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Utah
161,457 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

4

 

Emphasizing composition/literature

Mathematics Units

3

3

 

Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II

Algebra I and above

Social Studies Units

2.5

1

 

Geography (.5), World Civilizations (.5), U.S. History (1), U.S. Government and Citizenship (.5)

American History

Science Units

3

3

 

2 from Earth Systems, Biological Science, Chemistry, and Physics; 1 from the foundation courses or the applied or advanced science core list

1 science w/lab, 2 from Human Biology, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Foreign Language Units

 N/S

2
In same language

Art Units

1.5

N/S

 

From visual arts, dance, theater, or music

Additional Units

Physical and Health Ed. – 2
Career and Technical Ed. – 1
Computer – .5
General Financial Literacy – .5
Electives - 6

Electives - 4
From at least 2 of the following: English, history, math beyond intermediate algebra, foreign language, lab science, technology and engineering education, social science, or fine arts

Total Units

24

N/S

Tests

N/S

SAT or ACT

Source

Utah State Office of Education

University of Utah

Utah State University

* Districts may set requirements beyond the statewide minimum graduation requirements.
** Admission Requirements for the University of Utah and Utah State University. Utah State University does not have a foreign language requirement.

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:


Utah State High School Improvement Initiatives
For information on high school improvement initiatives launched at the state level visit the
Utah State Office of Education.

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