Creating a high school resume can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much work experience yet. But here’s the truth: a resume isn’t just about jobs. It’s about showcasing your skills, education, extracurriculars, achievements, and potential. Whether you’re applying for college, internships, scholarships, or your first job, a strong resume for high school students helps you stand out from the competition.
This guide will show you:
- What a high school resume is
- Why it’s important
- Step-by-step instructions on how to write one
- Formatting tips for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and readability
- Sample high school resume examples you can use for inspiration
- A downloadable high school student resume template to get started
What is a High School Resume?
A resume for high school students is a one-page document that highlights your academic achievements, activities, volunteer experience, leadership roles, and skills. Unlike professional resumes, which focus on work history, high school resumes emphasize potential and well-roundedness.
You can use a high school student resume to:
- Apply for part-time jobs or internships
- Apply for college admissions
- Apply for scholarships or grants
- Showcase extracurricular and volunteer experience
Why Do High School Students Need a Resume?
Even if you don’t have formal work experience, your resume:
- Demonstrates Responsibility – Employers and schools see you’re organized.
- Highlights Achievements – Awards, leadership roles, or projects show your strengths.
- Shows Career Interest – Listing skills and goals tells recruiters where you’re headed.
- Builds Early Confidence – Starting early helps you learn professional formatting.
How to Write a High School Resume (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Choose the Right Format
The best formats for a resume for high school students are:
- Chronological – Lists experiences by date. Best if you have jobs or internships.
- Functional (Skills-based) – Focuses on skills and achievements. Great for students with little or no work experience.
- Combination – Mixes both skills and experience. Ideal for scholarships and college applications.
2. Add Contact Information
At the top of your resume, include:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Professional Email Address (avoid casual ones like soccerking123@gmail.com)
- City, State (no need for full address)
- LinkedIn or Portfolio link (optional but impressive)
Example:
Emily Johnson
(555) 123-4567 | emily.johnson@email.com
Austin, TX | linkedin.com/in/emilyjohnson3. Write a Resume Objective (Optional but Powerful)
A resume objective is a short 2–3 sentence introduction that highlights your goals and strengths.
Example Objectives:
“Motivated high school junior with strong organizational and leadership skills seeking a summer internship in marketing to apply creativity and communication skills.”
“Dedicated honor roll student with a passion for STEM, looking to contribute to a research program while gaining real-world lab experience.”4. Highlight Education
Education is one of the most important sections in a high school resume. Include:
- School name and location
- Expected graduation date
- GPA (if strong, e.g., 3.5+)
- Relevant coursework (AP, Honors, Dual Enrollment)
Example:
Westwood High School, Austin, TX
Expected Graduation: May 2026
GPA: 3.8 | AP Courses: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP English
Honor Roll (2023–2025)5. Add Experience (Jobs, Internships, or Volunteer Work)
If you’ve had part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer roles, list them with action verbs and achievements.
Example:
Volunteer Tutor – Austin Public Library | 2023–Present
- Tutored 10+ middle school students weekly in math and reading
- Improved students’ grades by an average of one letter grade
Cashier – Target | Summer 2024
- Handled transactions for 50+ customers daily with accuracy
- Assisted in organizing shelves and maintaining clean store environment6. Add Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, sports, and leadership roles show responsibility and teamwork.
Example:
Student Council Member | 2023–2025
- Organized school-wide events with 200+ students
- Collaborated with teachers to improve school fundraising
Varsity Soccer Team | 2022–Present
- Captain of team for 2024 season
- Led team to regional championships7. Showcase Skills
Focus on hard skills and soft skills that relate to your goals.
Examples of Skills for High School Resume:
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva, Coding Basics
Languages: Spanish (Intermediate), French (Beginner)
Soft Skills: Communication, Leadership, Problem-Solving, Time Management8. Add Awards & Certifications
Include academic honors, certifications, or competition results.
Example:
- National Honor Society (2024–Present)
- 1st Place – Regional Science Fair (2023)
- CPR & First Aid Certified (American Red Cross, 2024)9. Keep It One Page
As a high school student, your resume should be one page only. Focus on quality, not quantity. Try our AI Resume Optimizer for polished, and ATS-friendly resume that gets noticed.
Pro Tips for Writing a High School Resume
- Use keywords related to the opportunity (job, college, scholarship).
- Save in PDF format for clean formatting.
- Always tailor your resume to the application.
- Keep updating your resume as you gain more experience.
