High School Graduation Information
High School Graduation Information
The Arizona State Board of Education establishes the requirements for graduation from high school. The minimum course of study and competency requirements are outlined in Title 7 Chapter 2 of The Arizona Administrative Code. The minimum course of study State Board Rule is R7-2-302.
Credit Requirements
The table below summarizes the minimum credit requirements for high school graduation in Arizona, starting with the graduating class of 2017. Please note that school districts and charter schools may, at their discretion, establish additional graduation credit requirements for their students.
| SUBJECT | CREDITS |
| English or English as a Second Language | 4 credits |
| Mathematics | 4 credits |
| Science | 3 credits |
| History & Social Science | 3 credits |
| Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education | 1 credit |
| Locally Prescribed Courses | 7 credits |
Key highlights from R7-2-302 are listed below.
Mathematics (1) Three credits containing course content in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment and aligned to the Arizona Mathematics Standards for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. These three credits shall be taken beginning with the ninth grade unless a student meets these requirements prior to the ninth grade. (2) The requirement for the third credit covering Algebra II, may be met by, but is not limited to the following: a math course comparable to Algebra II course content; computer science, career and technical education and vocational education, economics, science and arts courses as determined by the local school district governing board or charter school. (3) The mathematics requirements may be modified for students using a Personal Curriculum.
Science (4) Three credits of science in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment.
History and Social Science (5) History and Social Science will minimally consist of one credit of American history, including Arizona history; one credit world history/geography; and one-half credit of government and one-half credit of economics. NOTE: Specific course requirements are outlined in R7-2-302.
Civics Test and Administration Manual
Beginning with the graduating class of 2017, high school graduates are required to pass (60/100) a civics test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Special education students with an Individualized Education Plan are only required to pass the civics test if it is mentioned in the student's IEP. As a courtesy, the Arizona Department of Education, with help from the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and Arizona educators, has developed a mostly multiple choice version of the required test.
Updates:
For all students to meet the civics test graduation requirement, please use the 2008 USCIS (linked above) test. There is a 2020 test with additional questions that the Trump administration created. It is only an option for a small number of immigrants that applied for and were interviewed during a short period of time. The Biden administration chose to return to the 2008 test and that is the test you will use for students to meet the graduation requirement. The current passing rate for students is 60/100 for students graduating from 2022 to 2025.
New Legislation Signed in 2022: There is new legislation that was signed into law in 2022 that requires students graduating in 2026 and after must have a passing score of 70/100. If a student graduates in 2026, and has already taken the civics test and scored a 60-69, they will need to retest and score a 70/100 sometime before they graduate in 2026.
Districts must also collect the following data by grade level: media score, percentage of passing students, and percentage of failing students. No personal student data is to be collected.
Civics Test Reporting Information:
Beginning in 2023-2023, LEAs are now required to report civics test aggregate data by grade level. We have created an informational flyer with links you can use. If you have any questions regarding the reporting of civics test data, please email K12 Standards at [email protected].
AzM2/AzMERIT has been replaced by Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) for grades 3-8 and by ACT Aspire for grade 9 and ACT for grade 11.
Passing the above tests is not a requirement for graduation; however, local schools may choose to develop their own academic requirements. See the assessment webpage for more information about the statewide summative assessments.
