Graduation Requirements
The California Education Code (EC) establishes a minimum set of requirements for graduation from California high schools. The following information is for a Diploma Track at Princeton High School.
| High School Subject Are |
State Mandated Requirements*
Ed Code 51225.3
For High School Graduation
|
UC Requirements for Freshman Admissions | CSU Requirements for Freshman Admissions | |
| English | Four Years (40 credits) | Four years approved courses | Four years of approved courses | |
|
Mathmatics
|
Three years (30 credits), including Algebra I, beginning in 2003–04. Algebra 1 requirement met Integrated Math 1.
(EC 51224.5)
|
Three years, including algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra.
Four years recommended.
|
Three years, including algebra, intermediate algebra, and geometry. | |
|
History
/
Social Studies
|
Three years of history/social studies, including one year of U.S. History (10 credits); one year (10 credits) of World History; one semester (5 credits ) of American Government - Civics, and one semester (5 credits) of Economics. | Two years of history/social science, including one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government; and one year of world history, cultures, and geography. | Two years, including one year of U.S. history or U.S. history and government and one year of other approved social science. | |
| Science | Two years, including one year (10 credits) Life Science (Biology, Ag. Biology, or Anatomy/Physiology, animal Anatamy/Plant Physiology) and one year (10 credits) Physical Science (Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics, or Intro. Ag. Earth Science). | Two years with lab required, chosen from biology, chemistry, and physics.
Three years recommended.
|
Two years, including one year of biological and one year of physical science with lab. | |
| Foreign Language | One year (10 credits) of either Visual and Performing Arts, Foreign Language, or Career Technical Education**. |
Two years in same language required.
Three years recommended.
|
Two years in same language required. | |
| Visual and Performing Arts | One year (10 credits) of either Visual and Performing Arts, Foreign Language, or Career Technical Education**. | One year of visual and performing arts chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art. | One year of visual and performing arts chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art. | |
| Physical Education | Two years (20 Credits) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
| Career Choices | One semester (5 Credits) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
| State Requirements | One semester - Health (5 Credits) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
| Electives | Four years (70 credits) | One Year***Must Be College Prep "P" course | One Year***Must Be College Prep "P" course | |
| Post High School Prep | One Semester (5 Credits) Senior year **Princeton Jr./Sr. High School requirement | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
|
Total
|
High School Diploma
235 Credits
(with credit requirements met in each subject area)
|
See College Admissions Requirements
|
See College Admissions Requirements |
* SUSPENDEDfor the 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 school years.: click here for more information. Senate Bill (SB) 172 (Liu) was signed by Governor Brown on October 7, 2015. This law suspends the administration of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) and the requirement that students completing grade twelve successfully pass the high school exit examination as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation from high school for the 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 school years. The law also requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to grant a diploma to any student who completed grade twelve in the 2003–04 school year, or a subsequent school year, and has met all applicable graduation requirements other than passage of the high school exit examination. The law will not take effect until January 1, 2016, at which time LEAs shall be permitted to issue diplomas to eligible students.Beginning in 2005–06, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination prior to graduation, in addition to meeting course requirements.
Beginning in 2009–10, EC Section 60852.3 provides an exemption from meeting the CAHSEE requirement as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation for eligible students with disabilities who have an individualized education program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan.
Beginning January 1, 2010, students in foster care who transfer to a new school while in grades 11 or 12 may be able to graduate from high school without meeting the local graduation requirements that exceed the state minimum course requirements. In these cases, the district would need to conclude that the student would not reasonably be able to complete the additional local graduation requirements during the student’s remaining time in high school. These students would still be required to pass the CAHSEE. See CDE Foster Youth Resources for additional information.
** Beginning with the 2012–13 school year (sunsets with the 2017–18 school year), EC Section 51225.3 provides that a district may choose to adopt a career technical education course as an optional high school graduation requirement. For more information about this requirement, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
*** Must be chosen from approved academic courses in history, English, advanced mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social science, or fine arts. See UC Doorways for approved courses at your high school.
