Should You Put Your High School on Your Resume?

You are updating your resume and reach the education section.

Then you stop.

Should you put your high school on your resume? Do you put your high school diploma on a resume? What is a high school degree called on a resume? And if you include it, how much detail is too much?

The short answer is simple:

You should put your high school on your resume only if it is your highest level of education, you are a current student, you recently graduated, or the job specifically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent. If you already have a college degree, trade certification, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or higher education, you usually do not need to include high school.

That one decision can make your resume look either clean and professional or outdated and crowded.

This guide explains exactly when to include high school, when to remove it, what wording to use, and how to list a high school diploma correctly.

If you are fixing your full resume, not just the education section, read JobFix.ai’s complete Resume Fixer Guide.

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Quick Answer

Should you put your high school on your resume?

Yes, put your high school on your resume if you are in high school, recently graduated, did not attend college, are applying for entry-level jobs, or the job description says “high school diploma or equivalent required.”

No, do not put your high school on your resume if you already have a college degree, years of work experience, or stronger education and certifications to show.

Do you put high school diploma on resume?

Yes, if it is your highest completed education or if the employer asks for it. List it in the education section as High School Diploma or High School Diploma or Equivalent.

What is a high school degree called on resume?

In most cases, it is called a High School Diploma, not a high school degree. If you passed a GED or similar exam, write High School Equivalency Diploma or GED Certificate, depending on your location and credential.

How to list high school diploma on resume?

Use this format:

Education Lincoln High School — Dallas, TX High School Diploma, 2024

If you have strong honors, relevant coursework, GPA, clubs, sports, leadership, or awards, you can include those details only if they support the job.

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When You Should Put High School on Your Resume

You should include high school on your resume when it helps the employer understand that you meet the education requirement.

This usually applies to:

• Current high school students
• Recent high school graduates
• People applying for their first job
• Entry-level workers
• Trade or apprenticeship applicants
• People who did not attend college
• Candidates whose highest completed education is high school
• Jobs that specifically require a high school diploma or equivalent

For example, if you are applying for a retail associate, warehouse assistant, receptionist, customer service representative, delivery driver, restaurant team member, security guard, or administrative assistant role, listing your high school diploma can be useful.

It tells the hiring manager you meet the basic education requirement.

Example

Education Central High School — Phoenix, AZ High School Diploma, 2025

That is enough for many entry-level resumes.

You do not need to write a long description of your high school unless the details are relevant.

Recruiter Tip

If you have little work experience, your education section can help fill the gap. But it should still be clean, short, and relevant.

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When You Should Remove High School From Your Resume

You should usually remove high school from your resume once you have stronger education or work experience.

Remove high school if you have:

• A college degree
• An associate degree
• A bachelor’s degree
• A master’s degree
• A trade school credential
• A professional certification that matters more
• Several years of relevant work experience

For example, if your resume already says:

Bachelor of Science in Accounting University of Texas

You do not also need:

Austin High School High School Diploma

The college degree already proves you completed earlier education.

Keeping high school on a resume after college can make the resume feel less focused. It also takes space away from better information, such as work experience, skills, certifications, projects, achievements, or resume keywords.

Example

Before:

Education Bachelor of Arts in Communication — Arizona State University High School Diploma — Mesa High School

After:

Education Bachelor of Arts in Communication — Arizona State University

Cleaner. Stronger. More professional.

Common Mistake

Many job seekers keep high school on their resume because it has always been there. A resume is not a life history. It is a job application document. Keep what helps you get the interview.

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Do You Put High School Diploma on Resume?

Yes, you can put a high school diploma on your resume when it is relevant.

The question is not whether it is allowed.

The question is whether it helps.

You should put a high school diploma on your resume if:

• It is your highest education
• You are applying for jobs that require it
• You recently graduated
• You are still building work experience
• You are applying to training programs or apprenticeships
• The job posting says “high school diploma or equivalent”

You can skip it if:

• You have completed college
• You have stronger credentials
• You have years of work experience
• Your education section is taking too much space
• The diploma is not relevant to the role

Best Wording

Use:

High School Diploma

Or, if the job description uses broader wording:

High School Diploma or Equivalent

If you earned a GED, you can write:

GED Certificate

or:

High School Equivalency Diploma

Use the official wording that matches your credential.

