"The good old days" of high school in the 1960s

Parents Forum
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Here is an archived student handbook from La Sierra High School in Carmichael, CA in 1960-1961:

And here is the page of high school graduation requirements and college entrance requirements (compare to current CSU and UC requirements):

High school graduation State colleges (now CSUs) University of California
3 English 3 English
1 math 2 math (algebra 1, geometry)
1 science 1 lab science
1 US history 1 US history
0.5 civics 0.5 civics
0.5 American problems
2 foreign language
1 additional year of science, math or language
PE or cadets every semester
21 courses including the above
14 semester A or B grades other than PE taken in 10th-12th B average in required subjects

Note that there were 10 state colleges and 3 UCs at the time (versus 23 CSUs and 9 UCs with undergraduates now). The high school had 6 period days (1 of which was used for PE or cadets).

The high school had a famously rigorous PE program from the 1950s until it closed in the 1980s:

https://www.coffeeordie.com/article/1960s-gym-class-marine

However, all of the above reference only boys with respect to the PE program, even though it appears that the school itself was coed, and one of the videos has a few clips of girls doing PE (separately from boys).

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American Problems?

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Course requirements for HS graduation varied wildly in the 1960’s. My high school required four years of English, 3 of social studies (American history and world history were required), 3 years of math, 3 years of science, 2 years of foreign language if applying to college (not required if you weren’t college bound). Four years of physical education and health which included swimming. Arts courses were optional but just about everyone did something…choirs, instrumental ensembles, art, drama…

And the vast majority of my high school went on to college.

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