The National Education Association says Utah's school system is one of the nation's best in how well it prepares students for college. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives Utah a grade of 'A' for students' college preparedness (www.nea.org). High school serves as the foundation for how bright your future will become, so take advantage of the great educational system that the state has to offer.
Utah's High School Graduation Requirements
Traditional
Utah's State Office of Education (www.usoe.k12.ut.us) gives the following minimum high school courses as required in order for a student to graduate:
- 3 units Language Arts
- 2 units Math (Elem. Algebra or Applied Mathematics II are the minimum)
- 2 units Science (choose from Earth Systems, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
- 2.5 units Social Studies (from Geography for Life, World Civilizations, U.S. History, and U.S. Government and Citizenship)
- 1.5 units Arts (Visual Arts, Dance, or Theatre)
- Physical and Health Education (Health, Participation Skills, Fitness for Life, and Individualized Lifetime Activities)
- Applied Technology Education.
Students must also complete Education Technology courses:
- Computer Technology (0.5 credit)
- Successful completion of a state-approved technology competency exam may also result in this credit being awarded
Electronic High School
Utah students can also attain their high school diploma through the Electronic High School (EHS) program. It is intended for students who are home-schooled, for those who have dropped out and their class has already graduated, and for those referred by the district. Unfortunately, students from out of state cannot be eligible for the program. The EHS has been in operation since 1994, and provides an assortment of courses to students across the world. Additional courses are added every year as funding and interest permit. The EHS courses have been developed by master teachers and are tied to Utah State Core standards and objectives.
