Forty-four semester credits are required for graduation. Students are expected to meet the California State Standards in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, fine and practical arts, and physical education. Students who are short in credits/credit deficient will not be permitted to participate in commencement or other senior activities.

English Language Arts: Eight semester credits; grade 9: Two credits; grade 10: Two credits; grades 11 and 12: Four credits, including 1 credit in a course that emphasizes American literature and three credits from a prescribed list of English courses. English credit will not be granted for high school graduation for drama, public speaking, or journalism. Drama qualifies for visual and performing arts credit and journalism qualifies for practical arts credit. English as a Second Language (ESL) may be used to fulfill the eight-semester English requirement.

Mathematics: Six semester credits. All students are required to pass six semester credits of mathematics including Algebra 1-2, Algebra Explorations or Interactive Mathematics Year 1; Geometry 1-2 or Interactive Mathematics Year 2; and one of the following: Intermediate Algebra, Unifying Algebra and Geometry, or Interactive Mathematics Year 3.

Physical Education: Four semester credits. Students must be enrolled in a physical education course in grade 9 and must earn four credits in grades 9-12.

Science:Six semester credits (three years) are required: one year of life science (biology or other University of California [UC]-approved laboratory science course in the ‘d’ subject area), one year of physical science (physics, chemistry, or other UC-approved laboratory science course in the ‘d’ subject area), and one additional year of UC-approved science coursework in the ‘d’ (laboratory science) or ‘g’ (elective) subject areas.

Social Studies: Six semester credits. Grade 9 or 10: Two credits in world history and geography; grade 11: Two credits in U.S. history and geography or advanced alternative; grade 12: One credit in government and one credit in economics, or two credits in an advanced alternative.

World Languages and Visual, Performing and Practical Arts: Three semester credits. Option A: Two semesters of a foreign language (a one-year course) and one semester of visual, performing, or practical arts. Option B: Two semesters of visual and/or performing arts and one semester of practical arts. Visual and performing arts includes courses in art, music, and drama/theater arts. Practical arts includes courses in business education, consumer and family studies, industrial education, vocational and occupational programs, instructional television, journalism, and yearbook.

Computer Literacy: Students can fulfill this requirement in one of two ways: completion of a computer education course or completion of an approved course that incorporates computer education and computer applications. A test may be used for grades 9-12 when a course is not accessible or possible.  

Additional Credits: Additional credits needed to reach a total of 44 credits may be earned by completing additional courses in the above areas and/or elective courses. Courses using languages other than English as the medium of instruction for students not fluent in English may be substituted to fulfill specific subject area requirements.

Senior Exhibition: Students are required to present a senior exhibition in order to receive a high school diploma. Information about exhibitions is available from individual school sites.