Milton High School students who speak a second language can now plan toward a state credential that lands on their transcript before they leave for college.
Milton Public Schools announced Wednesday, Sept. 30, that MHS is authorized to award the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy. The state designation recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate high proficiency in English and at least one other language. The district published the announcement on its MHS, elementary and Pierce Middle School pages.
The seal is not granted until senior year. But the district said it wanted families to know about the program now so students can factor it into their four-year academic plans. MHS Principal Karen Cahill leads a school that graduated 239 seniors in June 2026, according to the Milton Times. How many of those graduates earned the seal is not publicly available.
Who qualifies
Every MHS student is eligible, according to the district. That includes English learners, students with disabilities and students who picked up a language at home or in a community program rather than in a classroom.
Students can earn the seal in any language, including ones MHS does not teach. American Sign Language and classical languages also qualify, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). A student can earn the seal in more than one language beyond English.
The award reflects communicative ability, not course enrollment.
What it takes
According to DESE guidelines, students must meet all graduation requirements, score 472 or higher on the Grade 10 English Language Arts Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and reach at least Intermediate High on a state-approved world language assessment.
A higher tier, the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, requires a 501 or higher on the ELA MCAS and an Advanced Low score or above on the language assessment.
Low-income students must be given access to any required language assessment at no cost, the state requires.
Why it matters
The seal appears on a graduate's official transcript. Thirteen Massachusetts public colleges and universities offer credit or advanced course placement to students who earn it, according to DESE.
Statewide, 18,049 graduates have earned the seal since 2019. In the 2024–2025 school year alone, 4,793 students received it. Seventy-seven percent of Massachusetts schools and districts are authorized to grant the award.
The district's announcement did not include a sign-up deadline or assessment schedule for the current school year. Families can find MHS-specific details on the Milton Public Schools website.
