High School
Graduation
Requirements
in Kansas
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Graduation Requirements in Kansas
Table of Contents
Kansas State Minimum Requirements ...................................................................... 1
Possibility of Additional Local Requirements ............................................................ 2
Kansas Qualified Admissions Requirements ............................................................. 3
Kansas Scholars Requirements .................................................................................... 4
NCAA Division I Requirements ..................................................................................... 5
NCAA Division II Requirements .................................................................................... 6
NCAA Division III Requirements ................................................................................... 7
NCAA Core Courses and Credit ................................................................................... 8
Division I Additional Core Course ............................................................................... 9
1
KAR 91-31-35 Kansas State Minimum Graduation Requirements
(a) Each local board of education shall adopt a written policy specifying that pupils are
eligible for graduation only upon completion of at least the following requirements:
(1) Four units of English language arts, which shall include reading, writing, literature,
communication, and grammar. The building administrator may waive up to one unit of
this requirement if the administrator determines that a pupil can profit more by taking
another subject
(2) three units of history and government, which shall include world history; United
States history; United States government, including the Constitution of the United
States; concepts of economics and geography; and, except as otherwise provided in
S.B.R. 91-31-32, a course of instruction in Kansas history and government
(3) three units of science, which shall include physical, biological, and earth and space
science concepts and which shall include at least one unit as a laboratory course
(4) three units of mathematics, including algebraic and geometric concepts
(5) one unit of physical education, which shall include health and which may include
safety, first aid, or physiology. This requirement shall be waived if the school district is
provided with either of the following:
(A) A statement by a licensed physician that a pupil is mentally or physically
incapable of participating in a regular or modified physical education program;
or
(B) a statement, signed by a lawful custodian of the pupil, indicating that the
requirement is contrary to the religious teachings of the pupil
(6) one unit of fine arts, which may include art, music, dance, theatre, forensics, and
other similar studies selected by a local board of education
(7) six units of elective courses
(b) A minimum of 21 units of credit shall be required for graduation.
2
Local Board Graduation Requirements (KAR 91-31-35)
(c) Any local board of education may increase the number of units of credit required
for graduation. Any additional requirements of the local board of education that
increase the number of units of credit required for graduation shall apply to those
students who will enter the ninth grade in the school year following the effective date
of the additional requirement.
(d) Unless more stringent requirements are specified by existing local policy, the
graduation requirements established by this regulation shall apply to those students
who enter the ninth grade in the school year following the effective date of this
regulation and to each subsequent class of students.
3
Kansas Qualified Admissions Requirements
One unit is equivalent to one year, or two semesters. Dual enrollment, concurrent
enrollment, and online courses may be used to fulfill the Qualified Admissions
curriculum requirements. All courses must appear on your high school transcript, and
courses completed in middle school or junior high do not fulfill the Qualified
Admissions Math requirements.
• English
o 4 approved units, ½ unit may be Speech
• Math Must complete either:
o Option A - 3 approved units and meet the ACT college readiness math
benchmark of 22
o Option B - 4 approved units, one of which must be taken in the graduating year
• Social Science
o 3 approved units
• Natural Science
o 3 approved units, one of which must be a full unit of Chemistry or Physics
• English
o 4 approved units, ½ unit may be Speech
• Electives
o 3 approved units
Currently, all above courses must be satisfactorily completed to satisfy Qualified
Admissions requirements. However, these pre-college curriculum requirements will no
longer be applicable starting with the graduating class of 2021. These courses will be
“recommendations” for the class of 2021.
Starting with the graduating class of 2021, state universities will have the following
ACT/GPA requirements for admissions:
Emporia State, Pitt State, Fort Hays State, and Wichita State Universities:
Cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher OR ACT of 21 or higher
Kansas State University
Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher OR ACT of 21 or higher
University of Kansas
Cumulative of GPA of 3.25 or higher AND ACT of 21 or higher
OR
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher AND ACT of 24 or higher
4
Kansas Scholars Requirements
Completion of the Kansas Scholars Curriculum is one of the requirements Kansas
residents must meet in order to receive State Scholar designation. This occurs during
the senior year of high school.
English - 4 years
One unit to be taken each year. Must include substantial recurrent practice in writing
extensive and structured papers, extensive reading of significant literature, and
significant experience in speaking and listening.
Mathematics - 4 years
Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one unit of advanced mathematics-- suggested
courses include: Analytic Geometry, Trigonometry, Advanced Algebra, Probability and
Statistics, Functions or Calculus. Completion of Algebra I in 8th grade is acceptable for
the Kansas Scholars Curriculum, but not for Qualified Admissions.
Science - 3 years
One year each in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, each of which include an average of
one laboratory period a week. Applied/technical courses may not substitute for a unit
of natural science credit.
Social Studies - 3 years
One unit of U.S. History; minimum of one-half unit of U.S. Government and minimum
of one-half unit selected from: World History, World Geography or International
Relations; and one unit selected from: Psychology, Economics, U.S. Government, U.S.
