100 Things Students Should Know Before They Graduate High School (Or We've Failed Them)
My daughter graduates high school in 17 months. I’ve taught high school seniors, been in charge of academics and curriculum in various districts, and have worked with many different schools on building out their profile of a learner or “portrait of a graduate”.
So, you would think, just maybe…that I would have prepared my daughter for life after high school. You would think, that should be part of the role of K-12 schools.
But, I’m worried. Worried about my own daughter, and a generation of learners in our schools right now.
Every June, we send thousands of kids out into the world armed with the Pythagorean theorem and exactly zero knowledge about how to cook rice. We've taught them to analyze symbolism in The Great Gatsby but not how to tell when someone's scamming them. So here's my list of 100 things students actually need to know before they grab that diploma and run.
And yes, these come from me and my own battle to help my daughter (and my other four kids) learn to prepare themselves for anything life throws at them after high school.
This list is for me, and I’m hoping that you don’t use my exact list, but think what it would look like for your kid, or your students, and what we are missing (or hitting) along the way.
100 Things Students Should Know Before They Graudate
How to write an email that doesn't make adults cringe
The difference between "your" and "you're" (yes, still)
How to introduce yourself to strangers without mumbling at the floor
That ChatGPT/Gemini/Calude/Wikipedia are all a great a starting point, not a source
How to shake hands like you mean it
The ability to show up on time (revolutionary concept, I know)
How to apologize and actually mean it
That autocorrect has ruined more professional emails than anyone wants to admit
How to ask for help without feeling like you're dying inside
The art of making small talk that isn't about the weather
Life Skills That Might Matter More Than AcademicsThat laundry doesn't wash itself (shocking)
How to make at least three actual meals that aren't ramen
How to read a recipe and follow basic cooking instructions
What "sauté" means
How to clean a bathroom so it doesn't become a biohazard
That dishes grow bacteria if you leave them "soaking" for three days
How to make a bed (your future roommate will thank me)
Money Stuff That's Terrifying But NecessaryHow to read a paycheck and understand where the money went
What taxes are and why they exist
How to make a simple monthly budget
The concept of "living within your means"
That credit cards are not free money (I can't believe we have to say this)
How interest works, both for and against you
What a 401(k) is before they're 40
That buying a car involves more than the sticker price
How to read a contract before signing it (and what to look for or ask for)
Academic Skills That Actually MatterHow to tell fact from opinion (and evaluate a source for credibility)
How to take notes that you can actually read later
The ability to summarize without just rewording things
How to manage your time (procrastination is not a personality trait)
That only studying the night before doesn't actually work
How to ask good questions
The skill of actually reading instructions
How to admit when you don't understand something
How to write a thesis statement that isn't just "this essay will be about..."
That reading the whole book actually helps you understand it better than SparkNotes
How to cite sources without having a panic attack
How to estimate and check if your math answer makes sense (no, the answer to 8 x 7 is not 5,000)
What the scientific method actually is and why it matters outside of science class
How to read a graph or chart without just making stuff up
That history didn't happen in isolated bubbles (everything connects to everything)
That memorizing formulas only matters if you know when to use them
How to form an argument with evidence instead of just really strong feelings
That "I don't get math" is not a permanent condition
How to revise your writing instead of just running spell check and calling it done
What perspective and point of view actually mean in literature (and in life)
How to recognize cause and effect relationships
How to look at art and say something beyond "I like it" or "it's weird" (same for listening to music)
How to break down a complex problem into smaller, manageable parts
That showing your work isn't busy work, it's how you find your mistakes
Social Skills for HumansHow to disagree without being disagreeable
That other people have feelings (wild, right?)
How to read body language and social cues
When to put the phone down and actually talk to people
How to give a genuine compliment
The power of saying "I was wrong"
How to handle rejection without spiraling
That not everyone needs to like you
How to set boundaries without feeling guilty
The difference between being nice and being a doormat
Technology Without Losing Your MindHow to back up your files (and photos)
Basic troubleshooting (turn it off and on again works more than you think)
How to use AI to be more productive, learn faster, and create
That everything you post online is forever
That your digital footprint matters for jobs (how to use privacy settings)
Basic spreadsheet skills
How to convert a PDF (seriously)
That deleting an app doesn't cancel a subscription
Adulting 101How to make a doctor's appointment by yourself
What health insurance is and why you need it
How to advocate for yourself
The importance of changing your oil
How to plunge a toilet (you're welcome)
What to do if you get in a car accident
How to read a lease before signing it
How to jumpstart a car
When to call 911 versus urgent care
Critical Thinking StuffThat correlation doesn't equal causation
How to change your mind when presented with evidence
The ability to think before you speak (and be quiet if you don’t know what you are talking about)
How to spot manipulation tactics
That not everything is a conspiracy (but some things probably are ha)
How to evaluate risk rationally
The difference between healthy skepticism and cynicism
That being wrong is how you learn
The Soft Skills Nobody TeachesHow to accept criticism without getting defensive
The power of showing up consistently
How to celebrate other people's success (without being fake, actually happy for others)
That comparison is the thief of joy
How to ask for a raise or advocate for yourself
The importance of saying thank you
How to give constructive feedback
Random But CrucialHow to change a tire (or at least know who to call)
What to do if you lock yourself out
How to identify a few common scams
That you can negotiate prices sometimes
How to read a map without GPS
That "I'll try" usually means "I won't"
How to be alone without being lonely
The skill of listening to understand, not to respond
The Real Convo
Here's the thing. We can teach kids to factor polynomials all day long, but if they can't write a professional email or cook a meal that doesn't come from a drive-through, we've missed something big. This isn't about ditching academics (obviously). It's about adding the practical stuff that makes those academics actually useful.
I’ve seen so much stuff online about the “science of learning” that it makes me wonder if we are missing the whole point of K-12 schools. It’s not a place to guide kids to crush standardized tests (sure, I guess that would be nice too). It’s a place where kids learn to be human, and interact as a positive force in the world.
I’ve covered a lot of these 100 already with my daughter. I’m sure I’ll have to hit more as the years go on. I’m also sure the list will keep changing and evolving as my other kids get to their senior year.
So let's make a deal. We'll keep teaching the quadratic formula, but maybe we can also squeeze in some lessons about credit scores. We'll analyze literature, but also teach kids how to spot fake news. We'll prepare them for college, but also for the Tuesday night when they're 23 and realize they don't know how to cook anything except pasta.
They're going to need all of it.
