High School Graduation

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. Please note that school districts and charter schools may, at their discretion, establish additional graduation credit requirements for their students.

Summary of High School Graduation Credit Requirements — Graduating Class of 2017 Forward
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.

Testing Requirements

Civics Test

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. 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.

AzMERIT

Passing AzMERIT is not a state requirement for graduation; however, local schools may choose to develop their own academic requirements related to the AzMERIT assessment. AzMERIT is part of the Menu of Assessments that a school district or charter school may choose to administer to high school students in the 2018-2019 school year. Communication on which assessment the system has chosen to administer to high school students will be communicated by the school district or charter school to parents. See the AzMERIT webpage for more information about this state level summative assessment.

Menu of Assessments

Pursuant to state statute, the State Board of Education adopted a menu of locally procured achievement assessments for grades 9-12, referred to as the Menu of Assessments, to measure pupil achievement of the state academic standards. Local school districts and charter schools will be able to select an assessment from the Menu to administer in high schools in lieu of the state assessment. Assessments on the menu must:
(1) Be high quality;
(2) Meet or exceed the level of rigor of the state academic standards; and
(3) Be able to be scaled for accountability purposes (A.R.S. 15-741.02).

AIMS

As of February 20, 2015, passing AIMS Reading, Writing and Mathematics is no longer required for graduation from high school.

Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

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Contact Quick Reference

ADE Main Line
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English or Language Arts
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Mathematics
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Science
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History & Social Science
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