How to write a high school resume?

To write a high school resume, list your contact info, education, activities, work experience, and skills in one page. Focus on achievements over duties, and tailor each resume to the job or college application. This guide walks you through every section with simple steps and examples.

Why You Need a High School Resume

A resume shows your responsibilities and accomplishments outside of grades. Colleges and employers want evidence of your time management, teamwork, and initiative. Even if you have no paid job, you can list volunteer work, sports, clubs, and class projects.

Most high schoolers worry they have nothing to add. That is false. Babysitting, mowing lawns, helping at a food bank, or leading a study group all count as experience.

Step 1: Start With the Right Structure

Use a clean, one-page layout with clear headings. Recruiters and admission officers spend under 30 seconds on first look. Make your name and contact info bold at the top.

Section	What to Include	Example
Contact Info	Name, phone, email, city/state	Jamie Rivera · (555) 123-4567 · [email protected] · Austin, TX
Education	School name, expected graduation year, GPA (if 3.0+)	Lincoln High School, Class of 2027, GPA 3.6
Experience	Paid jobs, internships, volunteer roles	Cashier at local bakery, June 2025–Present
Activities	Clubs, sports, leadership positions	Varsity Soccer Captain, 2025–2026
Skills	Languages, software, certifications	Spanish (conversational), Canva, First Aid/CPR

Step 2: Write Strong Bullet Points

Use action verbs like “led,” “created,” “organized,” or “tutored.” Avoid starting with “responsible for.” Instead, show results and numbers when possible.

• Led a team of 5 students to raise $300 for a local animal shelter.
• Tutored 8 middle school students in math, improving their grades by one letter.
• Managed social media for the school newspaper, increasing followers by 40%.
• Organized a school supply drive that collected 150 backpacks.

Keep each bullet to one line if you can. Use past tense for old roles and present tense for current ones. If you have no numbers, use descriptive words like “often,” “multiple,” or “weekly.”

Step 3: Add Education and Coursework

List your high school name and expected graduation year. If you have taken AP, IB, or honors classes, name the relevant ones. For example, “AP Biology” or “Honors English.”

If your GPA is 3.0 or higher, include it. If not, leave it off. You can also mention specific academic awards like Honor Roll or National Honor Society membership.

Step 4: Show Work and Volunteer Experience

Even part-time jobs matter. For each role, write your job title, company or organization, and dates. Then add 2-3 bullet points about what you did and learned.

Volunteer work is just as valuable. List the cause, your role, and the time commitment. For example, “Weekly volunteer at River City Food Bank, sorting donations.”

Step 5: Include Skills That Are Real

Only list skills you can actually demonstrate in an interview or on a test. Common ones include Microsoft Office, Google Docs, typing speed, social media, or basic coding. Languages are great to list, but be honest about your level.

Certifications like CPR, lifeguarding, or food safety are strong additions. If you have a driver’s license, mention it if the job requires driving.

Step 6: Tailor for Each Use

For college applications, emphasize academics, leadership, and long-term commitments. For a job, highlight customer service, reliability, and punctuality. Read the job description or college prompt and match your keywords.

Create one master resume with everything. Then, for each application, copy and delete non-relevant items. Keep it to one page always.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not use a photo, age, or marital status on a US resume. That is not standard and could lead to bias. Avoid fancy fonts, colors, or tables that break in online systems. Use a simple PDF format when sending.

Check for typos and ask a teacher or parent to review. Also, never lie about your experience. Schools and employers can verify, and honesty matters more than perfection.

Sample High School Resume Structure

Here is a quick template you can copy:

Jane Smith
Portland, OR · (503) 555-0100 · [email protected]

Education
Roosevelt High School, Expected June 2027
GPA 3.8 · AP Biology, Honors English

Experience
Library Page, Portland Public Library (Summer 2025)
• Shelved 200+ books daily and assisted patrons with finding resources.
• Created a display for teen reads that increased checkouts by 15%.

Volunteer
Youth Soccer Coach Assistant (2024–2026)
• Helped coach 12 kids ages 6-8, teaching basic skills and teamwork.
• Set up equipment and communicated with parents.

Skills
Fluent in Spanish · Google Workspace · Basic HTML · CPR Certified

Final Tips for Success

Update your resume every few months. Add new activities, awards, or jobs as they happen. Keep a folder of your achievements so you do not forget.

Remember that your resume is a marketing tool, not a life story. Be specific, be truthful, and show your best self. With this guide, you can write a strong high school resume in under an hour.