Michigan Improves High School Graduation Requirements

Learn More About the Michigan Merit Curriculum

To prepare Michigan’s students with the skills and knowledge needed for the jobs of the 21st Century global economy, the state of Michigan has enacted a rigorous new set of statewide graduation requirements that are among the best in the nation.

With these new graduation requirements, students will be well prepared for further success in college and on the job. Michigan is developing a highly-skilled 21st Century workforce that will drive the state’s economy today and into the future.

The new graduation standards will be required starting with the class of 2011, this year’s eighth graders. Yet many school districts have already implemented the Michigan Merit Curriculum as their graduation requirement.

Additional Graduation Requirements Include:

Online Learning Experience–Students must take an online course or learning experience; OR have the online learning experience incorporated into any of the required credits of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

World Languages–Beginning with the class of 2016 (third graders in fall 2006), students will need to complete two credits of a world language in grades 9-12; OR have an equivalent learning experience in grades K-12.