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Louisiana
181,032 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

4
English I, II, and III, and English IV or Senior Applications in English

4
English I, II, and III, and English IV

Mathematics Units

4
including Algebra I (1) or Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2), Geometry

4
Algebra I/Applied Algebra I/Algebra I-Pt. 2 (1)
Geometry/Applied Geometry (1)
Algebra II (1)
Financial Math/Math Essentials/Advanced: Pre-Calculus/Advanced: Functions &
Statistics/Pre-Calculus/Calculus/Probability and Statistics/Discrete Math/apprvd elec. (1)

Social Studies Units

3
including American History (1), Civics or AP American Government (.5), Free Enterprise (.5); and (1) of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History

4
Civics/AP American Government + Free Enterprise (½ unit each)
American History (1)
World History/World Geography/Western Civilization/AP European History (1)
World History/World Geography/Western Civilization/AP European History/ Law
Studies/Psychology/Sociology/Civics (2nd sem, ½ unit)/African American Studies/approved IBC-related course

Science Units

3
incuding Biology (1), physical science (2), (1) from: Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, OR Anatomy and Physiology

4
Biology (1)
Chemistry (1)
Physical Science/Integrated Science/Physics I/Physics of
Technology I/ Aerospace Science/Biology II/Chemistry II/Earth
Science/Environmental Science/ Physics II/Physics of Technology II/Agriscience
II/Anatomy and Physiology/approved elective (including approved IBC-related
course) (2)

Foreign Language Units

N/S

2, same language or speech courses

Art Units

N/S

1

Additional Units

Health – .5
P.E. – 1.5
Electives – 8

Education for Careers or Journey to Careers - 1

Advanced Math or Advanced Science - 1
Computer science, computer literacy, or business computer applications – .5

Total Units

24

19

Tests

Graduation Exit Exam (GEE)

End-of-Course Exams

ACT

Source

Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Board of Regents

* Admissions requirements for the University of Louisiana, Monroe.

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:


Louisiana State High School Improvement Initiatives
For information on high school improvement initiatives launched at the state level visit the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission Web page.

Louisiana ARRA Information
For information on Louisiana's ARRA efforts as it relates to education, please visit the state Web page.