HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS BY STATE Including Washington, D.C. and DoDEA Project by Carolyn Pope Moving during the high school years can be challenging. The information presented can help students, in particular military children, to plan their high school course load when they know they will be moving before graduation. This is a Girl Scout Gold Award Project researched and presented by a military child who is attending her third high school. All information with in these pages is for reference only and are the requirements for the standard diploma for each state. Many states have various levels of diplomas such as honors. Several states are in the process of updating their requirements. Always verify the information with your local school. Minimum graduation requirements are often much lower than the minimum required for college acceptance, so plan accordingly.
Table of Contents 2 Alabama 5 New Jersey Alaska New Mexico Arizona New York Arkansas North Carolina California North Dakota Colorado Ohio Connecticut Oklahoma Delaware Oregon DoDEA Pennsylvania Florida Rhode Island 3 Georgia 6 South Carolina Hawaii South Dakota Idaho Tennessee Illinois Texas Indiana Utah Iowa Vermont Kansas Virginia Kentucky Washington Louisiana Washington, DC Maine West Virginia 4 Maryland 7 Wisconsin Massachusetts Wyoming Michigan Resources Minnesota 8 Sources Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire 1
Alabama Social Studies 4 Social Studies 3.5 Science 4 Science 3 PE/Health 1.5 1 credit of PE, 1/2 credit of health PE/Health 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 4 Career Preparedness and Career and Technical Education or foreign language or fine arts Colorado 2.5 8.5 Total Credits Required 24 Total Credits Required 23 Revised for Class of 2021 and beyond Alaska Connecticut Social Studies 4 Social Studies 3 PE/Health 1.5 1 credit of PE, 1/2 credit of health PE/Health 1.5 2 2 0.5 1 0 1 Senior demonstration project or its equivalent as approved by the state board of education 7 3.5 2 are required to be career and life skills electives Total Credits Required 22.5 Total Credits Required 25 currently under revision Arizona Delaware Math 4 Math 4 PE/Health 0 PE/Health 1.5 1 PE,.5 health 0 2 1 Fine arts or vocational education 0 7 Determined by local school district 1 Computer literacy 6.5 3.5 electives and 3 units in career pathway Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 24 Arkansas DoDEA Math 4 Math 4 PE/Health 1.5 PE and.5 health PE/Health 2 1.5 PE,.5 health 0 2 0.5 1 0.5 Oral communications 2 Career technical 6 5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 26 California Language Arts 3 Language Arts 4 Math 2 Not including high school credit earned in middle school Math 4 Science 2 Must include biological and physical sciences Science 3 2 lab sciences PE/Health 2 PE/Health 1 1 Foreign language OR visual and preforming arts OR career and 0 technical 1 1 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Florida 0 8 Total Credits Required 13 Total Credits Required 24 2
Georgia Science 4 4th science may be used to fulfill both science and elective requirements Science 3 PE/Health 1 PE/Health 0.5 3 Career, technical and agricultural education, modern language, or fine arts 4 Total Credits Required 23 Total Credits Required 13.5 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Hawaii Iowa Kansas Social Studies 4 Must include.5 unit of Modern History of Hawaii and.5 unit of Participation in Democracy Social Studies 3 PE/Health 1.5 1 PE,.5 health PE/Health 1 2 Foreign language OR fine arts OR career and technical education 1 0.5 Personal transition plan 6 6 Total Credits Required 24 Total Credits Required 21 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Idaho Language Arts 4.5 4 English,.5 speech Language Arts 4 Social Studies 2.5 Social Studies 3 Science 3 With lab Science 3 PE/Health 0.5 Health PE/Health 1.5 health,.5 PE 1 OR fine art 1 17 7 Total Credits Required 8.5 Total Credits Required 22 Illinois Kentucky Louisiana Social Studies 2 Social Studies 2 Science 2 Science 2 PE/Health 0.5 PE/Health 2 1.5 PE, 1.5 health 1 Foreign language OR fine art OR vocational education 0.5 Civics 3 9 Total Credits Required 16 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Total Credits Required 23 Indiana Maine Math 3 Math 2 Social Studies 3 Social Studies 2 Science 3 Science 2 PE/Health 1.5 1 PE,.5 health PE/Health 2.5 Foreign language OR fine arts OR career and technical education 1 3 Total Credits Required 20 Total Credits Required 11 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local 3
