2018 Requirements for High School Diploma

Beginning with the class of 2018, Ohio’s graduation requirements will change. In addition to the state’s academic curriculum requirements, which have not changed, students must fulfill an additional requirement to earn their high school diploma. Students have three options to choose from to fulfill this additional requirement. (Note: The Ohio Graduation Tests are still in use for the class of 2017; however, these students may use the new end-of-course tests to satisfy the testing requirement.)

1. Ohio’s State Tests: Meet the minimum number of points on end-of-course tests

Under this option, students must accumulate at least 18 total points on the seven state tests, with a minimum number of points in each of the three subject areas. The points given for each test range from 1 (limited performance level) to 5 (advanced performance level).

Subject Area	Courses Tested	Number of Tests	Minimum Points Required	Points Possible
English	English I	2	4	10
	English II
Math	Algebra I or Intermediate Math I	2	4	10
	Geometry or Intermediate Math II
Science and Social Studies	Biology (or Physical Science – 2018 only)	3	6	15
	American History
	American Government
Additional points required from any of the above tests			4
Total Points			18	35

This option gives students flexibility in which subject areas to earn points – as long as the minimum number of points is met in each subject area. Thus, a high score in one subject area can help to offset a lower score in another subject area.

Retakes: Students may retake any test anytime during the student’s academic career within the testing window offered by ODE.

Alternatives for Science and Social Studies tests: Instead of taking the state’s end-of-course tests in Science and Social Studies, the following alternative options are available:

• Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses: The tests offered in these courses will substitute for the end-of-course tests.
• College Credit Plus courses: The grade earned in the college course will determine the number of points credited to the test.

 

2. College Readiness Tests: Meet the minimum scores on the ACT or SAT test

Under this option, students may meet or exceed the minimum score requirements on the ACT or SAT tests. (Note: These minimum scores are known as “remediation-free” scores, which are set by Ohio’s college and university presidents; therefore, they are subject to change.)

ACT		SAT
Subject Area	Minimum Score	Subject Area	Minimum Score
English	18	Writing	430
Math	22	Math	520
Reading	22	Reading	450

 

3. Industry Credential and Work Readiness: Earn an industry credential and meet the minimum score on the WorkKeys test

Under the credential option, students graduate high school ready to enter the workforce with a job skill that Ohio employers need right now. Students must earn a minimum of 12 points from an approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field, and then score 13 or greater on a job-skills test, WorkKeys, which shows their work-readiness in that job.

Students can choose from 13 career fields:

• Agriculture
• Arts and Communications
• Business and Finance
• Construction
• Education and Training
• Engineering
• Health
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Law and Public Safety
• Manufacturing
• Transportation

WorkKeys Test
Subject Area	Minimum Points Required
Reading	3
Applied Mathematics	3
Locating Information	3
Additional points required from any of the above areas	1 (class of 2018 and 2019)
	2 (beginning class of 2020)
Total Points	13 (2018/2019)
	14 (2020)