Yes, high school is formal education. It is one of the most widely recognized levels of formal education worldwide, classified by international standards and treated as a baseline educational credential by employers, colleges, and government agencies.
What Makes Education “Formal”
Formal education refers to structured, institutionalized learning that follows a defined curriculum, is delivered by trained instructors, and leads to a recognized credential upon completion. It moves through progressive levels, from primary school through university, with each level building on the one before it. The key features that separate formal education from informal or non-formal learning are its structured sequence, institutional setting, and the fact that it results in an officially recognized diploma or degree.
Under the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), the framework used by UNESCO and statistical agencies around the world, education is organized into numbered levels. High school falls under ISCED Level 3, called “upper secondary education.” It sits between lower secondary education (middle school) and post-secondary options like college or vocational programs. Every level from primary school through doctoral programs is considered formal education, and high school is squarely in the middle of that progression.
How Employers Classify High School
When employers, job boards, and government surveys ask about your education, “high school diploma or equivalent” is one of the standard formal education categories. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses this exact phrase in its National Employment Matrix when classifying the education level needed for each occupation.
The numbers make the point clearly. According to the BLS Occupational Requirements Survey, as of 2025, 39.3 percent of civilian jobs list a high school diploma as the minimum formal education requirement. Another 32.5 percent of jobs have no minimum education requirement at all. That means high school completion is the single most common formal education threshold in the American workforce. When a job application asks you to list your “formal education,” your high school diploma belongs there.
GEDs and Homeschool Diplomas Count Too
If you earned a GED instead of a traditional high school diploma, or if you were homeschooled and received a homeschool diploma, you still hold a formal education credential. The GED is designed as a high school equivalency, and homeschool diplomas are recognized in all 50 states. Both can be used to apply for college, meet employment requirements, and join the military, just like a conventional high school diploma.
The practical difference between these credentials is minimal. Colleges and employers treat them as meeting the same educational threshold. If a form or application asks whether you have completed formal education at the high school level, a GED or homeschool diploma satisfies that requirement.
Where High School Fits in the Education Hierarchy
Formal education levels stack in a clear sequence, and high school occupies a critical middle position:
- Primary education (ISCED 1): Elementary school, typically grades 1 through 5 or 6.
- Lower secondary (ISCED 2): Middle school, typically grades 6 through 8 or 9.
- Upper secondary (ISCED 3): High school, typically grades 9 or 10 through 12. This is where you earn your diploma.
- Post-secondary non-tertiary (ISCED 4): Certificate programs and other training that go beyond high school but aren’t college degrees.
- Tertiary (ISCED 5 through 8): Associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates.
Everything on this list is formal education. High school isn’t a lesser or informal version of schooling. It is the foundational credential that most post-secondary education and many career paths are built on.
Why the Distinction Matters
Understanding that high school is formal education matters in a few practical situations. On resumes and job applications, you should list your high school diploma under the “Education” or “Formal Education” section, especially if you haven’t completed college. When filling out government forms, surveys, or financial aid applications, selecting “high school diploma” accurately reflects your formal education level. And if you’re evaluating your own qualifications for a job that requires “formal education,” a high school diploma meets that bar.
Non-formal education, by contrast, includes things like workplace training seminars, community workshops, and self-directed online courses that don’t result in an accredited diploma or degree. These can be valuable, but they occupy a different category. Your high school diploma is not in that category. It is a formal, institutionally recognized credential that carries legal and professional weight.