.  Honors Health A is a prerequisite for enrolling in Honors Health B and cannot be taken back to back in one school year.  Physical Education still remains one full credit.   Honors Health Education B will NOT be offered centrally this coming Summer of 2023.  We are still awaiting the completed online course from MSDE. 

Sample options for Class of 2025- current 10th graders that completed Health A:

• Fall of 2023 or Spring 2024- Honors Health Education B ( 11th grade)
• Summer of 2024- Honors Health Education B 
• Fall of 2024- Honors Health Education B ( 12th grade) 

Sample options for Class of 2026- current 9th graders

• Summer of 2023- Online Honors Health A through MCPS
• Fall of 2023 or Spring 2024- Honors Health A (10th grade)
• Summer of 2024- Honors Health B offered through MCPS 
• Fall of 2024 or Spring 2025- Honors Health B (11th grade)
• Summer of 2025- Honors Health B offered through MCPS
• Fall of 2025- Honors Health Education B (12th grade)

Health A

Graduation Requirement - 1/2 Credit:

REQUIRED COURSE

Comprehensive Health (10th grade course)

The Health Education program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help them make healthful decisions- both now and in the future. Through the implementation of an effective, comprehensive health education instructional program, students will develop the life skills needed to enhance their potential for achieving academic success and attaining healthier, happier, and more productive lives. Developing knowledge of accurate health information is essential; practicing health-related skills in real-life situations and developing healthful behaviors are the ultimate goals of the program. 

Parental permission is required for students under the age of 18 to participate in two units (Family Life/Human Sexuality and AIDS Prevention). The other units are Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs, Disease Prevention and Control, Mental Health, Nutrition and Fitness, Personal and Consumer Health, Safety and Injury Prevention. 

ELECTIVE COURSES(prerequisite: successful completion of Comprehensive Health Education and a junior or senior)

• Family Life and Human Development
• Human Behavior