Should you put high school on your resume?
Put high school on your resume while you are still in it, or when a high school diploma is your highest education. Take it off once you have a college degree, or once a year or two of college gives you something better to show. With a GED, list the GED. The exact line for each case is below.
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The answer for each case
| Your situation | Put high school on? | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| Still in high school | Yes, first on the page | School, city, expected graduation |
| Finished high school, no college | Yes, keep it | Diploma, school, year |
| In college, first year | Optional | College first, high school below it |
| In college, second year or later | No | College only |
| College degree (associate or higher) | No | The degree only |
| GED or equivalency | List the GED instead | GED, state, year |
| Left high school without finishing | Only if it helps | School, city, years attended |
If you are still in high school
High school is your main education, so it goes near the top, with the date you expect to graduate. Add your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher, and a few classes that fit the job. With no jobs yet, this example shows how to fill the rest of the page.
If high school is your highest education
Keep it on, for as long as it is the highest you have. When a posting asks for a high school diploma, this line shows you meet it. Drop the GPA and classes after a year or two of work: by then your jobs say more.
If you are in college
College replaces high school, gradually. In your first year you can keep high school as a second line if it has something college does not yet, such as a scholarship or a team captain role. Once you have college activities, a campus job or an internship, take high school off.
If you went to college but did not finish, list the college with what you completed, and keep the diploma line under it.
If you have a college degree
Take high school off. The degree says more, and the line takes space a job or skill could use. If a job application form asks about high school, answer it there.
If you have a GED
List the GED on its own. You do not need to name the high school you left.
Some people prefer the longer form, which says the same thing:
If you left high school and have not finished a GED, list the school with the years you attended, and only if you have nothing else in Education: "Linden Hollow High School, Columbus, OH, 2019 to 2021". If you are working toward a GED, say so: "GED expected June 2027".
Once you know which line is yours, the builder at the top of this page puts it in the right place and lays out the rest of your resume around it.
Questions
Should I put my high school GPA on my resume?
Only while high school is your main education and the GPA is 3.0 or higher. Once you are in college, use your college GPA instead.
Should I put high school on my resume if I'm in college?
In your first year, yes, if it has something college does not yet (an award, a leadership role). By your second year, replace it with college activities, jobs and courses.
Do I need the month I graduated?
No. The year is enough for a finished diploma. While you are still in school, write the expected month and year, like "Expected May 2028".
Where does high school go on the page?
In the Education section. Put Education first while you are a student, and after your work experience once you have had a job or two.
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