State requirements for high school graduation, in Carnegie units: 2004

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Table 154.

State	Total required credits, all courses		Required credits in subject areas																	High school exit exam required to graduate		Specific course requirements
State	Total required credits, all courses		English/ language arts		Social studies		Mathe- matics		Science		Health		Physical education		Arts		Foreign language		Technology/ life skills	High school exit exam required to graduate		Specific course requirements
1	2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11	12		13
Alabama	24		4		4		4		4		1	¹	(¹)		0.5		0		—	Yes		—
Alaska	21		4		3		2		2		1	¹	(¹)		—		0		—	Yes		—
Arizona	20		4		2.5		2		2		0		0		1		0		—	Yes	²	—
Arkansas	21		4		3		4		3		0.5		0.5		0.5		1		—	No		In math: algebra and geometry. In science: biology and physical science. In social studies: world history, U.S. history, and government.
California	13		3		3		2		2		—		2		1	³	(³)		—	Yes	²	In math: 2 credits of algebra or higher level courses. In science: biology and physical science. In social studies: 0.5 credit of economics.
Colorado	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	No		—
Connecticut	20		4		3		3		2		—		1		1		—		—	No		—
Delaware	22		4		3		3		3		0.5		1		—		0		4	No		In math and science: Students must meet content standards. In technology/life skills: 3 credits of career pathway and 1 credit of computer literacy.
District of Columbia	23.5		4		3.5		3		3		0.75		0.75		1		2		—	Yes	²	In math: algebra. In social studies: U.S. history, U.S. government, and DC history and government. Community service hours are also required.
Florida	24/18	⁵	4		3		3		3		0.5		1		1		2		—	Yes		In math: algebra or the equivalent. In science: 2 to 3 credits of laboratory. In English/language arts: 4 credits of composition and literature.
Georgia	22		4		3		4		3		1		1		—		2		—	Yes		In math: 1 credit each of algebra, geometry, algebra II, and another math. In science: 1 credit each of life, physical, and another science. In social studies: 1 credit of world history, 1 credit of U.S. history, 0.5 credit of government, and 0.5 credit of economics. In English/language arts: 1 credit of American literature.
Hawaii	22		4		4		3		3		0.5		1		—		0		—	No		—
Idaho⁶	42		9		5		4		4		0.5		†	⁴	2		†	⁴	—	Yes	²	In science: 2 credits of laboratory. In English/language arts: 1 credit of speech or debate.
Illinois	10.25		3		2		2		1		0.5		—		1		0		—	No		While not a state graduation requirement, daily physical education is required in all 4 years of high school.
Indiana⁶	24		8		4		4		4		1		1		—		†	⁴	2	Yes		In science: 4 credits in two out of three specified courses (life, physical, or earth/space science). In social studies: 1 credit in U.S. history and 2 credits in U.S. government. In technology/life skills: 2 credits of computer applications/other.
Iowa	1.5		†	⁴	1.5		†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	—	No		In social studies: 1 credit of U.S. history and 0.5 credit of U.S. government. In physical education: 0.125 credit per semester.
Kansas	21		4		3		2		2		0.5		0.5		—		0		—	No		In science: 1 credit of laboratory. In social studies: 1 credit of U.S. history and 0.5 credit each of U.S. government and state history.
Kentucky	22		4		3		3		3		0.5		0.5		1		2	⁷	—	No		In math: algebra, geometry, and another math. In science: 1 credit each of life, physical, and earth/space science. In English/language arts: 1 credit each of English I through IV. In technology/life skills: as determined by individual learning plan.
Louisiana	23		4		3		3		3		0.5		1.5		—		0		—	Yes		In science: 1 credit of biology. In social studies: 1 credit of U.S. history, 0.5 credit of civics, and 0.5 credit of enterprise. In English/language arts: 1 credit each of English I through IV.
Maine	16		4		2		2		2		0.5		1		1		2		—	No		—
Maryland	21		4		3		3		3		0.5		0.5		1		2	⁸	(⁸)	Yes	²	In math: 1 credit each of algebra/data analysis and of geometry. In science: 1 credit of biology and 2 credits of life, physical, or earth science. In social studies: 1 credit of world history, 1 credit of U.S. history, and 1 credit of government.
Massachusetts	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	Yes		—
Michigan	†	⁴	†	⁴	0.5		†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	Yes	²	—
Minnesota	21.5		4		3.5		3		3		†	⁴	†	⁴	1		†	⁴	—	Yes		In math: 1 credit each of algebra, geometry, and statistics/probability. In science: 1 credit of biology and 1 credit each of 2 electives. In social studies: 3.5 credits of world/U.S. history, government, economics, and geography.
Mississippi	20		4		3		3		3		0.5		(⁹)		1		0		1	Yes		In math: 1 credit of algebra. In science: 1 credit of biology. In social studies: 1 credit of world history, 1 credit of U.S. history, and 1 credit of U.S. government. In technology/life skills: MS studies, computer applications, and keyboarding.
Missouri	22		3		2		2		2		0		1		1		0		—	No		In social studies: 0.5 credit of American government and civics.
Montana	20		4		2		2		2		1		1		1		0		—	No		—
Nebraska	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	No		—
Nevada	22.5		4		2		3		2		0.5		2		1		0		—	Yes		—
New Hampshire	19.75		4		2.5		2		2		0.25		1		0.5		0		1	No		In science: 1 credit each of biology and physical science. In social studies: 0.5 credit of economics. In technology/life skills: 0.5 credit each of basic business and computer education.
New Jersey	22		4		3		3		3		3.75	¹	(¹)		1		1		—	Yes	²	In social studies: 1 credit of world history and 2 credits of U.S. history.
