When to Take High School Off Your Resume (and When to Keep It)
Is Your High School Diploma Holding Your Resume Back?
You’ve polished your work experience, tailored your skills, and proofread every line twice. But a nagging question remains: does your high school diploma still belong on your resume? It’s a common point of confusion for job seekers at every career stage. Including it can sometimes make you look inexperienced, while omitting it might feel like you’re leaving something out.
This guide provides a definitive, no-nonsense answer. We'll go beyond generic advice to give you a clear framework based on your specific career situation. By the end of this article, you will know precisely how to handle the education section on your resume to maximize your professional appeal and catch the eye of hiring managers.
The Core Rule: When in Doubt, Take it Out
For the vast majority of professionals, the answer is simple: remove your high school diploma from your resume. As your career progresses, your work experience and higher education become far more relevant and impressive to employers.
However, this rule isn't universal. Let's break down the specific scenarios to give you 100% confidence in your decision.
The Decisive Guide: Keep or Remove High School from Your Resume?
To make this simple, we've created a clear comparison table. Find your situation in the left column to get your answer.
| Your Situation | Action | Why It's the Right Move |
|---|---|---|
| You have a college degree (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD). | Remove It | Your college degree automatically implies you have a high school diploma or equivalent. Listing it is redundant and takes up valuable space. |
| You have an Associate's degree. | Remove It | An Associate's degree is a higher level of education. Focus on that achievement. |
| You are currently enrolled in college. | Remove It | Listing your in-progress degree is the priority. Mention your expected graduation date. |
| You have 5+ years of relevant work experience. | Remove It | At this stage, your professional experience speaks louder than your high school education. Recruiters are focused on your skills and accomplishments. |
| You are a recent high school graduate (within 1-2 years). | Keep It | This is your primary educational qualification and shows you've met a standard educational requirement. |
| You have a GED. | Keep It (and list it as a GED) | Your GED is your highest educational credential and should be listed. You do not need to list the high school you attended. |
| The job application explicitly asks for your high school. | Keep It | Always follow the application's instructions. This is common for government or entry-level positions that require a specific background check. |
3 Scenarios Where Keeping High School on Your Resume Makes Sense
While usually removed, there are a few exceptions where your high school information can be a strategic asset.
1. You're a Recent Graduate with Limited Experience
If you've graduated in the last year or two and have not yet completed a higher degree, your diploma is your most important educational credential.
Do's and Don'ts for Recent Grads:
- Do: List your high school name, city, state, and graduation date.
- Do: Mention a high GPA (e.g., 3.5 or above) or academic honors like "cum laude."
- Don't: Include irrelevant activities like clubs or sports unless the skills learned are directly transferable to the job.
2. You Attended a Prestigious or Well-Connected High School
In some industries and locations, the network associated with a prestigious preparatory school can be a valuable asset. If the school is known for its academic rigor or has influential alumni in your field, it might be worth keeping. Use your judgment here; this is a rare exception.
3. Your High School Experience Includes Highly Relevant, Specialized Training
Did you complete a vocational program in high school that's directly related to the job you're applying for? For example, if you earned a certification in automotive technology or cosmetology, it's a critical skill to highlight.
Example:
Riverdale High School, Riverdale, NY Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program, 2023
Is Your Resume ATS-Friendly?
Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to scan resumes before a human ever sees them Jobscan Study on ATS Usage. An outdated or cluttered format can get your resume automatically rejected. Removing unnecessary information like your high school education helps streamline your resume for both the ATS and the human reader.
After you've perfected your content, let JobSeekerTools scan your resume. Our AI-powered platform analyzes your resume against the job description, ensuring it's optimized to pass the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
How to Properly Remove High School From Your Resume (Step-by-Step)
Ready to make the change? It's simple.
- Open Your Resume Document: Access your resume in your word processor of choice (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs).
- Navigate to the 'Education' Section: Scroll down to where you list your educational background.