Maryland PE/Health 1.5 PE,.5 health PE/Health 1.5 1 PE,.5 health 2 Foreign language OR advanced technology education OR a stateapproved career and technology program 1 2 1 practical arts, 1 fine art 1 Technology education 0.5 Personal finance 3 7 Total Credits Required 21 Students must meet service learning requirements Total Credits Required 24 Massachusetts Missouri Montana Math 4 Math 2 Social Studies 3 Social Studies 2 Science 3 Science 2 PE/Health PE/Health 1 2 1 1 1 Career and technical education 5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 20 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Michigan Nebraska Language Arts 4 Language Arts Math 4 Math Social Studies 3 Social Studies Science 3 Science PE/Health 1 PE/Health 2 1 Total Credits Required 18 Total Credits Required All graduation requirements set at local level. However, at least 80% of the 200 hours must be core curriculum courses as defined by the state board. "One instructional unit equals 15 clock hours. Therefore, a course that meets for 50 minutes for 180 days generates 10 instructional units. (Instructional units may be generated through any configuration of days and minutes.)" Minnesota Nevada Social Studies 3.5 Social Studies 2 Science 3 Science 2 PE/Health PE/Health 2.5 2 PE,.5 health 1 1.5 1 unit of arts and humanities of occupational education and.5 unit of use of computers 7 7.5 Total Credits Required 21.5 Total Credits Required 22.5 Mississippi New Hampshire Social Studies 4 Social Studies 2.5 Science 4 Science 2 1 physical and 1 biological science PE/Health 1.5 PE,.5 health PE/Health 1.5 1 PE,.5 health 1 0.5 State History yes State History yes 1 Business and technology 0.5 Information and communication technologies 5 6 Total Credits Required 24 Total Credits Required 20 4
New Jersey Ohio PE/Health 3 PE/Health 1.5 PE,.5 health 1 1 1.5 1 unit in 21st Century Life and Careers,.5 unit in Financial Literacy 5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 20 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local New Mexico Social Studies 3.5 Social Studies 3 Science 2 1 with lab Science 3 PE/Health 1 PE/Health 1 1 1 Communications 8.5 8 Total Credits Required 23 Total Credits Required 23 New York Social Studies 4 Social Studies 3 PE/Health 2.5 2 PE,.5 health PE/Health 2 1 PE, 1 health 1 3 Foreign language OR fine arts OR career and technical education 1 3.5 6 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 24 North Carolina PE/Health 1 PE/Health 1 2 Foreign language OR career and technical education 2 4 5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 21 North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Language Arts 4 Language Arts Math 3 Math Social Studies 3 Social Studies Science 3 Science PE/Health 1 PE/Health 3 Foreign language OR fine art OR career and technical education 5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 20 Each individual district determines the credits required to establish proficiency in required areas set by the state 5
South Carolina PE/Health 1 PE/Health 1.5 1 Foreign language OR career and technical education 0 1 1 Computer science 7 4.5 Total Credits Required 24 Total Credits Required 20 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local South Dakota PE/Health 1.5 PE,.5 Health PE/Health 2 1 Foreign language OR career and technical education OR capstone experience of service learning 2 Foreign language OR fine arts OR career and technical education 1 0.5 Personal finance 1 Economics and personal finance 5.5 4 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 22 Tennessee Washington PE/Health 1.5 PE/Health 2 1.5 PE,.5 health 2 2 1 2 0.5 Personal finance 1 Career and technical education 3 4 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 24 Texas Vermont Virginia Washington, D.C. Social Studies 3 Social Studies 4 Science 3 Science 4 PE/Health 1 These are the basic requirements for the Foundations High PE/Health 1.5 2 School program. There is a complex endorsement program that 2 1 coincides with these requirements. 1.5 art,.5 music yes 100 hours of community service 5 3.5 Total Credits Required 22 Total Credits Required 24 Utah West Virginia Social Studies 3 Social Studies 4 Science 2 Science 3 PE/Health 2.5 health, 1.5 PE PE/Health 2 1 PE, 1 health 1.5 1 2 1 Career and technical,.5 digital studies,.5 financial literacy 5 2 Total Credits Required 24 Total Credits Required 20 6
Wisconsin Wyoming PE/Health 2 1.5 PE,.5 health PE/Health Total Credits Required 15 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local Total Credits Required 13 Additional requirements for graduation may be adopted by local *This information should be used as a reference. Requirements may vary by individual districts. Requirements change frequently. Verify information with your local school board. Minimum state or district high school graduation requirements may not meet college or university application requirements. **Document based on information available as of August 2018 Helpful Resources Military Interstate Children s Compact Commission: http://www.mic3.net National Military Family Association: http://www.militaryfamily.org/kids-operation-purple/education.html Military Child Education Coalition: https://www.militarychild.org 7
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