High school teachers instruct students in upper grades on subjects to prepare them for graduation and higher education. Teachers at this level usually focus on a particular subject for multiple grades rather than covering most major subjects for one grade like primary school teachers do.

“I’m currently responsible for teaching all of the high school grades, ninth through 12th, art classes,” says Ashley Delaney, a high school teacher in Paterson, New Jersey. “In addition to that, I am responsible for our chapter of the National Art Honor Society, and I have an art club. I’m responsible for coverage of other teachers from time to time and whatever tasks the school deems necessary.”

In addition to lesson planning and instruction, a high school teacher’s duties often include grading tests, papers or projects; supervising students on field trips, in the lunchroom or study hall; preparing students for standardized tests; and meeting with parents to discuss students’ progress.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.0% employment growth for high school teachers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 11,100 jobs should open up.

High school teachers need at least a bachelor’s degree. According to the BLS, this degree could be in education, but some states require teachers to have majored in a subject area like science or math.

College students training to become teachers need hands-on experience in addition to classroom work, and education programs allow them to gain this experience with practicum and student teaching requirements.

Public school teachers also must follow state-specific requirements to become certified or licensed to teach. This may involve obtaining a college degree and meeting GPA requirements, completing student teaching, passing a background check, and passing a test such as the Praxis or other applicable exams. You can find specific licensure requirements on state sites, such as the department of education’s website. Each state also offers an alternative route to earning a teaching license for those who have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete an education training program in college.

Depending on the institution’s rules, private school teachers may not have to meet the same requirements as their public school counterparts.