- Delete the High School Entry: Select the entire entry for your high school—including the school's name, location, and your graduation date—and delete it. Ensure the formatting of the rest of the section remains consistent.
That's it. The goal is to have your highest degree or your most relevant experience take center stage.
Conclusion: Focus on What Matters Most
Deciding whether to include your high school diploma on your resume is about presenting yourself as the most qualified and experienced candidate possible. For the modern job seeker, that means prioritizing your most recent and relevant achievements. By removing outdated information, you create a focused, powerful document that respects the recruiter's time and highlights your biggest strengths.
Visual Decision Guides
Should Your High School Be on Your Resume? A Flowchart
Decision Flowchart
START HERE
Question 1: Do you have a college degree (Bachelor's, Associate's, Master's, or PhD)?
- ✅ YES → REMOVE IT - Your college degree implies high school completion
- ❌ NO → Go to Question 2
Question 2: Are you currently enrolled in college or a higher education program?
- ✅ YES → REMOVE IT - Focus on your in-progress degree
- ❌ NO → Go to Question 3
Question 3: Do you have 5+ years of relevant work experience?
- ✅ YES → REMOVE IT - Your professional experience is more valuable
- ❌ NO → Go to Question 4
Question 4: Are you a recent high school graduate (within 1-2 years)?
- ✅ YES → KEEP IT - This is your primary educational credential
- ❌ NO → Go to Question 5
Question 5: Does your high school have specialized training or certifications relevant to the job?
- ✅ YES → KEEP IT - Highlight the specific program or certification
- ❌ NO → Go to Question 6
Question 6: Does the job application explicitly require high school information?
- ✅ YES → KEEP IT - Always follow application instructions
- ❌ NO → REMOVE IT - Focus on more relevant qualifications
Quick Reference Guide
| Remove High School | Keep High School |
|---|---|
| College degree holder | Recent graduate (1-2 years) |
| Currently in college | GED holder with no higher education |
| 5+ years work experience | Vocational/specialized training |
| Mid to senior-level professional | Job application requires it |
Resume Education Section: Before & After
❌ BEFORE: Cluttered Education Section (Mid-Career Professional)
EDUCATION
Springfield High School Springfield, IL
High School Diploma Graduated: June 2014
- GPA: 3.6
- Member of National Honor Society
- Varsity Basketball Team Captain
State University Springfield, IL
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Graduated: May 2018
- Major: Marketing
- Minor: Communications
- GPA: 3.7
Problems with this format:
- Takes up too much space with irrelevant high school details
- High school activities from 10+ years ago are not relevant to current career
- Makes the candidate appear less experienced
- Distracts from the more important college degree
✅ AFTER: Professional Education Section (Mid-Career Professional)
EDUCATION
State University Springfield, IL
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Graduated: May 2018
Major: Marketing | Minor: Communications | GPA: 3.7
Why this is better:
- Clean, concise format that respects the recruiter's time
- Focuses on the most relevant credential
- Shows professional maturity
- Saves space for more important sections like work experience and skills
Key Takeaway
For professionals with 3+ years of experience and a college degree, removing high school information creates a more focused, professional resume that highlights your most relevant qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What if I attended college but didn't graduate? Should I list my high school then?
If you attended college, even without graduating, you should list that experience. Include the university name, years attended, and the number of credits completed (e.g., "Completed 60 credits toward a B.A. in Marketing"). In this case, your college experience is more relevant than your high school diploma, so you can still remove the high school entry.
Q2: What about my GED? How should I list it?
You should absolutely list your GED. Treat it as you would a high school diploma. You can simply write: "GED Diploma" or "General Educational Development (GED) Diploma." You do not need to specify the testing location or date unless you are a very recent graduate with no other experience.
Q3: Does this advice apply to federal or government jobs?
Government job applications are often more rigid. They may require a complete history of your education for background check purposes. If the application on USAJOBS or another government portal has a mandatory field for high school, you must fill it out. If you are uploading a resume as part of the application, tailor it to the specific instructions provided.