isbe.net
Illinois graduation requirements 105 ILCS 5/27-22, 27-22.05, 27-22.10
October 2022
Entering 9th Grade in
Requirement Description of Requirement
SY 2016-
2022
SY 2022-
2023
SY 2023-
2024
SY 2024-
2025 thru
2027-2028
SY 2028-
2029 (and
beyond
Language
Arts
4 years: 1 year must include a writing-intensive English
course.
3 3 3 3 3
Writing-
Intensive
2 years: 1 year must be in an English course; 1 year can be
embedded as part of any course offered. Can be counted
toward the fulllment of other graduation requirements.
3 3 3 3 3
Mathematics
3 years: Algebra I or integrated equivalent (1 year); non-
specied course, including geometry content (1 year);
Advanced Placement (AP) computer science is eligible.
3 3 3 3 3
Computer
Literacy
One year of a course that includes intensive instruction in
computer literacy, which may be English, social science,
or any other subject and which may be counted toward the
fulllment of other graduation requirements. (PA 101-0654)
3 3 3 3
Science
2 years: no content specied.
3 3 3
2 years of laboratory science: no content specied.*
3 3
Social
Science
2 years: Must include 1 year of U.S. History or a
combination of U.S. History and American government; 1
semester of civics.
3 3 3 3 3
IL/US
Constitution
American patriotism, principles of representative
government, and proper use and display of the ag (105
ILCS 5/27-3 and 27-4). Passing score on examination
required for high school graduation.
3 3 3 3 3
World/Foreign
Languages
2 years of world languages, may include American Sign
Language.*
3
Electives
1 year selected from art, music, world languages (may
include American Sign Language), or career and technical
education (CTE).
3
1 year selected from art, music, world languages (may
include American Sign Language), CTE, or forensic speech
(speech and debate).
3 3 3
1 year selected from art, music, CTE, or a third year of world
languages (may include American Sign Language), or
forensic speech (speech and debate).*
3
Free
Application
for Federal
Student Aid
(FAFSA)
File a FAFSA with the U.S. Department of Education or, if
applicable, an application for state nancial aid or le a
waiver with school district. (See 105 ILCS 5/22-87 for details.)
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/FAFSA.aspx
3 3 3 3 3
Assessment
Each student shall be required to complete the state’s nal
accountability assessment at the highest grade or level
assessed.
3 3 3 3 3
*Does not apply to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Note — Any diploma conferred during the 2019-20 school year, including during the summer of 2020,
under graduation requirements that were modied by an Executive Order, emergency rule-making,
or school policy prompted by a gubernatorial disaster proclamation as a result of COVID-19 is deemed
valid and is not subject to challenge or review due to a failure to meet minimum requirements
otherwise required by this code, administrative rule, or school board policy. (PA 101-0643)
isbe.net
Instructional and graduation requirements by content area
October 2022
1
National Research Council. 2006. America’s lab report: Investigations in high school science.
Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
This document is intended to provide guidance on state required courses and compulsory units of study in which students
must earn credit for conferral of a high school diploma. Other participatory instructional requirements can be found on the
Illinois Mandated Units of Study document. These include Health Education, Physical Education, Consumer Education, and
Computer Literacy.
Assessments
Department: Assessments Contact: assessment@isbe.net
Each student shall be required to have accrued at least 16 units in Grades 9-12 if graduating from a four-year school or 12 units in Grades 10-
12 if graduating from a three-year high school unless exempt. In either case, one unit shall be in American History or American History and
Government. (See Section 27-22 of the School Code.) No student shall receive certication of graduation without passing an examination
on the subjects discussed in subsection (b)(4). Districts shall ensure that students who have not taken the state’s nal accountability
assessment at the highest grade or level assessed shall not receive a regular high school diploma. In accordance with Section 2- 3.64a-5 of
the School Code, districts (with approval from ISBE) may issue a regular high school diploma to a student who has not met this requirement.
Language Arts: 4 Years
Department: Standards and Instruction Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
• Two years of writing-intensive coursework, one of which must be in an English language arts course.
• One year of language arts may be a transitional English course.
• Spanish language arts is eligible.
Mathematics: 3 Years
Department: Standards and Instruction Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
• One year of Algebra 1.
• One year of geometry content. A mathematics course that includes geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
interdisciplinary, or career and technical education course that prepares a student for a career readiness path.
• Advanced Placement (AP) computer science course is eligible. The description for an AP computer science course shall indicate that the
course is equivalent to a high school mathematics course and qualies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for purposes of the
fulllment of state graduation requirements in mathematics. (Section 27-22 (f-5) of the School Code.)
Science: 2 Years
Department: Standards and Instruction Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
• Two years non-specic course sequences or content. Must include laboratory component.
• For a science course to be considered a “laboratory course,” all enrolled students must engage regularly in laboratory investigations. ISBE
recommends that students in laboratory courses engage in laboratory investigations at least once per week, but the exact frequency is at
the discretion of the local school district.
• A school laboratory investigation (also referred to as a lab) is dened as an experience in the laboratory, classroom, or the eld that provides
students with opportunities to interact directly with natural phenomena or with data collected by others using tools, materials, data
collection techniques, and models (National Research Council 2006, p. 3). Students should have opportunities throughout the process to
design investigations, engage in scientic reasoning, manipulate equipment, record data, analyze results, and discuss their ndings.
• Pupils entering the ninth grade in the 2024-25 school year and each school year thereafter must complete two years of laboratory science as
a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. (Does not apply to pupils entering the ninth grade in the 2023-24 school year or prior school
years or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an IEP.)
Social Science: 2 Years
Department: Standards and Instruction Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
• Must include one year of U.S. History or combination of U.S. History and American government.
• Must include one semester of civics.
• No student shall receive a certicate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination once on the following subjects:
- American patriotism and principles of representative government as enunciated in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S.
Constitution, and the Illinois Constitution;
- Proper use and display of the ag; and
- Method of voting by means of the Australian Ballot System and the method of counting votes for candidates.
isbe.net
October 2022
Required electives (at least one course from the following):
Art and Music
Department: Standards and Instruction Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
World/Foreign Languages
Department: Multilingual Contact: [email protected]et
https://www.isbe.net/multilingual
• Pupils entering the ninth grade in the 2028-29 school year and each school year thereafter must complete two years of world language
as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. (Does not apply to pupils entering the ninth grade in the 2027-28 school year or prior
school years or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an IEP.)
Career and Technical Education (Vocational)
Department: CTE & Innovation Contact: cte@isbe.net
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Career-Technical-Education.aspx
Additional contact information
Advanced Academic Programs: Gifted, Acceleration,
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Honors,
and Dual Credit
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
Assessments
Department: Assessments
Contact: assessment@isbe.net
Computer Literacy
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
Computer Science
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
Driver Education
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
Department: CTE and Innovation
Contact: F[email protected]
Grade 11 Early Graduates
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
Health/Physical Education
Department: Wellness
Contact: [email protected]et
LGBTQ History
Department: Student Care
Contact: lward@isbe.net
Media Literacy
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
School/Career Counseling
Department: CTE and Innovation
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/SchoolCounselors.aspx
Contact: cte@isbe.net
Social and Emotional Learning
Department: Wellness
Contact: jstrehlo@isbe.net
Transitional English and Transitional Mathematics
Department: Standards and Instruction
Contact: ILTeachTalkLearn@isbe.net
