What to teach in Illinois
Which courses here cover the required subjects, which subjects they do not, and roughly how many hours they account for.
What Illinois specifies
- Subjects
- Yes — 7 required subjects
- Hours or days
- Not specified.
- Assessment
- Not required.
The subjects Illinois requires
- Language arts
- Mathematics
- Biological and physical sciences
- Social sciences
- Fine arts
- Physical development and health
- Instruction must be in English
Quoted from the statute or regulation cited on the law page. Requirements for Grades K–5 are listed where the state sets them, but this site teaches Grades 6–12, so only those are matched below.
Courses that cover them
Illinois's list touches three of the four subjects taught here — mathematics, English, science. It does not name social studies, which you are free to teach anyway and most families do. Each course below is a full year.
Mathematics
| Grade | Course |
|---|---|
| Grade 6 | Grade 6 Math |
| Grade 7 | Grade 7 Math |
| Grade 8 | Grade 8 Math |
| Grade 9 | Algebra I |
| Grade 10 | Geometry |
| Grade 11 | Algebra II |
| Grade 12 | Precalculus |
English
Science
| Grade | Course |
|---|---|
| Grade 6 | Science 6: Matter, Energy & Earth Systems |
| Grade 7 | Life Science & Scientific Inquiry |
| Grade 8 | Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy |
| Grade 9 | Earth & Space Science |
| Grade 10 | Life Science: Biology |
| Grade 11 | Physical Science: Chemistry |
| Grade 12 | Physics & Environmental Science |
Each is planned as a 36-week year of about 180 sessions, five a week — the year 20 of the 21 course guides set out explicitly. How long a session runs is yours to set.
The four high school years
In most states the parent issues the diploma and writes the transcript, which makes the four-year plan the record — there is no school registrar keeping one for you. A full sequence of these courses looks like this.
| Grade | Mathematics | English | Science |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | Algebra I | English 9 | Earth & Space Science |
| Grade 10 | Geometry | English 10 | Life Science |
| Grade 11 | Algebra II | English 11 | Physical Science |
| Grade 12 | Precalculus | English 12 | Physics & Environmental Science |
Four subjects across four years is 12 full-year courses. Credits, grades and the diploma itself are Illinois's business, not this site's — what Illinois says about diplomas and transcripts.
What this site does not teach
Illinois requires 2 subjects that these courses do not cover: health, art. Saying so plainly is more use than a page implying full coverage. Families commonly meet these through sport clubs, instrument or art lessons, a language app or tutor, and documented family activity — all of which count where the state asks for a log rather than a transcript.