English | 4 Credits | English I, II, III, IV |
Math | 4 Credits | NC Math 1, NC Math 2, NC Math 3 [and one course higher than Math 3] |
Science | 3 Credits | Earth Science, Biology, and Physical Science [or Chemistry or Physics] |
Humanities | 4 Credits | World History, Civics Literacy, American History, Economics & Personal Finance |
World Languages | Not Required | Not required for graduation. Two years of the same language is required for admission to 4-year public universities |
Health and PE | 1 Credit | Healthful Living or JROTC I & II |
Electives | 10 Credits | 2 Elective Credits or any combination from either CTE, Arts or World Language |
Total Credits | 26 Credits |
All public high school students must meet minimum state graduation requirements to earn a diploma and graduate. These graduation requirements are considered the Future-Ready Course of Study [FRC] requirements and prepare students for post-secondary success. All students must earn at least 22 credits in the Future-Ready Course of Study to graduate from high school. The Future-Ready Course graduation requirements ensure that a student is prepared for
life and whatever pathway they choose after they graduate, workplace, colleges/university or the military. Below are the specific course requirements. The Occupational Course of Study is available for those students with disabilities who are specifically identified for the program and has adapted course requirements and the same credit requirements as FRC. Below are the specific course requirements. Although the state requires a designated number of courses and
credits for students to graduate high school, local school districts and other public school units may require additional courses and credits to graduate. Families and students are strongly encouraged to check with their high school to determine if their district and/or school have additional requirements for students to earn a high school diploma.
Classes of 2023–2025 High School Graduation Assessment Requirements
Updated July 2022
On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, Governor Murphy signed P.L.2022, c.60 [ACS for A-3196/S-2349], which requires the State Board of Education to administer the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment [NJGPA] as a field test for the class of 2023. There is no graduation assessment requirement for any student who is expected to graduate with the class of 2023. Students in the class of 2023 must still meet all the other State and local graduation requirements, including but not limited to credit, curriculum, and attendance requirements. The graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2024 and 2025 remain in place.
The requirements in this section were adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education on September 8, 2021 for the classes of 2023–2025.
English Language Arts and Literacy [ELA]
If, after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the ELA component, such students may access the following pathways:
- Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as other high school-level NJSLA/PARCC assessments, the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
- Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.
Mathematics
If, after completing the required New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the mathematics component, such students may access the following pathways:
- Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as other high school-level NJSLA/PARCC assessments, the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
- Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.
Under the Individuals with Disability Education Act [IDEA], all students with disabilities must be included in all general state and district-wide assessments. IEPs of students with disabilities will address whether the student must meet the passing score on the state assessments or demonstrate proficiency through an alternate pathway. Students with disabilities whose IEPs specify an alternative way to demonstrate proficiencies, will continue to follow the graduation assessment requirements set forth in their IEPs. It is the responsibility of the student’s IEP team to ensure that the IEP is implemented as written, including components addressing state graduation assessment requirements.
IEP teams should reserve the exemption of the statewide assessment graduation requirement for students with significant intellectual disabilities and for students with disabilities who have made repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet statewide assessment requirements through New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, a substitute competency test, or a student portfolio appeal. Districts are encouraged to begin convening meetings of the student’s IEP team when the student is in grade 9, or as early as possible. The IEP team includes the student, and the student’s parent[s]/guardian[s] to discuss the student’s specific graduation requirements.
Questions about IEP components concerning graduation assessment requirements should be directed to the Office of Special Education Policy and Dispute Resolution at .
Students must take and demonstrate proficiency in grade 11 on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, which includes content aligned to the grade 10 New Jersey Student Learning Standards [NJSLS] in ELA, and the NJSLS in Algebra 1 and Geometry. If after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment a student does not demonstrate proficiency on the ELA or mathematics section, the student may retake the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in the following summer or fall.
A student with disabilities whose IEP states that they are not eligible for the alternate assessment [Dynamic Learning Maps] must take the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
First Pathway—NJGPA
Note: Cut Scores Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education on February 2, 2022
| New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment—ELA ≥ 750 [Graduation Ready] | New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment—Mathematics ≥ 750 [Graduation Ready] |
Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
Students who sat for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics by meeting the designated cut score on one of the assessments on the menu of substitute competency tests in the table for the second pathway [below].
Important Notes:
- Tests marked with an asterisk [*] are no longer administered but can be used for the graduating year.
- Beginning on Monday, January 28, 2019, classic ACCUPLACER tests were no longer available. QAS replaced ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
Second Pathway—Menu of Substitute Competency Tests
Note: Cut scores forthcoming following New Jersey State Board of Education Approval.
One of the following:
| One of the following:
|
Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
Students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics through a portfolio appeal in grade 12.
Third Pathway—Portfolio Appeals
| Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA | Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for Math |
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State | Total credits | English |
Iowa | 14.00 | 4.00 |
Kansas | 21.00 | 4.00 |
Kentucky | 22.00 | 4.00 |
Louisiana | 23.00 | 4.00 |