High School

Graduation Requirements

• High School Graduation Requirements
  Information on high school graduation requirements, state minimum course requirements, and courses required for university admission.
• Algebra I Graduation Requirements
  Frequently-asked questions for Algebra I graduation requirements.
• Mathematics Graduation Requirements
  Information on minimum graduation requirements for mathematics.
• California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
  Assistance for students and schools with the administration of the CAHSEE. All California public school students, except eligible students with disabilities, must satisfy the CAHSEE requirement, as well as all other state and local requirements, in order to receive a high school diploma.
• Science Graduation Requirement
  Science requirements for high school graduation.

Career and College Readiness

• Advanced Placement
  Incentives for public high schools to provide access to rigorous, college-level courses.
• California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT)
  Provides an overview of the California Career Pathways Trust created by Assembly Bill 86.
• California Career Resource Network (CalCRN)
  The CalCRN program provides career development resources, and training materials to middle school and high school students, counselors, educators, and administrators.
• Golden State Pathways Program
  Provides an overview of the Golden State Pathways Program established in 2022.
• California Partnership Academies
  The academy model is a three-year program, grades 10-12, structured as a school-within-a-school. Academies incorporate integrated academic and career technical education, viable business partnerships, mentoring and internships.
• Dual Enrollment Strategies
  This page provides information on two competitive grant programs to expand dual enrollment opportunities and pertinent statutes that concern Educational Enrichment Opportunities, Early College High Schools (ECHS), Middle College High Schools (MCHS) and College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnrships.
• Early College High Schools and Middle College High Schools Frequently Asked Questions
  Answers to frequently asked questions about the Early College High Schools and Middle College High Schools.
• Early Assessment Program
  A collaborative effort between the California Department of Education, the California State University, and the State Board of Education designed to assess students for college readiness in their high school junior year.
• Focus on Learning – Joint WASC/CDE Process
  An evaluation process designed to be used by public high schools in California that choose to pursue accreditation requirements.
• International Baccalaureate Program
  Two-year comprehensive and rigorous pre-university curriculum.
• Specialized Secondary Programs
  Specialized Secondary Program provides schools with startup funds to develop and implement advanced learning opportunities for students in at least grades ten through twelve.
  

Career Technical Education

• Career-Technical Education
  A program of study that involves a multi-year sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge that provides students with a pathway to postsecondary education and careers. Information is provided on career-technical academic content areas and Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCP) among other popular career-technical topics.

Programs for Special Populations

• Advanced Placement (AP)
  AP programs provide incentives for public comprehensive high schools in California to provide access to rigorous, college-level courses, while still in secondary school and receive college credit, for advanced academic standing, or both.
• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
  AVID is a middle through senior high school program to prepare students in the middle achievement level with the potential to succeed in rigorous secondary curriculum and achieve four-year college eligibility.
• California Community Schools Partnership Program
  A community school is a “whole-child” school improvement strategy where the district and school work closely with teachers, students, families, and partners.
• Educational Options
  Educational options are school and program alternatives that provide students with choices in the environment, type of instruction curriculum, and support systems needed to ensure that they achieve their full academic potential. Details can be found on Alternative Schools and Programs, Continuation High Schools, Community Day Schools, Opportunity Education, and Independent Study among many other educational options.
• Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
  The GATE program provides challenging curriculum and instruction to gifted and talented students capable of achieving significantly beyond the level of their peers.
• International Baccalaureate
  The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum leading to an International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Current Resources for Educators

• Blue Ribbon Schools
  Blue Ribbon Schools is a federal No Child Left Behind program that celebrates many of America's most successful schools. Its goal is to promote and support the improvement of education in America.
• California Career Resource Network (CalCRN)
  The CalCRN program provides career development resources, and training materials to middle school and high school students, counselors, educators, and administrators.
• California School Recognition Program
  The California School Recognition Program recognizes some of the states most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for these awards are strong, well-rounded community schools.
• Content Standards
  The California Content Standards are at the core of K-12 education. The standards, in tandem with the corresponding curriculum frameworks, are designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.
• Curriculum Frameworks
  The State Board of Education adopts curriculum frameworks for kindergarten through grade twelve in the content areas of mathematics, reading/language arts, science, history-social science, visual and performing arts, foreign language, health, and physical education.
• Learning Support
  Providing resources and instructional strategies that give students the physical, social, emotional and intellectual support needed to learn. Details can be found on attendance improvement, before & after school programs, counseling/student support, health, parent/family/community, safe schools and other programs.
• High School Class Size Reduction
  Also known as the Morgan Hart Program to Reduce Class Size, this program is one of 39 budget act items for which application and funding requirements are suspended until 2012.
• Service Learning
  Service-learning is an instructional strategy whereby students learn academic content standards by participating in organized service that addresses community needs and fosters civic responsibility.

Archived Resources

All High School Programs and Resources (A-Z)