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 California High School Exit Examination (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.
Current CDE High School Priorities
- Assembly Bill 2648 Multiple Pathways
Information on the Assembly Bill 2648 Multiple Pathways Report.
- 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.
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.
- Early College High School
The California Department of Education partners with the Chancellor's Office for the California Community Colleges to support the Early College High School (ECHS) Initiative of the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
- 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.
- Online Education: California Directory of Online Schools and Programs
The California Directory of Online Schools and Programs provides a list of online schools and programs searchable by county. Each list includes grades served by online options, accreditation information, and the curriculum and programs offered.
- Online Education: Glossary of Terms Related to Online Education
The Glossary explains the terminology of online education.
- Online Education: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to Online Education
The FAQs help answer some of the more common inquiries about online education.
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.
- County –Regional Events, Conferences, and Training Opportunities
If you are looking for local professional development activities related to secondary education (middle and high school), contact one of the eleven Middle and High School Subcommittee Regional Leads of the Curriculum Instruction Steering Committee (CISC), California Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA).
- 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.
- Middle Grades Web Portal – TCS II
2001 publication designed to help California's educators implement standards-based education for middle grades students.
- 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.
- Virtual Library
The Virtual Library is a compilation of support and resources for school districts with high priority (low performing) schools. Categories include school reform, curriculum, and instruction strategies from low performing schools, grade span resources, and prevention/intervention tools.
High School List Serve
Archived Resources
- High School!
A best practice periodical addressing issues of interest about high school education in California.
- Aiming High: High Schools for the 21st Century
Aiming High and the Aiming High Toolkit were developed to help the school community address the myriad issues in implementing a standards-based educational system.
- 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.
All High School Programs and Resources (A-Z)