The California Education Code (EC) establishes a minimum set of requirements for graduation from California high schools. The requirements should be viewed as minimums and support regulations established by local governing boards.

The University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) systems have established a uniform minimum set of courses required for admission as a freshman. The UC maintains public “a-g” course lists that provide complete information about the high school courses approved for admission to the university. In addition to the required courses, California public universities have other requirements for admission as a freshman.

* Beginning in 2005–06, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination prior to graduation, in addition to meeting course requirements.

Beginning in 2009–10, EC Section 60852.3 provides an exemption from meeting the CAHSEE requirement as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation for eligible students with disabilities who have an individualized education program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan.

Beginning January 1, 2010, students in foster care who transfer to a new school while in grades 11 or 12 may be able to graduate from high school without meeting the local graduation requirements that exceed the state minimum course requirements. In these cases, the district would need to conclude that the student would not reasonably be able to complete the additional local graduation requirements during the student’s remaining time in high school. See CDE Foster Youth Resources for additional information.

** Beginning with the 2012–13 school year (sunsets with the 2017–18 school year), EC Section 51225.3 provides that a district may choose to adopt a career technical education course as an optional high school graduation requirement. For more information about this requirement, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

*** Must be chosen from approved academic courses in history/social science, English, advanced mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social science, or visual and performing arts. See UC's public “a-g” course lists for approved courses at your high school.