Should I Include High School on My Resume? 5 Scenarios Answered
Should I Include High School on My Resume in 2025? A Definitive Guide
SEO Title: Should I Include High School on My Resume? 5 Scenarios Answered
Meta Description: Wondering, "should I include high school on my resume?" This guide reveals when to add it to impress recruiters and beat the ATS, and when it's wasting space.
Introduction
You've polished your work experience, listed your skills, and now you're at the education section, stuck on a seemingly simple question: "Should I still include my high school diploma on my resume?" It’s a common point of confusion for many job seekers. A decade ago, the answer was straightforward, but in today's competitive job market, every line on your resume counts. Recruiters spend an average of just 7 seconds scanning a resume Forbes, and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are more sophisticated than ever.
This isn't just another article with vague advice. This is your definitive guide to making the right decision. We'll go beyond the basics, providing clear-cut rules, practical examples, and expert insights to ensure your resume is optimized for both human eyes and robot screeners, helping you build a foundation of trust and authority with potential employers.
When to Include High School on Your Resume (The Green Lights)
Including your high school information can be a strategic move if you fall into one of these categories. It provides a complete educational history and shows you've met a foundational requirement.
1. You Are a High School Student or Recent Graduate
This is the most clear-cut scenario. If you're still in high school or have just graduated, it's your most significant educational achievement to date.
Example: Education Lincoln High School, San Francisco, CA High School Diploma, Expected June 2026 GPA: 3.8/4.0
2. You Have Not Attended or Completed College
If your high school diploma or GED is your highest level of education, you must list it. It confirms you have the minimum educational qualifications many employers require.
Example: Education Edison Technical High School, Miami, FL High School Diploma, June 2022
- Specialized coursework in Automotive Technology
3. You Attended a Prestigious or Relevant High School
Did you attend a well-known magnet school or a vocational high school that's directly relevant to the job? This can be a valuable addition. For example, a graduate from a renowned arts academy applying for a design role.
4. Your High School Diploma is a Job Requirement
Some job descriptions, particularly for government, military, or certain trade positions, explicitly state that a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Listing it shows the recruiter you've met this prerequisite at a glance.
5. You Have Notable High School Achievements
If you have significant accomplishments from high school that are relevant to the job, you can list them. This is most effective for recent graduates.
Example: Education Northwood High School, Irvine, CA High School Diploma, June 2023
- Valedictorian, Class of 2023
- President, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
When to Remove High School from Your Resume (The Red Lights)
As your career progresses, your resume needs to evolve. Holding onto outdated information can make your resume look unprofessional and cluttered. Here’s when to cut it.
1. You Have Graduated from College
Once you have a college degree (Associate's, Bachelor's, etc.), it becomes your primary educational credential. Your high school information is now redundant. 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS Forbes, and these systems prioritize higher education. Wasting space on high school can dilute the impact of your degree.
2. You Have Several Years of Work Experience
If you've been in the workforce for more than 3-5 years, your professional experience is far more relevant than your high school education. Use that valuable resume space to detail your accomplishments, skills, and career growth.
3. You Are Concerned About Age Discrimination
While illegal, age discrimination can be a concern. Including a high school graduation date from decades ago can inadvertently reveal your age. It's best to remove it and let your recent, relevant experience speak for itself.
How to List High School on Your Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you've decided to include it, here’s how to format it correctly.
Numbered List: Formatting Instructions
- School Name and Location: Start with the full name of your high school and its city and state.
- Diploma Type: Clearly state "High School Diploma" or "GED".
- Graduation Date: Include your month and year of graduation. If you're a current student, use "Expected [Month] [Year]".
Do's and Don'ts Checklist
Bulleted List: Best Practices
- Do: Place your education section after your work experience if you have any.
- Do: Keep it concise and clean.
- Don't: Include your GPA unless it's a 3.5 or higher.
- Don't: List irrelevant coursework or high school clubs unless you are a very recent graduate with no other experience.
Comparison Table: College Graduate vs. Recent High School Graduate
| Feature | College Graduate's Resume | Recent High School Graduate's Resume |
|---|---|---|
| High School Info | Omit. Focus on your university degree. | Include. It's your main educational credential. |
| Education Placement | Typically appears after the professional summary/experience. | Place it prominently, often before work experience. |
| Key Focus | Degree, major, relevant coursework, university projects. | Diploma, GPA (if high), relevant academic awards. |
Your Resume's Secret Weapon: Optimization
Manually tailoring your resume for every single job application is a known headache. Deciding whether to include your high school education is just one of many small, but crucial, optimizations. JobSeekerTools offers a powerful Resume Builder that allows you to create multiple versions of your resume, easily adding or removing sections to perfectly match each job description. Our built-in ATS checker also scores your resume against the job, ensuring you make the right impression every time.
Conclusion
The final verdict on including your high school on a resume is: it depends on where you are in your career journey. For recent graduates or those for whom it's the highest level of education, it's essential. For established professionals and college graduates, it's outdated information that takes up valuable space. Always prioritize your most recent and relevant qualifications to present a sharp, professional, and compelling case to employers.
Visual Content Opportunities
- Infographic: A vertical infographic titled "Should You List High School on Your Resume? A Decision Flowchart." It would visually guide the user through questions like "Have you graduated college?" and "Do you have 5+ years of experience?" leading to a "Yes" or "No" conclusion.
- SEO Alt Tag:
A flowchart infographic answering the question 'should i include high school on resume' based on a job seeker's experience and education level.
- SEO Alt Tag:
- Comparison Chart: A clean, shareable graphic comparing two resume education sections side-by-side. One for a "College Graduate" (showing only the university) and one for a "Recent High School Graduate" (showing the high school details).
- SEO Alt Tag:
A comparison chart showing how to list education on a resume, highlighting the difference between including high school and omitting it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I have a GED instead of a high school diploma? You should list it the same way you would a diploma. Simply write "GED" or "General Educational Development Diploma" in place of "High School Diploma." It holds the same weight for employers who require a high school equivalent.
2. Is it okay to lie about having a high school diploma? Absolutely not. Lying on your resume is grounds for immediate termination if discovered during a background check, even years after you've been hired. Always be truthful about your qualifications.
3. Should I include my high school if I'm applying for an internship in college? Generally, no. Even as a college student, your university is the more relevant and impressive institution. Focus on your current field of study, your expected graduation date, and any relevant university projects or coursework.