High School Resume: How to Write (With Examples & Templates)

Writing your first resume as a high school student can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t have much (or any) work experience. But here’s the good news: colleges, internships, and part-time employers don’t expect extensive professional history. They want to see your potential, skills, and initiative.

This guide shows you exactly how to create a standout high school resume, what to include when you lack experience, and provides templates you can customize for college applications, jobs, internships, and scholarships.

What to Include on a High School Resume

A strong high school resume includes these sections:

• Contact Information: Name, phone, email, city/state (full address optional)
• Education: School name, expected graduation, GPA (if 3.0+), relevant coursework
• Experience: Jobs, internships, volunteer work, or significant projects
• Skills: Technical skills, languages, software proficiency
• Activities & Leadership: Clubs, sports, student government, organizations
• Awards & Honors: Academic achievements, competitions, recognitions

High School Resume Template

[YOUR NAME]
[City, State] | [Phone] | [Email]
[LinkedIn URL - optional]

EDUCATION
[High School Name], [City, State]
Expected Graduation: [Month Year]
GPA: [X.X/4.0] | Class Rank: [if impressive]
Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3]
Honors: [Honor Roll, AP Scholar, etc.]

EXPERIENCE
[Job Title/Role] | [Organization Name]                    [Date Range]
• Achievement or responsibility with specific results
• Another accomplishment demonstrating skills
• Third bullet if applicable

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
[Role] | [Club/Organization Name]                         [Date Range]
• Leadership responsibility or achievement
• Impact or contribution to the group

SKILLS
• Technical: [Software, tools, programming languages]
• Languages: [Languages and proficiency levels]
• Other: [Relevant skills like public speaking, writing]

AWARDS & HONORS
• [Award Name] – [Issuing Organization] ([Year])
• [Achievement] – [Context] ([Year])

High School Resume Examples

Example 1: College Application Resume

EMMA RODRIGUEZ
Austin, TX | (512) 555-0123 | emma.rodriguez@email.com

EDUCATION
Westlake High School, Austin, TX
Expected Graduation: May 2026
GPA: 3.87/4.0 (Unweighted) | Class Rank: Top 10%
AP Courses: AP English Literature, AP US History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB
Honors: Principal's Honor Roll (6 semesters), National Honor Society

LEADERSHIP & ACTIVITIES
President | Environmental Action Club                      2026 – Present
• Lead 45-member club organizing campus sustainability initiatives
• Coordinated Earth Day event with 500+ student participants
• Secured $2,000 grant from local business for recycling program

Varsity Captain | Girls Soccer Team                        2022 – Present
• Lead team of 22 players through practices and game strategies
• Maintained 3.5+ GPA requirement while training 15+ hours weekly
• Named Team MVP and All-District Honorable Mention (2026)

Volunteer Tutor | Austin Public Library                    2022 – Present
• Provide weekly math tutoring to middle school students
• Helped 12 students improve grades by one letter grade average

WORK EXPERIENCE
Lifeguard | Barton Springs Pool                           Summer 2026
• Monitored safety of 200+ daily swimmers
• Certified in CPR, First Aid, and Water Safety
• Trained 3 new lifeguards on pool protocols

SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
• Languages: Spanish (Fluent), English (Native)
• Software: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva, Adobe Premiere
• Certifications: CPR/First Aid, Lifeguard Certification

AWARDS
• Regional Science Fair – 2nd Place, Environmental Science (2026)
• Spanish National Honor Society (2026 – Present)
• Girls State Delegate Selection (2026)

Example 2: Part-Time Job Resume (Limited Experience)

MARCUS JOHNSON
Denver, CO | (720) 555-0456 | marcus.j@email.com

OBJECTIVE
Reliable and friendly high school junior seeking part-time retail position. 
Strong communication skills and available evenings and weekends.

EDUCATION
East High School, Denver, CO
Expected Graduation: May 2026
GPA: 3.4/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Business Fundamentals, Computer Applications

EXPERIENCE
Volunteer | Denver Food Bank                              2026 – Present
• Sort and package food donations for 3 hours weekly
• Assist with inventory organization and distribution events
• Interact positively with donors and recipients

Babysitter | Private Families                             2022 – Present
• Care for children ages 4-10 for multiple neighborhood families
• Manage schedules, prepare meals, and organize activities
• Trusted with responsibility for up to 3 children simultaneously

ACTIVITIES
Member | DECA Business Club                               2026 – Present
• Compete in marketing and business role-play events
• Placed 3rd at regional competition in Retail Merchandising

