Elective units must include one or any combination of world language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, technology, agricultural education or English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies courses not otherwise required.
Students who entered the ninth grade on or after July 1, 2010 must earn five elective units for graduation course requirements. They must be selected from “one or any combination of foreign language, fine arts, business, career-technical education, family and consumer sciences, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, technology, agricultural education, or English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies courses not otherwise required.”
If a district chooses to require elective units in addition to the five required for state graduation requirements, those additional credits and the allowable course areas are subject to locally determined policy. Credits earned from coursework such as additional physical education, or additional health courses may not be used to meet the five units of electives requirement.
Note: While not a state requirement for graduation, many four-year colleges and universities require a minimum of two years of sequential world language study at the secondary level as a college admissions requirement. This is the case for many in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities.
Completion of a driver education course, if made available to high school students by the school district, may be substituted for the above electives for up to ½ unit.
For additional information, go to https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Ohio-s-Graduation-Requirements/Ohio%e2%80%99s-Graduation-Requirements/Complete-Courses-Classes#Electives.
