Passing classes is only part of what it takes to graduate from an Ohio high school. Under rules that apply to everyone who entered ninth grade on or after July 1, 2019, which is the class of 2023 and every class since, a student has to do three things: earn at least 20 course credits, show competency in math and English, and earn two diploma seals.
That covers a lot of teenagers. Ohio has 937 public schools, not counting virtual schools, that run through 12th grade, and they enrolled 124,498 seniors in the 2024-25 school year, according to allk12's analysis of federal data. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce describes the three pieces as the state's graduation requirements for the classes of 2023 and beyond. Here is what each one asks for.
The 20 credits, subject by subject
The course list is in Ohio Revised Code 3313.603. A unit is roughly a full-year course.
| Subject | Units | What the law specifies |
|---|---|---|
| English language arts | 4 | Four units |
| Math | 4 | Must include Algebra II or its equivalent, or one unit of advanced computer science |
| Science | 3 | One physical science, one life science, and one advanced science, with lab work |
| History and government | 1 | A half unit of American history and a half unit of American government |
| Social studies | 2 | Must include at least a half unit of world history and civilizations |
| Health | 1/2 | Includes nutrition and physical activity |
| Physical education | 1/2 | Districts may excuse some students (see below) |
| Electives | 5 | Foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, and other subjects |
| Total | 20 |
A few rules sit inside those numbers. Students on a career-technical track do not have to take Algebra II and can take a career-based math course instead. Most students also need two semesters of fine arts, which can be taken anywhere from seventh to 12th grade. Students on a career-technical track are exempt from that one.
Students who entered ninth grade on or after July 1, 2022, also need a half unit of financial literacy. It does not add a 21st credit. Each student chooses to count it either in place of a half unit of math or as an elective, and an AP course in microeconomics or macroeconomics can fill it.
Physical education has an opt-out that districts can choose to offer. Under the law, a district may excuse a student who played an interscholastic sport or took part in marching band, show choir, or cheerleading for at least two full seasons, or spent two full school years in JROTC. That student still has to complete a half unit, at least 60 hours of instruction, in another course.
The two tests and the score that counts
Ohio gives end-of-course tests in English language arts II, Algebra I, science, American history, and American government. State law says "only the end-of-course examinations in English language arts II and Algebra I shall be required for graduation." Students can take Integrated Math I in place of Algebra I.
The target on both is a competency score of 684. A student who falls short gets remedial support from the school and has to retake the test at least once. If the retake also misses, Ohio Revised Code 3313.618 lays out other ways to show competency in that subject:
- Earn credit in that subject through College Credit Plus, the state's dual-enrollment program
- Complete two items from a list of career options, one of which has to be what the law calls foundational: an industry-recognized credential, a state license, a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship, or passing state technical tests in one career pathway. The supporting options include 250 hours of work-based learning with positive evaluations.
- Show that the student has enlisted in a branch of the armed forces
- Score remediation-free in that subject on a national test, which the department lists as the ACT or SAT
The two diploma seals
According to the department, "Students will demonstrate readiness by earning at least two diploma seals, one of which must be state-defined."
There are nine state-defined seals: Seal of Biliteracy, OhioMeansJobs Readiness, Industry-Recognized Credential, College-Ready, Military, Citizenship, Science, Honors Diploma, and Technology. Districts define the other three, Community Service, Fine and Performing Arts, and Student Engagement, which is why those seals can look different from one district to the next. A student can earn one state seal and one local seal, or two state seals.
Your district may ask for more
The state list is a floor. Section 3313.603 says each district keeps the authority "to require an even more challenging minimum curriculum for high school graduation," including more than 20 credits. The department puts it more plainly on its course page: "Districts and schools may have requirements that exceed the state minimums."
So the number that governs a particular student is in that district's course guide, not in the state law. You can find every district and high school on the Ohio schools page, and see how Ohio's 20 credits stack up against other states in our state-by-state graduation requirements guide.
Sources
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Ohio's Graduation Requirements
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Complete Courses and Requirements
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Demonstrating Competency
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Graduation Seals
Ohio Revised Code 3313.603: Statewide minimum high school curriculum
Ohio Revised Code 3313.618: Diploma conditions
Ohio Revised Code 3313.6114: Diploma seals
Ohio Revised Code 3301.0712: State assessments
School and enrollment counts from allk12's analysis of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
