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Wisconsin
279,000 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

 

Incorporating written communication, oral communication, grammar and usage of the English language, and literature.

Mathematics Units

2
Incorporating instruction in the properties, processes, and symbols of arithmetic and elements of algebra, geometry, and statistics.

3

Social Studies

3

3

 

Incorporating instruction in state and local government

Science Units

2

3

 

Biological sciences, physical sciences

Foreign Language Units

N/S

N/S

Art Units

N/S

N/S

Additional Units

P.E. - 1.5
Health - .5

Electives - 4

 

From vocational education, foreign languages, fine arts, and other courses

From above academic areas, foreign Language, arts, computer Science or other academic areas

Total Units

12.5

17

Tests

N/S

SAT or ACT

Source

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

University of Wisconsin System

*State recommends districts require these minimum electives.

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:


Wisconsin State High School Improvement Initiatives
For information on high school improvement initiatives launched at the state level visit the
Wisconsin Department of Pubic Instruction.

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