New Mexico	23		4		3		3		2		0		1		—		0		—	Yes	²	In math: 1 credit of algebra. In science: 1 credit of one course with a lab. In social studies: 1 credit of world history and geography, 1 credit of U.S. history and geography, 0.5 credit of government, and 0.5 credit of economics. In English/language arts: 1 credit of communication skills.
New York	12		4		4		2		2		0		0		—		0		—	Yes		—
North Carolina	20		4		3		3		3		1	¹	(¹)		†	⁴	2	⁷	—	Yes		In math: 1 credit of algebra. In science: 1 credit each of biology, physical, and earth science. In social studies: 1 credit each of world history, U.S. history, and civics and economics.
North Dakota	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	No		—
Ohio	21		4		3		3		3		0.5		0.5		†	⁴	†	⁴	—	Yes	²	In science: 1 credit each of biology and physical science. In social studies: 0.5 credit each of American history and American government.
Oklahoma	23		4		3		3		3		0		0		2		0		—	Yes	²	In math: 3 credits of algebra and higher level courses. In science: 1 credit each of biology and of two higher level electives. In social studies: 0.5 to 1 credit of world history, 1 credit of U.S. history, 0.5 to 1 credit of U.S. government, 0.5 credit of Oklahoma history, and 0.5 to 1 credit of geography.
Oregon	22		3		3		2		2		1		1		1		0		—	No		In social studies: history, civics, geography, and economics. In English/language arts: 1 credit of written composition.
Pennsylvania	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	0		0		†	⁴	0		—	No		—
Rhode Island	16		4		2		2		2		(¹⁰)		(¹⁰)		—		0		—	No		In science: lab science (2 credits for college-prep students only).
South Carolina	24		4		3		4		3		1	¹	(¹)		—		1	⁷	—	Yes	²	In technology/life skills: computer applications.
South Dakota	20		4		3		2		2		0		0		0.5		0		—	No		In social studies: U.S. history, U.S. government, and geography. In English/language arts: writing, American literature, and speech.
Tennessee	20		4		3		3		3		1	¹	(¹)		—		2		—	Yes	²	In math: algebra. In science: biology. In social studies: 1 credit of U.S. history, 0.5 credit of U.S. government, and 0.5 credit of economics.
Texas	24		4		3.5		3		3		0.5		1.5		1		2		1	Yes	²	In math: 1 credit each of algebra, geometry, and algebra II. In science: biology, chemistry, physics, and integrated physics. In social studies: 1 credit of world history or world geography, 1 credit of U.S. history from reconstruction, and 0.5 credit each of U.S. government and economics. In English/language arts: 0.5 credit of communications applications. In technology/life skills: 1 credit of technology.
Utah	24		3		2.5		2		2		0.5		1.5		—		0		—	Yes	²	In math: algebra/applied math I and geometry/applied math II. In science: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. In social studies: 0.5 credit of world civilization, 1 credit of U.S. history, 0.5 credit of U.S. government, and 0.5 credit of geography. In English/language arts: 1 credit each of language arts 9 through 11.
Vermont	12		4		3		5	¹¹	(¹¹)		0		0		1		0		—	No		—
Virginia	22		4		3		3		3		2	¹	(¹)		1		0		—	Yes		In math: 3 credits of algebra or higher level courses. In science: 3 credits in two out of three courses (biology, chemistry, or earth science). In social studies: 1 credit each of world history/geography, U.S. and state history, and U.S. and state government.
Washington	19		3		2.5		2		2		0		2		1		0		—	Yes	²	In math and science: Students must meet content standards. In social studies: 2 credits of U.S. history/government/current affairs and 0.5 credit of state history.
West Virginia	24		4		4		3		3		1		1		—		0		4	No		In math: algebra and higher level course. In science: coordinated and thematic science in grades 9 and 10. In social studies: world and U.S. studies to 1900 and 20th/21st centuries. In English/language arts: reading and language arts. In technology/life skills: 4 credits in work-based learning and career courses.
Wisconsin	13		4		3		2		2		0.5		1.5		—		0		—	No		—
Wyoming	13		4		3		3		3		†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	†	⁴	—	No		In social studies: history, American government, and economic institutions.

—Not available.
† Not applicable.
¹ For this state, credits listed under health are for health and physical education combined.
² Exit exam policy under development or takes effect after 2004.
³ For this state, credits listed under arts are for either visual/performing arts or foreign language.
⁴ Graduation requirements are determined locally.
⁵ Florida offers 3 programs: 4-year, 24-credit; 3-year, 18-credit college-prep; and 3-year, 18-credit career-prep.
⁶ Values are based on semester credits.
⁷ Credits listed are for college-bound students.
⁸ For this state, credits listed under foreign language are for either foreign language or advanced technology.
⁹ Unlimited elective credits.
¹⁰ 100 minutes/week total of health and physical education.
¹¹ For this state, credits listed under mathematics are for mathematics and science combined.
NOTE: Local school districts frequently have other graduation requirements in addition to state requirements. The Carnegie unit is a standard of measurement that represents 1 credit for the completion of a 1-year course.
SOURCE: Council of Chief State School Officers, Key State Education Policies on PK–12 Education: 2004; and supplemental information from several state education agencies. (This table was prepared June 2006.)

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