What do I put on my resume if I’m still in high school?

As a current high school student, you should place your education section directly under your contact details and resume objective. You can include all this information in your education section: Your school’s name and location GPA Relevant coursework Awards and achievements Extracurricular activities Expected graduation date

What’s the proper name for a high school diploma?

The most common name for this level of education is a high school diploma, but it is sometimes also called a high school degree or certification.

Do employers care about high school on your resume?

Employers care about high school if it’s required for the role or it’s your highest level of education. However if you’ve graduated from college, employers don’t need to see your high school diploma.

Should I include high school on my resume if I didn’t graduate?

Yes, you should include high school on your resume even if you didn’t finish. Here are three things you can list even without graduating: The name and location of your high school The years you studied The courses you took Any awards or achievements You should certainly include high school education if a relevant course directly applies to the job. For instance, mention your three years of high school Spanish when applying for a position requiring Spanish-speaking abilities.

How to Include Your High School Diploma on Your Resume

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List your high school diploma in your education section, and include the following details:

School name
Location (city and state)
Graduation date (or expected graduation)

Add these optional details if they support your application:

GPA (if it’s 3.5 or higher)
Academic honors or awards
Relevant coursework
Extracurricular activities

For example:

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Should you put your high school diploma on your resume?

You should put your high school diploma on your resume if it’s your highest level of education.

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However, there are many situations where you should leave your high school off your resume.

When to include high school education on your resume

You should include your high school education on your resume if:

High school is your highest level of education
You’re currently in high school
You’re currently in college

When to take high school off your resume

You should take your high school education off your resume if:

You’ve graduated college
You have several years of work experience
You didn’t finish high school

If it’s been a few years since you graduated high school, you’ve likely gained some relevant education and work experience. Employers are much more interested in seeing these qualifications on your resume than your secondary education.

Tips for making your high school education stand out

Your high school education can show employers your potential, work ethic, and early achievements. Follow these tips to highlight your strengths and make your education section stand out:

Highlight relevant coursework: Include classes that align with the job, especially if you lack work experience.
Add academic achievements: List honors like GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5), honor roll, or other awards.
Include extracurricular activities: Mention clubs, sports, or organizations that demonstrate teamwork, leadership, or other transferable skills.
Quantify your impact: Add numbers to show results (e.g., “Raised $1,000 for school fundraiser”).
List relevant projects: Highlight school projects that demonstrate skills related to the job.

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Articles Written

Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to creating engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius team, Lauren has a passion for developing valuable resources for job seekers.

Lauren holds an M.S. in Psychology from University of Derby and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys learning all she can about the career space, and is committed to helping job seekers of all experience levels navigate the job hunt and advance their careers.

She has been cited in HuffPost, Newsweek, Forbes, and more.

You can reach Lauren at lauren@resumegenius.com.

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