High school graduation requirements, representing as they do the general education area of a high school's offerings, are of significance in reflecting our educational objectives. The general education area of the curriculum is designed to provide for the common needs of all boys and girls in our society, in contrast to the special interests area represented by the elective subjects, which serves the individual needs of pupils. Through its required subjects a school can ensure for every pupil the basic instruction which it believes will best develop the knowledge, understandings, and attitudes he needs to function as an effective citizen. This document reports the subjects that State and city school people have designated as those which best fulfill this important need. A list of cities drawn in the sample is appended. (Contains 10 tables and 5 footnotes.) [Best copy available has been provided.]