Player | JV Basketball Team                               2026 – Present
• Practice 10 hours weekly while maintaining grades
• Demonstrate teamwork, discipline, and time management

SKILLS
• Customer service and communication
• Cash handling (trained through DECA simulations)
• Microsoft Office and Google Docs
• Bilingual: English and conversational Spanish

AVAILABILITY
Available: Monday-Friday 4pm-9pm, Weekends flexible

Example 3: Internship Application Resume

SOPHIA CHEN
San Jose, CA | (408) 555-0789 | sophia.chen@email.com
linkedin.com/in/sophiachen | github.com/sophiac

OBJECTIVE
Aspiring software developer seeking summer internship to apply programming 
skills and contribute to real-world projects. Experience with Python, Java, 
and web development.

EDUCATION
Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA
Expected Graduation: May 2026
GPA: 4.2/4.0 (Weighted) | SAT: 1480
AP Courses: AP Computer Science A (5), AP Computer Science Principles (5), 
           AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C
Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction

TECHNICAL PROJECTS
Personal Finance Tracker App                              2026
• Built full-stack web application using React and Node.js
• Implemented user authentication and database integration
• Deployed on Heroku with 50+ active users

School Event Management System                            2026 – 2026
• Developed Python application for student government event planning
• Created automated email notification system for 500+ students
• Reduced event coordination time by 40%

AI Homework Helper Chatbot                                2026
• Trained machine learning model using TensorFlow
• Integrated OpenAI API for natural language processing
• Won 1st place at school STEM showcase

ACTIVITIES
President | Computer Science Club                         2026 – Present
• Lead weekly coding workshops for 30+ members
• Organized hackathon with 80 participants from 5 schools
• Mentor beginner programmers in Python fundamentals

Competitor | USACO (USA Computing Olympiad)              2022 – Present
• Achieved Silver Division ranking
• Practice algorithmic problem-solving weekly

TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL
• Frameworks: React, Node.js, Flask, TensorFlow
• Tools: Git, VS Code, Firebase, AWS basics
• Concepts: Data Structures, Algorithms, REST APIs, Agile

Example 4: Scholarship Application Resume

AISHA PATEL
Atlanta, GA | (404) 555-0321 | aisha.patel@email.com

EDUCATION
North Atlanta High School, Atlanta, GA
Expected Graduation: May 2026
GPA: 4.0/4.0 (Unweighted) | Valedictorian Candidate
SAT: 1520 | ACT: 34
Advanced Coursework: 8 AP classes, 4 Dual Enrollment college courses

COMMUNITY SERVICE & LEADERSHIP
Founder & Director | Youth Health Education Initiative    2022 – Present
• Founded nonprofit teaching health literacy to underserved communities
• Recruited and trained 15 high school volunteers
• Delivered workshops to 400+ middle school students on nutrition, 
  mental health, and disease prevention
• Secured $5,000 in grants from local health organizations

Vice President | Student Government Association           2026 – Present
• Manage $15,000 student activity budget
• Led initiative adding mental health resources to school website
• Coordinate school-wide events for 1,800+ students

Hospital Volunteer | Children's Healthcare of Atlanta     2022 – Present
• Complete 200+ volunteer hours in pediatric unit
• Assist with patient activities and family support
• Recognized as Volunteer of the Month (March 2026)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Intern | Emory University Biology Lab            Summer 2026
• Assisted graduate students with cancer cell research
• Learned laboratory techniques: PCR, gel electrophoresis, cell culture
• Co-authored poster presented at undergraduate research symposium

AWARDS & RECOGNITION
• Coca-Cola Scholars Semifinalist (2026)
• Georgia Governor's Honors Program – Medicine (2026)
• QuestBridge College Prep Scholar (2026)
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup Scholar-Athlete (2026)
• National AP Scholar (2026)

SKILLS & INTERESTS
• Languages: English (Native), Hindi (Fluent), Spanish (Conversational)
• Interests: Public health, health equity, medical research
• Skills: Public speaking, grant writing, event planning

What If You Have No Work Experience?

