House Bill 8 passed both houses and was signed into law Sept. 29, according to a recent news release. Computer science courses will be available at schools next fall and will be required for all students entering high school at the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.
According to the legislation, students who enter North Carolina public high schools as 12th graders and students with certain disabilities will be exempt from the requirement.
The legislation was prompted by a long-term employment projections report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce (DOC) that determined occupations related to computers and math will grow the fastest among all job categories in the state. In addition, the requirement fosters the exploration of college and university programs that align with high-paying careers.
According to the DOC report, the total number of jobs related to computers and math will increase to 202,024 by 2030, up by 20.6 percent from 2021. The median annual salary for jobs in those fields in North Carolina was $98,530, significantly higher than most other occupational groups and second on the list behind management ($101,870 median annual salary).
“Computer science has permeated every facet of society,” North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said in a public statement. “By adding computer science to our graduation requirements, we are ensuring that students gain firsthand experience in this ever-growing discipline so that they can be better prepared to pursue the postsecondary plan of their choice. I commend the General Assembly for taking this tremendous step forward in terms of modernizing education in North Carolina so that we can equip students with the skills required of 21st-century graduates …”
With this law, computer science joins math, science, social studies, arts and English as the required courses for high school graduation. According to the news release, computer science instruction, though not previously mandatory, was available at high schools as part of career and technical education programs that gave participating students entry-level skills related to the management, support and design of software, hardware, multimedia and systems-integration vocations.
“We haven’t added a content area to the graduation requirements for North Carolina students in a century,” Michael Maher, the state’s deputy superintendent of public instruction, said in a public statement. “This is an important addition that will keep North Carolina graduates competitive upon graduation and entry into the workforce. Furthermore, computer science is not just one course offered to students — it’s a content area that will position students for success no matter the path they choose.”
According to the news release, North Carolina’s computer science curriculum will include instruction on computing systems and applications, data analytics, programming and algorithms, design thinking, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and privacy.
At the middle-school level, introductory and exploratory computer science courses will cover web page and game design, programming, robotics and data analytics. All courses must be approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Computer Science Division and the state Board of Education before implementation, according to the news release.
North Dakota passed a similar law earlier this year. Under that legislation, which takes effect at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, high school graduation requires a completed one-unit course in either computer science or cybersecurity.
