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Ohio Graduation Requirements

The State of Ohio changed its graduation requirements in summer of 2019. Below are the credits required for all LHS graduates. Following the credit chart is an outline by class what the additional requirements are as laid out in the new law.

Credit Requirements

Ohio requires students to take and complete a minimum of 20 required credits. State Minimum
English language arts 4 units
Health ½ unit
Mathematics 4 units1
Physical education ½ unit2
Science 3 units3
Social studies 3 units4
Electives 5 units5
Additional credits, if any, in district requirements 1 additional elective
Other Requirements
Economics and financial literacy6
Fine arts6

 

Class of 2020 

In Addition to Required Credits, Meet One of the Following Options:

  1. Ohio’s State Tests
    Students earn a cumulative passing score of 18 points, using seven end-of-course state tests. To ensure students are well rounded, they must earn a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies.

    End-of-course exams are: 
    • Algebra I7 and geometry or integrated math I and II
    • Biology
    • American history and American government
    • English I and English II

    Students studying Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in biology, American history or American government may take and substitute test scores for end-of-course state exams to avoid double testing. Students also may substitute grades from College Credit Plus courses in these science and social studies subjects for end-of-course state exams.

  2. Industry credential and workforce readiness
    Students earn 12 points through a State Board of Education-approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and achieve a workforce readiness score on the WorkKeys assessment. The state of Ohio will pay one time for those who take the WorkKeys assessment.
     
  3. College and career readiness tests
    Students earn “remediation-free” scores in English language arts and mathematics on a nationally recognized college admission exam. The state of Ohio will pay one time for all 11th grade students in the classes of 2018 and beyond to take either the ACT or SAT free of charge. The student’s district selection applies to all schools in the district for one school year. Test selection may change from one school year to the next,

 

Class of 2021 & 2022

In Addition to Required Credits, Meet One of the Following Options:
(Graphic overview of the requirements)
Option 1

Satisfy one of the three original pathways to graduation that were in place when you entered high school. The pathways include:  

  1. Ohio’s State Tests - Earn at least 18 points on seven end-of-course state tests. Each test score earns you up to five graduation points. You must have a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies.
     
  2. Industry credential and workforce readiness - Earn a minimum of 12 points by receiving a State Board of Education-approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and earn the required score on WorkKeys, a work-readiness test. The state of Ohio will pay one time for you to take the WorkKeys test.  
     
  3. College and career readiness tests - Earn remediation-free scores in mathematics and English language arts on either the ACT or SAT.  

Option 2

Satisfy the new graduation requirements for the classes of 2023 and beyond by: 

  1. Demonstrating Competency - Students will demonstrate competency in the foundational areas of English language arts and mathematics or through alternative demonstrations, which include College Credit Plus, career-focused activities or military enlistment.  

  1. Demonstrating Readiness - Students will demonstrate readiness for their post-high school paths by earning two seals that allow them to demonstrate important foundational and well-rounded academic and technical knowledge, professional skills, as well as develop key social and emotional competencies and leadership and reasoning skills.  

 

 

 

 

1 Mathematics units must include one unit of algebra II or the equivalent of algebra II. Exceptions: a) Algebra II is not a requirement for students following a career-technical pathway. However, students still must have four units in mathematics, and b) A family may decide that their child is not prepared to meet the graduation requirement for a higher level math course. Or, their child may be planning a career that does not require higher level math. Algebra II may not be a requirement for this student. Here is more information on Curriculum Choices.

2 Physical education - School districts may adopt a policy that would exempt students who participate in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading for two full seasons or an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program for two years from the physical education requirement. Students must take another course, which cannot be a physical education course, of at least 60 contact hours.

3 Science units must include one unit of physical sciences, one unit of life sciences and one unit of advanced study in one or more of the following sciences: chemistry, physics or other physical science; advanced biology or other life science; astronomy, physical geology or other earth or space science. Exception: A family may decide that their student is not prepared to meet the graduation requirement for a higher level science course. Or, their student may be planning a career that does not require higher level science. Higher level science may not be a requirement for this student. Here is more information on Curriculum Choices.

4 Social studies units must include ½ unit of American history and ½ unit of American government in three units required for the classes of 2018 and 2019. The class of 2021 will need ½ unit in world history and civilizations in their required three units as well as American history and American government.

5 Elective credits must include one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education or English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies courses not otherwise required.

6 Other state requirements - All students must receive instruction in economics and financial literacy during grades 9-12 and must complete at least two semesters of fine arts taken any time in grades 7-12. Fine arts is not a requirement for students following a career-technical pathway.