UPDATED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
ENGLISH
Current: Four units, must include a major emphasis on grammar, nonfiction writing, and literature.
Future: Four units, must include a three-unit sequence; department-approved work-based learning, career-technical education, or English language development courses that meet English or English language development standards may qualify.
MATH
Current: Four units, one must be equivalent to or higher than algebra II.
Future: Four units, two must include a sequence of algebra I and geometry, or another integrated pathway of mathematics equivalent to algebra 1 and geometry; department-approved financial literacy courses, work-based learning, or career/technical courses that meet math academic content and performance standards may qualify. Algebra 2 must be offered in all districts and charter schools.
SCIENCE
Current: Three units, two must include a lab component.
Future: Three units, must include two units of laboratory sciences; career/technical and workbased learning may apply.
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Current: 3.5 units, must include U.S. history and geography, world history and geography, government and economics, and 0.5 unit of New Mexico history.
Future: Four units, Must include U.S. history and geography, including course content that contains New Mexico history; government and economics/personal financial literacy, including course content that contains civics; and world history and geography.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Current: One unit.
Future: One unit, as determined by the school district or charter school may include a physical education program that meets state academic content and performance standards, or participation in marching band, dance programs, junior reserve officers’ training corps, interscholastic sports sanctioned by the New Mexico Activities Association, or any other co-curricular physical activity.
HEALTH
Current: A course can be taken in middle or high school, does not count toward total units earned.
Future: 0.5 unit, may be earned in middle or high school.
ELECTIVES
Current: 7.5 units, must meet state content and performance standards.
Future: 5.5 units, must meet department academic content and performance standards and must include a two-unit pathway concentration of the student’s choice in a language other than English (including American Sign Language), fine arts, health, military career preparation, a career/technical program, community or service learning, a capstone course, or work-based learning. Requires financial literacy, computer science, student service learning, career/technical courses and a sequence of languages other than English to be offered as electives. Media literacy and pre-apprenticeship programs may be offered as electives.
CAREER/WORKPLACE READINESS, LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH
Current: 1 unit. Future: N/A.
LOCAL DISCRETION UNITS
Current: N/A.
Future: Two units, must be set by local school districts and charter schools. These must meet academic content and performance standards and can be elective units or core competencies.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Current: At least one unit must be Advanced Placement or honors, dual credit, or distance learning.
Future: None, but law protects students’ ability to take Advanced Placement, honors, dual credit, distance learning and International Baccalaureate courses.
TOTAL UNITS
Current and future: 24.