Graduation Requirements

CPS high school graduation requirements were developed to prepare students for success after high school. Students have flexibility in choosing courses to meet the requirements.

As a CPS student or family, graduating from high school is the culmination of years of hard work and planning that will launch you into the next phase of your life in college or a career. But in order to get there, there are certain requirements that students must meet.

Graduation
Rates

Graduation rates among CPS students have been increasing steadily for the past seven years. As a district, we track these rates in two categories, students who graduate in 4 years and students who gradate in 5 years. This 4-5 year range is the ideal length of time needed to complete all the requirements needed to graduate.

Graduation rates 5 year

2019 5-Year
Graduation Rate

Graduation rates 4 year

2019 4-Year
Graduation Rate

Graduation Requirements

CPS’ graduation requirements were written with the intention of preparing our students for success in a variety of experiences after high school. While these requirements align to the entrance requirements for the state universities of Illinois, they were also written to prepare students for a variety of careers right out of high school. There is great flexibility in the exact courses that schools offer and students take to meet these requirements.

Entered 9th Grade in:

Career Ed / JROTC

2.0 credits in any Career Education and/or JROTC III / IV course(s)

Civics

0.5 credit in Civics or AP Government. (Must include 1 Service Learning Project)

Computer Science

1.0 credit in Computer Science (recommended in 9th grade)
 

Electives

3.0 total credits in any Academic courses

English / ESL

English I (1.0 credit); English II (1.0 credit); English III (1.0 credit); English IV (1.0 credit)

Fine Arts

2.0 total credits may be earned in the same Fine Arts category or any combination of categories Post-Secondary Plan (LPS) Must provide evidence of a Post-Secondary Plan
 

Public Law 195

Must complete a course that integrates the U.S. and Illinois constitutions into its curriculum

Science

Biology (1.0 credit); 2.0 credits from Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Science, or Physics

Financial Education (Formerly Consumer Ed)

Must complete a course that integrates Consumer Education into its curriculum
 

District-Wide Assessment (DWA)

Must take the SAT or DLM-AA

Drivers Ed

Must complete a course that integrates Drivers Education into its curriculum

Health Ed

Must complete a course that integrates Health Education into its curriculum
 

Math

Algebra (1.0 credit); Geometry (1.0 credit); Advanced Algebra/Trig (1.0 credit)

PE / JROTC

2.0 total credits must be earned in any PE class. Students must pass Health & Driver’s Education. JROTC also satisfies this requirement.**

Service Learning

Two classroom integrated (2) Service Learning Projects; one project must be completed in a Civics or AP Govt course
 

Social Science

World Studies (1.0 credit); U.S. History (1.0 credit); 0.5 credit minimum in Civics or AP Government (recommended one full year); 0.5 semester in any other social science course

World Language

2.0 total credits in the same World Language

Post-Secondary Plan (LPS)

Must provide evidence of a Post-Secondary Plan

*Note: Please review CPS’ Minimum HS Graduation Requirements policy for in-depth details.
**Per CPS Physical Education Policy, all high school students shall be scheduled in a physical education course each semester in every grade level (9-12) except when an exception has been authorized.

Graduation Requirements Guide

Download a summary copy of all graduation requirements with the guide below.

Download

Graduation requirements displayed on laptop

English Learner

If you are an English Learner (EL), you will take English as a Second Language (ESL) taught by an ELA- and ESL-endorsed teacher and all core content courses are aligned to academic standards and taught by an ESL and/or bilingual-endorsed teacher, according to your EL-program eligibility. Please note that ESL I, II, III and Transition English I-IV courses satisfy the four years of English required for graduation. Your English Literacy Proficiency Level (LitPL), based on your most recent screener or ACCESS assessment, will determine placement in the ESL course sequence. If you are enrolled in a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) program, you will also receive native language or sheltered English instruction in core content courses, as appropriate. If you are in a Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) you will receive sheltered English instruction in all core content courses, as appropriate.

Diverse Learner

Diverse Learners receiving special education and related services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are expected to graduate with a regular diploma unless they reach 22 years of age without fulfilling graduation requirements. Diverse Learners are expected to meet the same graduation requirements as their non-disabled peers unless the IEP modifies the graduation requirements in whole or in part. For questions regarding graduation for Diverse Learners, please call the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services at (773) 553-1800.

Sample Course of Study

The course of study below lists sample high school courses taken during each grade level. The graduation requirements satisfied during each grade level are also listed. The actual courses taken and graduation requirements satisfied annually may differ as this depends on: 1) the courses offered at each school and 2) each student’s particular goals and interests. Parents and students are encouraged to review CPS’ High School Course Catalog at: cps.edu/instructionalsupports and consult with the school’s guidance department to select courses that support their long-term goals.

See more

Subject Area (Credits Required) 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
English / English as a Second Language (4)
English I (ESL I)
English II (ESL II)
English III (ESL III)
English IV
(Transition English I)
Mathematics (3)
Algebra
Geometry
Advanced Algebra/
Trigonometry
  
Science (3)
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
  
Social Science (3)
World Studies
U.S. History (Public Law 195)
Civics
0.5 Civics required (suggested 1.0)
(Service Learning Project)
  
World Language (2)    
French I
French II
Fine Arts (2)  
Beginning Band
  
Photography
Physical Education (2)
P.E. I (Health)
P.E. II (Driver’s Ed)
    
Career Education (1)      
Dual Enrollment
Computer Science (1)
Exploring Computer Science
      
Electives (3)    
P.E. III
Pre-Calculus
P.E. IV
Service Learning Projects (2)
Project #1
Civics Project
Consumer Education/Financial Education unit of study
In accordance with Chicago Board of Education Guidelines
District-Wide Assessment (DWA)
In accordance with Chicago Board of Education Guidelines

Notes:

  1. For more information on the Minimum High School Graduation Requirements, please visit: Getting to the Next Grade
  2. In most cases, 1 credit is equivalent to 1 year in a particular course. However, there are courses in which other than 1 credit may be earned in a particular course. Credits from a previous school may transfer and be applied toward CPS’ graduation requirements. If credits are from a school outside of the United States, please call (773) 553-1936 and make an appointment with Beata Arceo for foreign transcript evaluation.
  3. The Dual Enrollment program allows eligible students to earn college credit while attending high school. The college credit earned is transferable to many fouryear colleges or universities.
  4. Students enrolled in a Career & Technical Education (CTE) program are recommended to start taking these courses in the 10th grade as many CTE programs are 3 years in length.