23 Credits & Coursework

Legacy High School offers a wide variety of courses to our students - some that students must take, some that they have limited options, and some that they elect. These are structured in a way to ensure that students meet the appropriate coursework requirements in order to graduate in four years. For students pursuing education at a college or university after high school, some recommendations/requirements are slightly different (examples noted below)

High school students must complete 23 credits in the following coursework to graduate:

Course Selection Guide: 2025-26

Students traditionally take 6.0 credits every school year, with some requirements noted to the right. By passing all of the courses they take, students will exceed the 23 required for graduation. School counselors ensure that students are registered for the classes appropriate for their grade level, interests, and the graduation requirements.

4.0 Credits of English
- Year-long course required for all 9-12th graders
3 Credits of Mathematics
- Year-long course required for all 9-11th graders
3.0 Credits of Social Studies (1.0 U.S. History; 0.5 Government)
- Year-long course required for all 9-11th graders
- All students take one semester of Government
- All students take two semesters of US History
3.0 Credits of Science (2.0 lab-based credits)
- Year-long course required for all 9-11th graders
- All 9th graders take a year-long biology course and all 10th graders take a year-long chemistry course. This meets the lab-based requirement.
1.0 Credits of Physical Education (0.5 Healthy Choices)
2.0 Credits of Fine & Practical Arts
- Includes courses in Art, Business/Marketing & Technology, Family & Consumer Sciences, Music, World Languages, and FutureForward
7.0 Credits of Electives
- A few courses are elective-specific (e.g. Student Government, L2k). However, most students will meet elective requirements with overfill from other content areas like Fine & Practical Arts and Physical Education.

College & University Recommendations/Requirements

Some of the key differences that colleges and universities may recommend or require are noted below. This is not an all exhaustive list, but is important to consider if you are planning to go to a college or university after high school -- especially if you have a particular program, school, or state in mind. For in-state schools, you should review the Higher Education Admission Recommendations (HEAR).

Some institutions may ask for four years of Math. This typically includes courses above or equivalent to Algebra I / Integrated Math I.

Colleges and universities may require one to three years of a single World Language (Princeton's Requirements ask for four). This refers to the level of language. For example, a freshman who completes Spanish III meets the three-year benchmark.

Some states and institutions require one year of a Performing or Visual Art. These include traditional art classes and music. California Public Universities and the University of Minnesota are just a couple of examples with this requirement.

Although it is less common for institutions to require four years of Science (like the University System of Georgia), some programs and schools do require or encourage a full year of Physics (like MIT or CU Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science).

Every school is different and can set their own academic requirements, so it's smart to look into each school's unique requirements. For example, the Air Force Academy requires a full credit of Computer Science! Never assume you will meet all of the requirements for a school without planning to do so.

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