High School Graduation Requirements

All public high school students must meet minimum state graduation requirements to earn a diploma and graduate. These graduation requirements are considered the Future-Ready Course of Study (FRC) requirements and prepare students for post-secondary success.

All students must earn at least 22 credits in the Future-Ready Course of Study to graduate from high school. The Future-Ready Course graduation requirements ensure that a student is prepared for life and whatever pathway they choose after they graduate, workplace, colleges/university or the military. Below are the specific course requirements.

The Occupational Course of Study is available for those students with disabilities who are specifically identified for the program and has adapted course requirements and the same credit requirements as FRC. Below are the specific course requirements.

Although the state requires a designated number of courses and credits for students to graduate high school, local school districts and other public school units may require additional courses and credits to graduate. Families and students are strongly encouraged to check with their high school to determine if their district and/or school have additional requirements for students to earn a high school diploma.

Tab/Accordion Items

Future-Ready Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 in 2021-2022 and beyond

Students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2021-2022 or afterwards must pass the following courses and earn at least 22 credits:

Four sequential English credits which shall be:
  1. English I
  2. English II
  3. English III
  4. English IV
Four Mathematics credits which shall be either:
  1. NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans
  2. In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, except as limited by N.C.G.S. §115C-81(b), the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two additional courses identified on the NC DPI Math options chart.

Note: Credit shall be awarded for Math I, II, III if taken prior to the 2016-17 school year.

Three Science credits which shall be:
  1. a physical science course
  2. Biology
  3. an earth/environmental science course
Four Social Studies credits which shall be:
  1. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
  2. Economics and Personal Finance
  3. American History
  4. World History
One Health and Physical Education credit:
  1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
  2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
Two Elective credits of any combination from either:
  1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
  2. Arts Education or
  3. World Language

Note: For clarification, possible elective combinations may include 2 World Language credits; or 1 CTE credit and 1 Arts Education credit; or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education credit and 1 World Language credit; or other combinations from a, b and c.

Four Elective credits from the following (four-course concentration recommended):
  1. Career and Technical Education (CTE)
  2. ROTC
  3. Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)
  4. Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and dual enrollment courses)
NOTE: Beginning in fall 2022, students entering Grade 6 and subsequently entering Grade 9 for the first time in 2025-26 shall have at least one arts education course in grades 6-12.
  1. Students must complete the standard course of study (no local electives) for a given arts education course in its entirety to satisfy this requirement. After-school activities or partial courses do not fulfill this graduation requirement.
  2. Students who transfer into a public school unit beginning in the ninth grade or later may be exempt, if such a requirement would prevent a student from graduating with the graduation cohort to which the student was assigned when transferring.

Future-Ready Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 in 2020-2021

Students who entered ninth grade for the first time in 2020-2021 must pass the following courses and earn at least 22 credits:

Four sequential English credits which shall be:
  1. Starting with English I
  2. English II
  3. English III
  4. English IV
Four Mathematics credits which shall be either:
  1. NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans
  2. In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, except as limited by N.C.G.S. §115C-81(b), the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two additional courses identified on the NC DPI Math options chart.
Three Science credits which shall be:
  1. a physical science course
  2. Biology
  3. an earth/environmental science course
Four Social Studies credits which shall be:
  1. A founding principles course which shall be either:
    1. American History: Founding Principles, Civics and Economics
    2. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
    1. American History I
    2. American History II
    3. American History

    NOTE: It is strongly recommended that these students take World History in the first year of their high school Social Studies course sequence due to the nature of the adoption of the new Social Studies Standard Course of Study effective in 2021-22. Economics and Personal Finance is strongly recommended to be offered later in the student's high school career.

    One Health and Physical Education credit:
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Two Elective credits of any combination from either:
    1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
    2. Arts Education or
    3. World Language

    Note: For clarification, possible elective combinations may include 2 World Language credits; or 1 CTE credit and 1 Arts Education credit; or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education credit and 1 World Language credit; or other combinations from a, b and c.