Resume Fixer Tip

If your resume feels too long, high school education is often one of the first things to remove once you have higher education or relevant work history. JobFix.ai can help identify whether your education section is helping or cluttering your resume.

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What Is a High School Degree Called on Resume?

A high school “degree” is usually called a High School Diploma on a resume.

Technically, it is not usually called a degree.

The best resume wording is:

High School Diploma

Not:

High School Degree

Not:

Degree in High School

Not:

High School Graduate Degree

If you completed an equivalency credential, use:

High School Equivalency Diploma

or:

GED Certificate

If you are in Canada or another country, the official wording may be different. For example, in Ontario, the credential is commonly called the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

The safest rule is:

Use the official name of the credential, but keep it understandable for employers.

Examples

Good:

High School Diploma High School Equivalency Diploma GED Certificate Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

Avoid:

High School Degree Highschool Diploma Graduated School 12th Pass unless applying in a region where that wording is standard

Best Practice

If you are applying internationally, use both the local credential and a clear explanation.

Example:

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), equivalent to High School Diploma

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How to List High School Diploma on Resume

Your high school education belongs in the Education section.

Keep it simple.

Basic Format

Education School Name — City, State High School Diploma, Graduation Year

Example

Education Roosevelt High School — Chicago, IL High School Diploma, 2024

If You Are Still in High School

Education Roosevelt High School — Chicago, IL Expected High School Diploma, June 2026

If You Earned a GED

Education High School Equivalency Diploma, 2024 GED Testing Service

Or:

Education GED Certificate, 2024

If You Did Not Graduate Yet

If you are still completing your diploma, write:

Expected High School Diploma, June 2027

Do not write that you have a diploma if you have not completed it.

If You Attended but Did Not Graduate

If you did not graduate, you usually do not need to list high school unless it helps explain your background or you are currently working toward completion.

You can write:

Education Lincoln High School — Completed coursework through Grade 11

But in many cases, it is better to focus on work experience, certifications, skills, and training.

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High School Resume Examples

Here are practical examples for different situations.

Example 1: Current High School Student

Education Northview High School — Atlanta, GA Expected High School Diploma, May 2027 Relevant Coursework: Business, Computer Applications, Public Speaking Activities: Student Council, Varsity Soccer

Use this if you are applying for part-time work, internships, volunteer roles, or student jobs.

Example 2: Recent High School Graduate

Education East Valley High School — Mesa, AZ High School Diploma, 2025 Honors: National Honor Society Relevant Coursework: Accounting, Business Technology, Statistics

This works if your coursework supports the job.

Example 3: Entry-Level Job Applicant

Education Garfield High School — Seattle, WA High School Diploma, 2023

Simple is enough.

Example 4: GED or Equivalency

Education High School Equivalency Diploma, 2024

Or:

Education GED Certificate, 2024

Use the wording that matches your official credential.

Example 5: College Student

If you are currently in college, list college first. You can usually leave high school off unless you are a first-year student with limited experience.

Education University of Florida — Gainesville, FL Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Expected 2028

You do not need to add high school unless it adds value.

Example 6: College Graduate

Education University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, MI Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Do not include high school.

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Should You Include GPA, Honors, or Activities?

Sometimes.

But only when they help.

Include GPA If:

• You are a student or recent graduate
• Your GPA is strong
• The job asks for it
• You have limited work experience

A common rule is to include GPA if it is around 3.5 or higher, but this depends on the job and industry.

Example:

High School Diploma, 2025 GPA: 3.8/4.0

Include Honors If:

• They are recent
• They show achievement
• They are relevant
• You do not have much work experience

Examples:

• Honor Roll
• National Honor Society
• Valedictorian
• Student leadership awards
• Academic scholarships

Include Activities If:

The activity shows a skill the employer cares about.

For example:

• Student Council = leadership
• Debate Team = communication
• Robotics Club = technical interest
• Sports Captain = teamwork and responsibility
• School Newspaper = writing and deadlines
• Volunteer Club = service and reliability

Do Not Include:

• Every club you joined
• Old awards that do not matter
• Personal hobbies with no job connection
• GPA if it is weak
• Activities that take space from stronger work experience

Recruiter Tip

For students, activities can help. For experienced professionals, they usually do not belong unless they directly support the role.

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ATS Tips for Listing High School Education

Applicant tracking systems, or ATS platforms, read resumes and organize information into candidate profiles.

Your education section should be easy to parse.

