Graduation Requirements

All students must earn 135 credits to graduate

Full-year courses	5 credits
Semester courses	2.5 credits

Grade Placement
Grade 10:	30 credits
Grade 11:	60 credits
Grade 12:	95 credits

Required courses for all students:
Language Arts Literacy	20 credits
PE/Health	20 credits
Mathematics	15 credits
Science	15 credits
United States History	10 credits
World Culture/World History	5 credits
World Language	5 credits
Visual or Performing Arts	5 credits
21st Century Life and Careers, or Career-Technical Education (Practical Arts)	5 credits
Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy (Financial Literacy)	2.5 credits

Additional Graduation Requirements:

Many four year colleges require students to have taken 2 consecutive years of a World Language. Students planning to continue their education at four year colleges are strongly encouraged to complete a minimum of 10 credits in the same World Language.
All students must enroll in a combination of a full year of Math or Science.
All students must be enrolled in at least 35 credits each of their four years.

NJ HS Graduation Assessment Requirements

NJ Department of Education Updates

Class of 2027 High School Graduation Assessment Requirements

First Pathway—NJGPA

Note: Cut Scores Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education on August 5, 2026

ELA	Mathematics
≥ 450 (Graduation Ready)	≥ 450 (Graduation Ready)

Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the NJGPA-A in grade 11.

Students who sat for the NJGPA-A in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA, mathematics or both by meeting the designated cut score on one of the assessments on the menu of substitute competency tests in the table for the second pathway (below).

Second Pathway – Menu of Substitute Competency Tests

Note: Cut Scores Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education on August 5, 2026

ELA	Mathematics
One of the following: ACT Reading ≥17 Accuplacer WritePlacer ≥5 Accuplacer WritePlacer English Second Language ≥4 PSAT10 Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) ≥420 PSAT10 Reading ≥21 PSAT/NMSQT EBRW ≥420 PSAT/NMSQT Reading ≥21 SAT EBRW ≥450 SAT Reading ≥23	One of the following: ACT Math ≥17 Accuplacer Elementary Algebra ≥49 Accuplacer Next-Generation QAS ≥250 PSAT10 Math Section or PSAT/NMSQT Math Section ≥420 Psat10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math ≥21 SAT Math Section ≥440 SAT Math Test ≥22

ELA

Mathematics

One of the following:

ACT Reading ≥17
Accuplacer WritePlacer ≥5
Accuplacer WritePlacer English Second Language ≥4
PSAT10 Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) ≥420
PSAT10 Reading ≥21
PSAT/NMSQT EBRW ≥420
PSAT/NMSQT Reading ≥21
SAT EBRW ≥450
SAT Reading ≥23

One of the following:

ACT Math ≥17
Accuplacer Elementary Algebra ≥49
Accuplacer Next-Generation QAS ≥250
PSAT10 Math Section or PSAT/NMSQT Math Section ≥420
Psat10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math ≥21
SAT Math Section ≥440
SAT Math Test ≥22

Important Notes:

As of 2019, Accuplacer Elementary Algebra is no longer administered.
Beginning in fall 2023, the following scores are no longer provided: PSAT Reading, PSAT/NMSQT Reading, PSAT 10 Math, and PSAT/NMSQT Math.
Beginning in 2024, the SAT Reading score and the SAT Math score are no longer provided.
For PSAT10, PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) has been simplified and now uses the naming convention Reading and Writing.

Note: This pathway is only available to students who have a valid score on either the NJGPA or the NJGPA-A.

Students who completed the NJGPA-A in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA, mathematics or both through a portfolio appeal in grade 12.

Third Pathway—Portfolio Appeals

ELA	Mathematics
Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA	Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for Mathematics

Website Link

ELA

English Language Arts (ELA)

If, after completing the NJGPA-A in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the ELA component, such students may access the following pathways:

Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.

ELA Requirement

Math

Mathematics

If, after completing the required NJGPA-A in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the mathematics component, such students may access the following pathways:

Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Math Requirement

FAFSA Requirement

Link

Under P.L. 2025, c.95, (amending P.L. 2023, c.295) to receive a high school diploma, a student in the graduating classes of 2026 or 2027 must:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application, or
Be exempted from the requirement in accordance with procedures outlined in the law.

If the student is under 18 years of age, the student’s school counselor may authorize a waiver if one cannot be reasonably obtained from the student’s parent or guardian.