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California
1,997,064 high school students
State Profile
As states work to raise their
academic standards, several national high school reform initiatives are
assisting them in their efforts to strengthen their high schools so that they
provide students with a 21st century education and skills.
Through the profile provided here, the National High School Center offers (a) a snapshot of the state’s graduation requirements and college entrance requirements (see table below) and (b) summaries of national reform initiatives active in the state (see list below table).
High School and College Alignment in the State
The following table shows the state’s alignment between high school
graduation requirements and minimum state college entrance requirements,
providing a quick source for determining whether there is a gap between what
students must know to graduate and what they are expected to have mastered in
order to enter college.
|
|
High School Graduation Requirements | College Admission Requirements* |
|---|---|---|
|
English Units |
3 |
4 |
|
Mathematics Units |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Algebra I |
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II |
|
Social Studies Units |
3 |
2 |
|
|
US History & Geography (1), World History, Culture & Geography (1), American Government (.5) and Economics (.5) |
US History (1) -OR- U.S. history (.5) and Civics or American government (.5) AND World History, Culture & Geography (1) |
|
Science Units |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Biology, Physical Science |
2 w/lab in biology, chemistry or physics |
|
Foreign Language Units |
1 |
2 |
|
|
-OR- |
|
|
Art Units |
1 |
1 |
|
Additional Units |
P.E. - 2 |
Elective (chosen from approved academic courses in history, English, advanced mathematics, lab science, foreign language, social science, or fine arts)- 1 |
|
Total Units |
13 |
15 |
|
Tests |
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) |
ACT or SAT |
Source |
* California does not have statewide minimum admission requirements for its public universities and colleges. These admission requirements are for the University of California.
National High School Improvement Initiatives at Work in the
State
As states work to ready high school students for
postsecondary success, many are partnering with national organizations to
undertake high school improvement efforts. The following list includes national
improvement initiatives at work in the state. National initiatives are defined
as significant programs, projects, technical assistance, or key information
clearinghouses dedicated to high school improvement. For information about and
related to research on these initiatives, please click on the name of the
initiative to link to a synthesis below:
- Advancing the Dual Agenda in High School Reform
- America's Choice
- America's Promise
- The American Diploma Project
- The Data Quality Campaign
- The Early College High School Initiative
- Education Commission of the States' High School Policy Center
- Small Learning Communities
California State High School Improvement
Initiatives
For information on high school improvement initiatives
launched at the state level visit the
California Department of Education.
California ARRA Information
For information on California's ARRA efforts as it relates to education, please visit the state Web page.