Most high school students lack formal work experience—and that’s completely normal. Here’s what to include instead:

Substitute These for Work Experience

• Volunteer work: Food banks, animal shelters, hospitals, religious organizations, community events
• School clubs and organizations: Any role showing involvement and responsibility
• Sports teams: Especially leadership positions like captain
• Personal projects: Websites, apps, art portfolios, YouTube channels, blogs
• Informal jobs: Babysitting, lawn care, tutoring, pet sitting
• Family responsibilities: Caring for siblings, helping with family business
• Academic achievements: Research projects, competitions, academic teams
• Summer programs: Camps, workshops, courses, or certifications

How to Present Non-Traditional Experience

Frame any experience professionally:

Instead of: "I babysit my neighbor's kids sometimes"

Write:
Childcare Provider | Private Family                       2026 – Present
• Provide regular after-school care for two children ages 6 and 9
• Plan educational activities, help with homework, prepare snacks
• Trusted with sole responsibility for 15+ hours weekly

High School Resume Tips

1. Keep It to One Page

High school resumes should never exceed one page. Be selective—include only your most impressive and relevant experiences.

2. Put Education First

As a student, your education is your primary credential. Lead with it, including GPA (if 3.0+), relevant coursework, and academic honors.

3. Quantify When Possible

Numbers make your achievements concrete:

• “Tutored students” → “Tutored 8 students weekly, improving average grades by one letter”
• “Raised money for charity” → “Raised $3,500 for local food bank through bake sale”
• “Member of debate team” → “Competed in 12 tournaments, winning 3 first-place awards”

4. Use Action Verbs

Start each bullet point with strong action verbs:

Leadership: Led, Organized, Coordinated, Managed, Directed, Founded

Achievement: Achieved, Earned, Won, Exceeded, Improved, Increased

Contribution: Created, Developed, Designed, Built, Implemented, Launched

Support: Assisted, Helped, Supported, Contributed, Collaborated, Volunteered

5. Tailor for Each Application

Customize your resume for different purposes:

• College applications: Emphasize academics, leadership, community service
• Part-time jobs: Highlight reliability, customer service skills, availability
• Internships: Focus on relevant skills, projects, and career interests
• Scholarships: Showcase achievements, community impact, future goals

6. Proofread Carefully

Spelling and grammar errors can disqualify you instantly. Read your resume aloud, use spell-check, and have a teacher, parent, or counselor review it.

Should You Include an Objective Statement?

For high school students, a brief objective can be helpful—especially for job applications where you want to state your availability and goals clearly.

Good objective examples:

Motivated junior seeking part-time retail position. Strong communication 
skills and available 20 hours per week including weekends.

Aspiring engineer seeking summer internship to apply STEM skills and gain 
hands-on experience in mechanical design.

Dedicated student-athlete applying to XYZ University's pre-med program. 
Passionate about healthcare access and community service.

Skip the objective for college applications—your personal statement serves this purpose better.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including an unprofessional email address: Use firstname.lastname@email.com, not partygirl2007@email.com
• Listing every activity since middle school: Focus on high school achievements only
• Using fancy fonts or colors: Stick to clean, professional formatting
• Writing in first person: Don’t say “I organized events”—say “Organized events”
• Including personal information: No age, photo, religion, or political affiliation
• Exaggerating or lying: Be honest—verification is common
• Using vague descriptions: Be specific about what you actually did
• Forgetting contact information: Always include phone and email

Frequently Asked Questions

Do colleges actually read resumes?

Yes, many colleges request or accept resumes as part of the application. Even when optional, submitting a well-crafted resume can strengthen your application by providing a concise overview of your achievements.

Should I include my GPA?

Include your GPA if it’s 3.0 or higher. If your weighted GPA is significantly higher than unweighted, you can list both. If your GPA is below 3.0, consider leaving it off and focusing on other strengths.

How far back should I go?

Generally, stick to high school experiences only. Middle school activities are too dated unless they continued into high school or represent exceptional achievements (like national competitions).

Should I include social media?

Include LinkedIn if you have a professional profile. Only include other platforms if they’re relevant (GitHub for tech, portfolio sites for creative fields) and professional.

What if I’m a freshman or sophomore?

Start building your resume now! Even with limited experience, documenting your activities helps you track achievements and identify areas to develop before college applications.

Key Takeaways

• One page maximum: Be selective and concise
• Education first: Your academic record is your primary credential
• Experience counts beyond jobs: Clubs, volunteering, projects all matter
• Quantify achievements: Use numbers whenever possible
• Tailor for purpose: Customize for college, jobs, or scholarships
• Proofread thoroughly: Errors can disqualify you
• Start early: Build your resume throughout high school

Ready to create your high school resume? Our AI-powered resume builder makes it easy with student-friendly templates and step-by-step guidance.

Explore more resources: resume examples by career, how to list skills, and interview preparation tips.

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