High School Student Resume Template
If you want to skip the formatting work, you can start with a high school student resume template. Templates save time and ensure your document looks professional. Here’s a simple outline you can copy into Word or Google Docs:
[Full Name]
[Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [City, State]
Objective: [Write a short 2–3 sentence career objective]
Education:
[High School Name], [City, State] | Graduation Date: [Month, Year]
GPA: [If 3.5+] | Relevant Coursework: [AP/Honors Classes]
Experience:
[Job/Volunteer Title] – [Organization Name] | [Year–Year]
- [Responsibility or Achievement]
- [Responsibility or Achievement]
Extracurriculars:
[Club/Team] | [Year–Year]
- [Role or Achievement]
Skills:
[List 4–6 relevant skills]
Awards & Honors:
[List achievements, certifications, scholarships]Sample High School Resume Examples
Example 1: High School Student Resume for a Part-Time Job
Samantha Lee
(555) 555-1234 | samantha.lee@email.com | Denver, CO
Objective: Reliable and hardworking high school sophomore seeking a part-time retail position to develop customer service and teamwork skills.
Education:
Lincoln High School, Denver, CO | Expected Graduation: 2026
GPA: 3.6 | Relevant Coursework: Business Studies, Economics
Experience:
Babysitter | 2022–Present
- Supervised 3 children ages 4–9
- Planned engaging activities and ensured safety
Skills:
- Cash handling
- Time management
- CommunicationExample 2: High School Resume for College Applications
David Martinez
(555) 987-6543 | david.martinez@email.com | Chicago, IL
Objective: Honor roll student with a strong interest in engineering, seeking admission into a competitive undergraduate engineering program.
Education:
Roosevelt High School, Chicago, IL | Expected Graduation: 2025
GPA: 3.9 | AP Courses: AP Physics, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science
Extracurriculars:
- Robotics Club President (2023–2025) – Led team to state finals
- Debate Team Captain (2024) – Won 2nd place in regional competition
Volunteer Experience:
Habitat for Humanity | Summer 2024
- Assisted in building homes for 5 low-income families
Skills:
- Python, Java
- Public speaking
- LeadershipExample 3: High School Resume for Scholarship Application
Olivia Green
(555) 321-9876 | olivia.green@email.com | Phoenix, AZ
Objective: Dedicated high school senior with a passion for community service and academic excellence, seeking a merit-based scholarship to pursue studies in Public Health.
Education:
Sun Valley High School, Phoenix, AZ | Expected Graduation: 2025
GPA: 4.0 (Valedictorian) | AP Courses: AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP English Literature
Awards & Honors:
- National Merit Scholar (2024)
- 1st Place – State Essay Competition (2023)
- Principal’s Honor Roll (2021–2025)
Volunteer Experience:
Red Cross Youth Volunteer | 2022–Present
- Contributed 200+ volunteer hours at local hospitals
- Organized blood donation drives impacting 500+ donors
Skills:
- Research & writing
- Event coordination
- LeadershipExample 4: High School Resume for Internship
Michael Carter
(555) 456-7890 | michael.carter@email.com | San Francisco, CA
Objective: Ambitious high school junior seeking a summer internship in software development to gain hands-on experience and strengthen programming skills.
Education:
Bayview High School, San Francisco, CA | Expected Graduation: 2026
GPA: 3.7 | Coursework: Computer Science, AP Calculus, Web Development
Projects:
- Created a personal portfolio website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Developed a budgeting app in Python with over 200 downloads on GitHub
Extracurriculars:
Coding Club | 2023–Present
- Mentored younger students in basic programming
- Led a team project that won 2nd place at a city hackathon
Skills:
- Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS
- Team collaboration
- Problem-solvingExample 5: High School Resume for First Job (No Experience)
Sophia Patel
(555) 654-3210 | sophia.patel@email.com | Orlando, FL
Objective: Responsible and enthusiastic high school student seeking a first-time retail position to gain work experience and develop customer service skills.
Education:
Lakewood High School, Orlando, FL | Expected Graduation: 2027
GPA: 3.4 | Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Business, Marketing
Extracurriculars:
Drama Club | 2023–Present
- Acted in 3 school plays, improving teamwork and public speaking
- Assisted backstage with costumes and set design
Volunteer Experience:
Local Food Bank | 2022–Present
- Helped distribute meals to 100+ families weekly
- Organized donations and assisted in record-keeping
Skills:
- Customer service
- Time management
- TeamworkFinal Thoughts
A strong high school student resume is your ticket to better opportunities, whether it’s a job, college application, or scholarship. With these five high school resume examples, you now have a variety of templates to fit different goals: jobs, college, scholarships, or internships. Remember, your resume should highlight what makes you unique—whether that’s leadership, academic achievement, or creativity.