History, Current Social Issues, Sociology, Anthropology, and Race and Ethnic Group
Relations. Half unit courses may be combined to make this a whole unit.
Foreign Language - 2 years
Two years of one language. Latin and Sign Language are accepted.
In addition to the courses listed above, students must also meet the following
requirements:
• Students must have taken the ACT between April of the sophomore year and
December of the senior year.
• Students must be a Kansas resident.
• Students must have their curriculum and 7th semester GPA certified on the
official roster by the high school counselor, registrar, or similar official.
5
NCAA Division I Requirements
To be eligible to compete in NCAA sports during your first year at a Division I school,
you must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:
• Complete 16 core courses:
o Four years of English
o Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
o Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if
your high school offers it)
o One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
o Two years of social science
o Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social
science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
• Complete 10 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical
science, before your seventh semester. Once you begin your seventh semester,
you may not repeat or replace any of those 10 courses to improve your core-
course GPA.
• Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA
on the Division I sliding scale, which balances your test score and core-course
GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher core-course GPA to be
eligible. If you have a low core-course GPA, you need a higher test score to be
eligible.
6
NCAA Division II Requirements
To be eligible to compete in NCAA sports during your first year at a Division II school,
you must meet academic requirements for your core courses, grade-point average
(GPA) and test scores.
• Complete 16 core courses:
o Three years of English.
o Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher).
o Two years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science
if your high school offers it).
o Three additional years of English, math or natural or physical science
o Two years of social science
o Four additional years of English, math, natural or physical science, social
science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
• Earn at least a 2.2 GPA in your core courses.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA
on the Division II sliding scale, which balances your test score and core-course
GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher core-course GPA to be
eligible. If you have a low core-course GPA, you need a higher test score to be
eligible.
7
NCAA Division III Requirements
Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on academic success
while offering a competitive athletics environment. Division III rules minimize potential
conflicts between athletics and academics and focus on regional in-season and
conference play.
While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 75 percent of Division III
student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid.
If you are planning to attend a Division III school, you do not need to register with the
NCAA Eligibility Center. Division III schools set their own admissions standards.
8
NCAA Core Courses
Not all high school classes count as NCAA core courses. Only classes in English, math (Algebra
1 or higher), natural or physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion
or philosophy may be approved as NCAA core courses. Remedial classes and classes
completed through credit-by-exam are not considered NCAA core courses.
Classes that are NCAA core courses include:
• English: English 1-4, American Literature, creative writing
• Math: Algebra 1-3, Geometry, statistics
• Natural of physical science: biology, chemistry, physics
• Social science: American History, civics, government
• Additional: comparative religion, Spanish 1-4
Classes that are not NCAA core courses include:
• Classes in non-core areas, fine arts or vocations such as driver education, typing,
art, music, physical education or welding.
• Personal skill classes such as personal finance or consumer education.
• Classes taught below grade level, at a slower pace or with less rigor or depth.
These classes are often titled basic, essential, fundamental or foundational.
• Classes that are not academic in nature such as film appreciation, video editing
or greenhouse management.
• If you take a high school class such as Algebra 1 or Spanish 1 before you start
ninth grade, the class may count for your 16 core courses if it is on your high
school’s list of approved core courses and is shown on your high school transcript
with a grade and a credit.
Credit
You can earn credit for a core course only once. If you take a course that repeats the content
of another core course, you earn credit for only one of these courses and the higher grade
counts toward your core-course GPA.
Generally, you receive the same number of credits from the NCAA for a core course that you
receive from your high school for the class. One academic semester of a class counts for .5 of a
core course credit. One academic trimester of a class counts for .34 of a core-course credit.
One academic quarter of a class counts for .25 of a core-course credit. A one-year class taken
over a longer period of time is considered one core course and is not awarded more than one
credit.
9
*Division I Additional Core Course
Division I schools allow you to complete one additional core-course unit after you
graduate high school, as long as you graduate in eight semesters after you begin ninth
grade. The additional core-course unit must be completed within one year after your
high school graduation and must be completed before you enroll in college.
The additional core course unit may be taken at a different school than the high school
from which you graduated as long as the class is on the new school's list of approved
NCAA core courses. If you take the additional core course at a school other than the
school from which you graduated, you must provide the NCAA Eligibility Center with an
official transcript from the new school showing the additional core-course grade and
credit.
If you take the additional core course through a program that does not award credit,
the course must be awarded credit by a credit-awarding high school.
For more information, contact:
Dr. David Fernkopf
Assistant Director
Career, Standards, and Assessment Services
785-296-8447
Dr. Robyn Kelso
Education Program Consultant
785-296-3444
Kansas State Department of Education
900 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 102
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1212
(785) 296-3201
www.ksde.org
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its
programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has
been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: KSDE General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, KSDE,
Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66612, (785) 296-3201.
