High School Course Planner
Pick your state, enter credits earned in each subject, and see what remains for graduation and whether you are on track.
Last updated: October 2026
Your credits
Credits earned
Graduation requirements are local
There is no national high school graduation standard in the US. States set minimum credit totals, districts add their own requirements on top, and diploma types (standard, honors, Regents in New York) change the numbers again. The table in this calculator shows simplified typical minimums for five large states, useful for planning but never the final word. Your counselor’s credit audit is the only document that actually counts. Use this page to spot problems early, then confirm everything officially.
The subjects that matter
Every state requires the same core four: English (usually 4 credits), math (3 to 4), science (2 to 4), and social studies (2 to 4). Beyond the core, requirements scatter: physical education, health, fine arts, world languages, and electives fill the rest. Two things trip students up. First, course level matters as much as credits: three math credits that stop at Geometry may not satisfy a district requiring Algebra II. Second, electives are not free space: failed core courses often must be remade up as electives do not substitute for them.
| State | English | Math | Science | Social studies | Electives / other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| California | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| New York | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Florida | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Illinois | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
Approximate typical minimums for planning only. Districts, diploma types, and course-level rules change the real numbers: check with your counselor.
Worked example
A Texas junior has earned 4 English, 3 math, 2 science, 4 social studies, and 5 elective credits:
- English: max(0, 4 - 4) = 0 remaining
- Math: max(0, 4 - 3) = 1 remaining
- Science: max(0, 4 - 2) = 2 remaining
- Social studies: max(0, 4 - 4) = 0 remaining
- Electives: max(0, 8 - 5) = 3 remaining
Total: 6 credits remaining, short in math, science, and electives. That is a normal junior year plus a summer course, or a loaded senior year. These are the numbers pre-filled in the calculator above. Change the state to California and watch the verdict change: the same transcript is suddenly much closer to done, which shows why state context matters.
Catching up when you are behind
A gap found early is a scheduling problem; a gap found in senior spring is a crisis. The standard catch-up tools: summer school, which typically offers one or two credits and is the cleanest fix; credit recovery programs, often online and self-paced, aimed at remaking failed courses; doubling up, taking two courses in one subject in a single year when the schedule allows; and community college dual enrollment, which can satisfy high school requirements while banking college credit. Talk to your counselor before choosing: not every option counts at every school, and you want the fix on your official audit, not just in your head.
What colleges actually look at
Graduation is the floor; admissions is the building. Selective colleges evaluate course rigor alongside credits: four years of English and math through at least precalculus, lab sciences, and preferably a world language. A transcript that barely clears minimums graduates you but underwhelms admissions. If college is the goal, plan beyond the state minimum: an extra year of science, math through calculus if you can handle it, and electives that show direction (computer science, a fourth year of language, AP courses in your intended field). The planner above tracks the minimum. Your ambitions set the real target.
High School Course Planner FAQs
How many credits do I need to graduate high school?
It depends on your state and district, typically 20 to 26 total credits with 4 in English and 3 to 4 each in math, science, and social studies. The table above shows simplified typical minimums for five states, but your district and diploma type set the real number.
Are these state requirements exact?
No. They are simplified approximations for planning. Districts add requirements, diploma types change totals, and course-level rules (like requiring Algebra II specifically) are not modeled. Always confirm with your school counselor’s official credit audit.
What counts as an elective credit?
Any course beyond the required core subjects: arts, world languages, computer science, PE, and extra courses in core subjects. Electives cannot substitute for failed required courses, which usually must be retaken or remade through credit recovery.
What happens if I am short on credits?
Options include summer school, online credit recovery, doubling up in a subject for a year, and dual enrollment at a community college. Act early: a gap found junior year is a scheduling fix, while a gap found senior spring can delay graduation.
Do colleges look at which courses I took?
Yes, closely. Selective colleges evaluate course rigor: four years of English and math, lab sciences, and continued world language study. Barely clearing state minimums earns the diploma but a stronger transcript earns admission.
Can summer school credits count toward graduation?
Usually yes, if the courses are approved by your district. Summer school is the most common way to make up failed courses or get ahead. Confirm with your counselor before enrolling that the specific course will appear on your official credit audit.