Graduation Requirements | Chicago Public Schools

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.

2023 5-Year
Graduation Rate

2023 4-Year
Graduation Rate

CPS Minimum High School Graduation Requirements

The following 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. To see how all courses in CPS’ High School Course Catalog align to the graduation requirements below, please visit CPS' High School Course Catalog.

Credit-Bearing Graduation Requirements
(earned by completing coursework; 24 credits are required in total)

Career Ed / JROTC

1.0 credit in any Career Technical Education and/or JROTC III / IV courses.

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

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

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

2.0 total credits may be earned in the same Fine Arts category or any combination of categories (Dance, Music, Drama/Theatre, Visual Art).

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

Please Note: Students who earned HS competency or credit in elementary school, still need to earn three credits of math while in HS. i.e. Geometry (1.0 Credit); Advanced Algebra/Trig (1.0 Credit); Advanced Math courses (1.0)

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

However, please note 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.

Biology (1.0 credit); Chemistry (1.0 credit); Physics (1.0 credit).

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.

2.0 total credits in the same World Language.

3.0 total credits in any academic courses after meeting graduation requirements.

Non-Credit-Bearing Graduation Requirements
(completed as part of coursework or other activities)

District-Wide Assessment (DWA)

Must take the SAT or DLM-AA

Financial Education (Formerly Consumer Ed)

Must complete a course that integrates a unit of study on Financial Education, aligned to state standards, into its curriculum.

Financial Aid Application

Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the RISE Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Public Act 101-0180).

Must complete a course that integrates Drivers Education into its curriculum.

Must complete a course that integrates Health Education into its curriculum.

Postsecondary Plan (Learn.Plan.Succeed.)

Must provide evidence of a plan for life beyond high school.

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

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

Notes:

1. 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 contact Beata Arceo at barceo@cps.edu to make an appointment for foreign transcript evaluation.
2. The Dual Enrollment program allows eligible students to earn college credit while attending high school. The college credit earned is transferable to many four year colleges or universities.
3. 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.

Course Equivalents and Alternative Requirements

College Credit

CPS high school students can take rigorous college-level academic classes and earn college credit at no cost prior to starting their postsecondary education. CPS is committed to helping students get a head start on earning college credit while they are still in high school. View Programming Pathways.

English Learner

An English Learner (EL) 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 the EL-program eligibility. Please note that ESL I, II, III and Transition English I-IV (not ESL Communication) courses count toward the four years of English required for graduation. When those courses are taught as a double-period, only one of the credits will count toward the English requirement and the other one will count as an elective. The English Literacy Proficiency Level (LitPL), based on the most recent screener or ACCESS assessment, will determine placement in the ESL course sequence. ELs enrolled in a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) program, also receive native language or sheltered English instruction in core content courses, as appropriate. ELs in a Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) receive sheltered English instruction in all core content courses, as appropriate. Learn More about the English Learners Program.

Diverse Learner

Diverse Learners receiving special education and related services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are expected to graduate with a regular diploma by the last day of the school year within which the student celebrates their 22nd birthday. Diverse Learners are expected to meet the same graduation requirements as their non-disabled peers. Such graduation criteria may, however, be modified by the student’s IEP. For additional information regarding curriculum, grades, promotion, and graduation for diverse learners, please refer to the IDEA Procedural Manual. Please reach out to your school counselor or special education case manager with any questions and concerns. Learn more about special education.

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 and consult with the school’s guidance department to select courses that support their long-term goals. Further information can also be found online at cps.edu/academics/.