    Four Elective credits from the following (four-course concentration recommended):
    1. Career and Technical Education (CTE)
    2. ROTC
    3. Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)
    4. Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and dual enrollment courses)

    Future-Ready Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 between 2014-2015 and 2019-2020

    Students who entered ninth grade for the first time in 2014-2015 must pass the following courses and earn at least 22 credits:

    Four sequential English credits which shall be:
    1. Starting with English I
    2. English II
    3. English III
    4. English IV
    Four Mathematics credits which shall be either:
    1. NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans
    2. In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, except as limited by N.C.G.S. §115C-81(b), the student will be required to pass: NC Math 1 and Math 2 plus two additional courses identified on the NC DPI Math options chart.

    Note: Credit shall be awarded for Math I, II, III if taken prior to the 2016-17 school year.

    Three Science credits which shall be:
    1. a physical science course
    2. Biology
    3. an earth/environmental science course
    Four Social Studies credits which shall be:

    Effective 2020-21:

    a. a founding principles course which shall be either:

    1. American History: Founding Principles, Civics and Economics
    2. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy (Note: These courses must follow the NCSCOS in its entirety and may not be satisfied by any other courses).

    b. American history courses which shall be either:

    1. American History I and American History II
    2. American History I or II and another Social Studies course
    3. American History and another Social Studies course

    c. World History

    Prior to 2020-21:

    1. American History: Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics (Note: This course must follow the NCSCOS in its entirety and may not be satisfied by any other courses).
    2. American History I
    3. American History II
    4. World History
    One Health and Physical Education credit:
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Two Elective credits of any combination from either:
    1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or
    2. Arts Education or
    3. World Language

    Note: For clarification, possible elective combinations may include 2 World Language credits; or 1 CTE credit and 1 Arts Education credit; or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education credit and 1 World Language credit; or other combinations from a, b and c.

    Four Elective credits from the following (four-course concentration recommended):
    1. Career and Technical Education (CTE)
    2. ROTC
    3. Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)
    4. Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and dual enrollment courses)

    Occupational Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 in 2021-2022

    Students following the Occupational Course of Study entering ninth grade for the first time in 2021-2022 must pass the following 22 credits plus any local requirements:

    Four English credits that shall be:
    1. English I
    2. English II
    3. English III
    4. English IV
    Four Mathematics credits that shall be:
    1. Introduction to Mathematics
    2. NC Math I
    3. Financial Management
    4. Employment Preparation IV: Math (to include 150 work hours)
    Three Science credits that shall be:
    1. Applied Science
    2. Biology
    3. Employment Preparation I: Science (to include 150 work hours)
    Four Social Studies credits that shall be:
    1. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
    2. Economics and Personal Finance
    3. Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A (to include 75 work hours)
    4. Employment Preparation II: Citizenship IB (to include 75 work hours)
    One Health and Physical Education credit:
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Two Additional Employment Preparation Education credits, which shall be:
    1. Employment Preparation III: Citizenship II A (to include 75 work hours)
    2. Employment Preparation III: Citizenship II B (to include 75 work hours)

    The work hours included in Employment Preparation I, II, III, IV shall be as follows:

    1. 150 hours of school-based training work with activities and experiences that align with student's post school goals, and
    2. 225 hours of community-based training, and
    3. 225 hours of paid employment or 225 hours of unpaid vocational training, unpaid internship, paid employment at community rehabilitation facilities, and volunteer and/or community services hours.
    4. Total work hours: 600
    Four Career/Technical Education Elective credits
    A career portfolio
    Completion of the student’s IEP objectives

    Occupational Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 in 2020-2021

    Students following the Occupational Course of Study who entered ninth grade for the first time in 2020-2021 must pass the following 22 credits plus any local requirements:

    Four English credits that shall be:
    1. English I
    2. English II
    3. English III
    4. English IV
    Three Mathematics credits that shall be:
    1. Introduction to Mathematics
    2. NC Math I
    3. Financial Management
    Two Science credits that shall be:
    1. Applied Science
    2. Biology
    Two Social Studies credits that shall be:
    1. Founding Principles, Civics and Economics or Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
    2. Economics and Personal Finance
    One Health and Physical Education credit:
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Six Occupational Preparation Education Credits and 600 work hours, which shall be:
    1. Occupational Preparation I or Employment Preparation I: Science
    2. Occupational Preparation II or Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A and Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1B
    3. Occupational Preparation III or Employment Preparation III: Citizenship IIA and Employment Preparation III: Citizenship II B
    4. Occupational Preparation IV or Employment Preparation IV: Math

    The work hours shall include:

    1. 150 hours of school-based training with work activities and experiences that align with student’s post school goals, and
    2. 225 hours of community-based training, and
    3. 225 hours of paid employment or 225 hours of unpaid vocational training, unpaid internship, paid employment at community rehabilitation facilities, and volunteer and/or community services hours.
    4. Total work hours: 600
    Four Career/Technical Education Elective credits
    A career portfolio
    Completion of the student’s IEP objectives

    Occupational Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020

    Students following the Occupational Course of Study who entered ninth grade for the first time between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 must pass the following 22 credits plus any local requirements:

    Four English credits that shall be:
    1. English I
    2. English II
    3. English III
    4. English IV
    Three Mathematics credits that shall be:
    1. Introduction to Mathematics
    2. NC Math I
    3. Financial Management
    Two Science credits that shall be:
    1. Applied Science
    2. Biology
    Two Social Studies credits that shall be:
    1. American History: Founding Principles, Civics and Economics or Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
    2. American History I or American History II or American History
    One Health and Physical Education credit:
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Six Occupational Preparation Education credits and 600 work hours, which shall be:
    1. Occupational Preparation I or Employment Preparation I: Science
    2. Occupational Preparation II or Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A and Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1B
    3. Occupational Preparation III or Employment Preparation III: Citizenship IIA and Employment Preparation III: Citizenship II B
    4. Occupational Preparation IV or Employment Preparation IV: Math

    The work hours shall include:

    1. 150 hours of school-based training with work activities and experiences that align with student’s post school goals, and
    2. 225 hours of community-based training, and
    3. 225 hours of paid employment or 225 hours of unpaid vocational training, unpaid internship, paid employment at community rehabilitation facilities, and volunteer and/or community services hours.
    4. Total work hours: 600
    Four Career/Technical Education Elective credits
    A career portfolio
    Completion of the student’s IEP objectives

    Occupational Course of Study (22 credits): Students entering Grade 9 in 2014-2015

    Students following the Occupational Course of Study who entered ninth grade for the first time in 2014-2015 must pass the following 22 credits plus any local requirements:

    Four English credits that shall be:
    1. English I
    2. English II
    3. English III
    4. English IV
    Three Mathematics credits that shall be:
    1. Financial Management
    2. Introduction to Mathematics
    3. NC Math I
    Two Science credits that shall be:
    1. Biology
    2. Applied Science
    Two Social Studies credits that shall be:
    1. American History II
    2. American History I
    One Health and Physical Education credit
    1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.
    2. Accommodations/alternative assessments for students identified by ADA or IDEA will be provided.
    Six Occupational Preparation Education credits and 600 work hours, which shall be:
    1. Occupational Preparation I or Employment Preparation I: Science
    2. Occupational Preparation II or Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A and Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1B
    3. Occupational Preparation III or Employment Preparation III: Citizenship IIA and Employment Preparation III: Citizenship II B
    4. Occupational Preparation IV or Employment Preparation IV: Math

    The work hours shall include:

    1. 150 hours of school-based training with work activities and experiences that align with student’s post school goals, and
    2. 225 hours of community-based training, and
    3. 225 hours of paid employment or 225 hours of unpaid vocational training, unpaid internship, paid employment at community rehabilitation facilities, and volunteer and/or community services hours.
    4. Total work hours: 600