How Many Credits to Graduate High School in Louisiana: 23 or 24?

To graduate high school in Louisiana, a student needs either 24 units for the TOPS University Diploma or 23 units for the Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma. Which number applies depends on the pathway the student chooses in high school. Both diplomas are approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and both count as a standard high school diploma for federal financial aid purposes.¹ The difference between them is not one of quality but of direction: the 24-unit track is built for four-year college admission, and the 23-unit track is built around career and technical education.

Two Pathways, Two Credit Totals

The TOPS University Diploma is the college-prep track. Its 24 units include four years each of English, math, science, and social studies, plus required foreign language and art credits. This is the diploma that qualifies a student for Louisiana’s TOPS scholarship and meets admission requirements at most four-year universities.²

The Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma requires 23 units and cuts the science and social studies requirements in half compared with the University track. That reduction frees up nine full elective units for CTE coursework and at least one industry-based credential, which is required to graduate on this pathway.³⁴

Both diplomas share the same English and math foundations. They diverge in science, social studies, and the elective structure, and only the University track requires foreign language and art.

TOPS University Diploma: The 24 Units

The 24 units for the TOPS University Diploma break down as follows:²⁵

English — 4 units. English I through IV, with AP, IB, and dual enrollment options for the upper-level courses.
Mathematics — 4 units. Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II are all required; the fourth unit comes from an approved list that includes Pre-Calculus and Advanced Math. An integrated math sequence (I, II, and III) can substitute for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Science — 4 units. Biology I and Chemistry I are mandatory. The remaining two units come from an approved list that includes Physics, Environmental Science, Earth Science, and AP-level science courses.
Social Studies — 4 units. U.S. History, World Geography, and American Government (or Civics) are required, with the fourth unit drawn from an approved list that includes World History and AP Government.
Physical Education — 1.5 units. JROTC, marching band, and extracurricular sports can satisfy this requirement.
Health Education — 0.5 units. A standalone half-unit course. JROTC I and II together can substitute if they include at least 2,000 minutes of health instruction each.
Foreign Language — 2 units. Two units of the same language.
Art — 1 unit. Drawn from a broad list that includes visual art, music, dance, theater, speech, drafting, media arts, and digital design.
Electives — 2 units. Free-choice electives.

The foreign language and art categories catch families off guard more than anything else on this list. They are not electives; they are separate required categories. A student who fills all elective slots with CTE courses but skips foreign language will not earn this diploma.

Students who entered ninth grade before the 2024–2025 school year followed a slightly different version of the requirements, which called for three elective units rather than two.²

Jump Start Career Diploma: The 23 Units

The 23 units for the Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma break down as follows:³

English — 4 units. English I and II are required. The other two can include Business English or Technical Writing alongside traditional English III and IV options.
Mathematics — 4 units. Algebra I (or Applied Algebra I), Geometry (or Applied Geometry), and Financial Literacy are all required for students entering ninth grade in 2024–2025 and after. The fourth unit comes from a broad list that includes Algebra II, Business Math, Statistical Reasoning, and Math Essentials.
Science — 2 units. Chosen from an approved list that includes Biology I, Chemistry I, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physical Science, and Agriscience II.
Social Studies — 2 units. U.S. History and American Government or Civics.
Physical Education — 1.5 units.
Health Education — 0.5 units.
Electives — 9 units. These must come from a Jump Start course sequence, workplace experiences, and approved credentials. At least one industry-based credential is required.

The Career Diploma does not require foreign language or art. That’s intentional; it frees room for CTE concentration. Industry-based credentials on this track come from more than 100 options spanning safety, computer literacy, healthcare, manufacturing, and IT, and most Jump Start pathways require nine credits of CTE coursework aligned with the credential.⁶⁷

Which Version of the Rules Applies to You

BESE approved the current versions of both diplomas in December 2023. The updated requirements apply to students who entered ninth grade in the 2024–2025 school year and after. Students who entered ninth grade earlier follow the previous versions, which differ in a few places, most notably the elective count on the University track and the math sequence on the Career track.²³

Financial Literacy is one of the changes to watch. Starting with the class entering ninth grade in 2024–2025, it is a mandatory math unit on the Career Diploma track. Students who entered ninth grade earlier had more flexibility in choosing their math sequence. Financial Literacy is not required on the University track, though it remains an available elective.

Confirm which version applies based on the year the student first entered ninth grade. Transitional rules apply during the phase-in period, and school counselors can verify the exact requirements on a student’s transcript.

Switching Between Tracks

Choosing early matters because switching pathways mid-stream can leave a student short on credits. A student on the Career Diploma track who later decides to pursue a four-year university may find they are missing two units of science, two units of social studies, two units of foreign language, and one unit of art relative to the University track requirements. Making that up in junior or senior year is possible but tight.

The reverse move, from University to Career, is easier arithmetically but still requires the student to complete a Jump Start course sequence and earn at least one industry-based credential. Students considering a switch should meet with a counselor as soon as possible to map the credit gap.

Accommodations Under the April Dunn Act

Students with disabilities who follow an Individualized Education Program can pursue either diploma with modifications determined by their IEP team. Louisiana’s Act 833 of 2014, commonly called the April Dunn Act, gives IEP teams the authority to set alternative pathways to graduation for eligible students, including modified assessments and adjusted course sequences.⁸ On the Career Diploma track, the IEP team also has authority to determine the credentialing level the student will pursue.⁷ For these students, the 23 and 24 unit totals are a starting point rather than a fixed rule.

Transfer and Military Students

Students who transfer into Louisiana from another state may find that courses completed elsewhere do not map cleanly to Louisiana’s approved course lists. Schools evaluate transcripts and place students based on what they have already completed, but there is no automatic course-waiver provision for non-military transfers. A student arriving in junior or senior year should meet with a counselor immediately to confirm which of the 23 or 24 units still need to be earned.

Military families receive additional protections under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Louisiana schools must initially honor course placements from the sending state, including honors, AP, IB, and CTE courses, if those courses are offered locally. Schools must also waive specific graduation course requirements when a student completed similar coursework elsewhere, or provide an alternative path to earning the credit so graduation stays on schedule.⁹

1
Federal Student Aid. Eligibility Requirements
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Louisiana Department of Education. TOPS University (College Diploma) Course Requirements
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Louisiana Department of Education. TOPS Tech (Career Diploma) Course Requirements
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Louisiana Department of Education. Jump Start
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Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 28, CXV-2318 – The TOPS University Diploma
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Louisiana Department of Education. Learn More About Industry-Based Credentials (IBCs)
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Louisiana Department of Education. Jump Start Graduation Pathways
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Louisiana Department of Education. Graduation Requirements
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Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – Model Compact Language