ATS-Friendly Education Format

Use:

Education School Name — City, State High School Diploma, Year

Avoid:

• Putting education inside a graphic
• Using icons instead of words
• Placing key education details in a text box
• Using unusual section names like “My Learning Journey”
• Hiding graduation information in a sidebar
• Uploading an image-based resume

Good ATS-Friendly Example

Education Madison High School — Houston, TX High School Diploma, 2024

Risky Example

🎓 Madison High | Class of ‘24 | Go Tigers

This may look friendly, but it is less clear for ATS parsing and recruiter scanning.

Resume Keywords Tip

If the job posting says “high school diploma or equivalent,” use that exact phrase only if it accurately applies to you.

Example:

Education High School Diploma or Equivalent

This can help match the job requirement.

For more keyword guidance, read the Resume Keywords Guide.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Listing High School After College

If you have a college degree, remove high school.

Mistake 2: Calling It a High School Degree

Use High School Diploma instead.

Mistake 3: Adding Too Much Detail

You do not need to list every class, teacher, award, and activity.

Mistake 4: Including Graduation Year When It May Hurt You

If you are an experienced professional and still need to list high school for some reason, you can leave off the year to avoid drawing attention to age.

Mistake 5: Using Nonstandard Education Headings

Use Education, not “School Life” or “Academic Story.”

Mistake 6: Listing Incomplete Education Incorrectly

Do not claim a diploma you did not earn. Use “Expected High School Diploma” if you are still in school.

Mistake 7: Letting Education Take Too Much Space

For most job seekers, work experience matters more than high school details.

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Decision Table: Should You Include High School?

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FAQ

Should you put your high school on your resume?

Put your high school on your resume if you are a student, recent graduate, entry-level candidate, or if high school is your highest completed education. Remove it if you already have a college degree, strong certifications, or several years of relevant work experience.

Do you put high school diploma on resume?

Yes, put your high school diploma on your resume if it is relevant to the job or your highest education. List it in the education section as “High School Diploma.” If the job asks for “high school diploma or equivalent,” you can use that wording when accurate.

What is a high school degree called on resume?

A high school degree is usually called a “High School Diploma” on a resume. It is better not to write “high school degree.” If you earned a GED or similar credential, write “GED Certificate” or “High School Equivalency Diploma.”

How do you list high school diploma on resume?

List it under Education with the school name, location, credential, and graduation year if recent. Example: “Lincoln High School — Dallas, TX, High School Diploma, 2024.” If you are still in school, write “Expected High School Diploma” with the expected graduation date.

Should I include high school if I went to college?

If you completed college, do not include high school. If you are currently in college and have limited experience, you may include high school briefly, but your college education should come first.

Should I put high school on my resume if I did not graduate?

Usually, no. If you are still working toward your diploma, write “Expected High School Diploma.” If you did not graduate and are not currently enrolled, focus on work experience, skills, certifications, training, or a GED if completed.

Should I include my high school GPA?

Include your high school GPA only if you are a student or recent graduate and the GPA is strong. If you have work experience, college education, or stronger achievements, leave it off.

Should I include high school honors?

Include high school honors if you are a student or recent graduate and the honor supports your application. Good examples include Honor Roll, National Honor Society, academic scholarships, leadership awards, or relevant competition results.

Should I include high school activities?

Include high school activities only if they show useful skills, such as leadership, communication, teamwork, responsibility, or technical ability. Student Council, debate, robotics, sports leadership, volunteering, or school newspaper can help early-career resumes.

Is high school diploma important for ATS?

It can be important if the job description requires a high school diploma or equivalent. To make it ATS-friendly, list it clearly in the Education section using standard wording like “High School Diploma” or “High School Diploma or Equivalent.”

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Conclusion

So, should you put your high school on your resume?

Yes, if it helps prove you meet the job requirement.

No, if you have stronger education or experience.

The best resume is not the longest resume. It is the clearest resume. Every section should help the hiring manager understand why you are a good fit.

Use High School Diploma as the standard wording. Use Expected High School Diploma if you are still in school. Use GED Certificate or High School Equivalency Diploma if that matches your credential. Remove high school once college, certifications, or work experience become stronger.

If you are unsure what to keep or remove, use JobFix.ai as your resume fixer. Upload your resume, compare it with the job description, and see whether your education section supports your application or takes space away from stronger content.

A small resume fix can make your job application cleaner, more relevant, and easier to read.