There are no STAAR tests specifically assigned to 12th grade. Texas requires students to pass five STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams to graduate, but those exams are tied to courses, not grade levels. Most students complete all five before senior year. If you’re in 12th grade and searching this, the real question is probably whether you still need to pass one or more EOC exams you haven’t cleared yet, and what your options are.
The Five Required EOC Exams
Every student earning a diploma from a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school must achieve a score of “Approaches Grade Level” or higher on these five STAAR EOC assessments:
- Algebra I
- English I
- English II
- Biology
- U.S. History
Students take each exam as they finish the corresponding course. That means most people sit for Algebra I and English I in 9th grade, English II and Biology in 10th grade, and U.S. History in 11th grade. A student who passed all five on the first try has no STAAR testing left in 12th grade at all.
Retake Windows for Seniors
If you’re a senior who hasn’t passed one or more of those five exams, you’ll retake them during scheduled testing windows. For the 2025-2026 school year, three opportunities are available:
- December 2025: All five EOC exams, Dec 1 through Dec 12
- April 2026: English I and English II test Apr 6 through Apr 17; Biology and U.S. History test Apr 13 through Apr 24; Algebra I tests Apr 20 through May 1
- June 2026: All five EOC exams, Jun 15 through Jun 26
Each window includes make-up days that extend to the final date listed. Your school’s testing coordinator will register you and provide exact dates and locations. If you’re close to graduation and still need to pass, the December window gives you the earliest shot, with two more chances in the spring.
What If You Still Can’t Pass
Texas law provides a safety net called the Individual Graduation Committee (IGC). If you’re in 11th or 12th grade and have failed the EOC requirement for no more than two courses, your school can convene an IGC to determine whether you qualify for a diploma through an alternative path. The committee typically includes a principal or designee, a teacher, a parent or guardian, and a school counselor. They review your overall academic record, attendance, and other evidence of readiness.
The IGC option was originally set to expire but was made permanent by the Texas Legislature in 2021. It remains available for any qualifying student. This is not an automatic pass. The committee must agree that you’ve met alternative requirements, which can include completing additional coursework, demonstrating proficiency in another way, or meeting criteria the committee sets. But if you’ve been consistently close on an exam and have a strong academic record otherwise, this route can keep a single failed test from blocking your diploma.
Transfer Students May Be Exempt
If you transferred into a Texas public high school from out of state, another country, or a private school, you may not need to take some or all of the EOC exams. The rule is straightforward: if your Texas school district accepts the course credit you earned elsewhere, you don’t have to take the corresponding STAAR EOC. If the district does not accept the credit and requires you to retake the course in Texas, you’ll take the EOC exam when you complete that course.
This means a student who moves to Texas for senior year with credits already earned in Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History could potentially skip all five exams, as long as the district accepts those credits. Check with your school counselor early so you know which, if any, exams apply to you.
Distinguished Level of Achievement
Some students pursue the Distinguished Level of Achievement on their diploma, which is required for automatic admission to many Texas public universities. This distinction requires completing four math credits including Algebra II, four science credits, and an endorsement area. However, it does not add any extra STAAR exams. There is no Algebra II or English III EOC test. The five exams listed above are the only STAAR tests that factor into graduation, regardless of which diploma level you’re pursuing.