Students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2021-2022 or afterwards must pass the following courses and earn at least 22 credits:

Four sequential English credits which include:

1. English I

2. English II

3. English III

4. English IV

Four Mathematics credits which include:

1. NC Math 1, 2, and 3 and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans

Notes:  A fourth-level mathematics course is required for UNC minimum requirements, this includes Math IV,  Precalculus, and other higher level courses.  

Three Science credits which include:

1. Physical science course

2. Biology

3. Earth/environmental science course

Four Social Studies credits which include:

1. Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina:  Civic Literacy

2. Economics and Personal Finance

3. American History

4. World History

One Health and Physical Education credit:

1. Students are required to successfully complete CPR instruction to meet Healthful Living Essential Standards as a requirement for high school graduation.

Two Elective credits of any combination from either:

1. Career and Technical Education (CTE) or

2. Arts Education or

3. World Language

Note: For clarification, possible elective combinations may include 2 World Language credits; or 1 CTE credit and 1 Arts Education credit; or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education credit and 1 World Language credit; or other combinations from a, b and c. 

Four Elective credits from the following (four-course concentration recommended):

1. Career and Technical Education (CTE)

2. ROTC

3. Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)

4. Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and dual enrollment courses) 

NOTE:   Beginning in fall 2022, students entering Grade 6 and subsequently entering Grade 9 for the first time in 2025-26 shall have at least one arts education course in grades 6-12. 

1. Students must complete the standard course of study (no local electives) for a given arts education course in its entirety to satisfy this requirement.  After-school activities or partial courses do not fulfill this graduation requirement. 

2. Students who transfer into a public school unit beginning in the ninth grade or later may be exempt, if such a requirement would prevent a student from graduating with the graduation cohort to which the student was assigned when transferring.

NOTE:   Students entering Grade 9 in 2026-27 will have an additional requirement to take a credit in Computer Science.  Electives will be reduced from 6 to 5.