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Why this resume works
- Quantifies accomplishments: By using metrics to quantify their accomplishments, such as a 15% reduction in preparation time and a 20% increase in test performance, the applicant illustrates their impact and value.
- Uses action-oriented language: Using strong action verbs, including “assisted,” “developed,” and “strengthened,” the applicant conveys initiative and effectiveness in tackling academic and volunteer responsibilities.
- Places contact information prominently: A well-organized resume header like the one above is essential for callbacks, providing quick access to contact information and establishing credibility right from the start.
More High School Resume Examples
These high school student resume examples show how to effectively highlight your education, skills, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and job experience. Use them as a guide to create a professional resume that showcases your strengths and supports your goals.
Student Body President
Why this resume works
- Centers on academic background: The education section emphasizes academic accomplishments, such as being on the honor roll and developing valuable skills through elective classes and extracurriculars, making a strong case for their professional capacity.
- Effective use of keywords: Strategically including terms like “managed logistics,” “social media engagement,” and “event planning” ensures the student’s resume includes role-specific keywords to improve their chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Puts skills at the forefront: By organizing extracurricular experience into skill categories that show what the applicant can do, they effectively follow a skills-based resume format, which is ideal for entry-level applicants.
Peer Tutor
Why this resume works
- Points to measurable outcomes: Achieving a 15% grade improvement for over 25 students highlights the student’s ability to help drive significant academic improvements.
- Displays technical expertise: Demonstrating expertise in mentoring students in various subjects and skill sets reflects strong technical skills essential for educational roles.
- Demonstrates language abilities: With language skills in Spanish, French, and Mandarin, this high school student is well-equipped to engage in cross-cultural tutoring environments.
School Newspaper Editor
Why this resume works
- Focuses on work history: Using a chronological resume format, this student showcases their progressive responsibility and notable achievements in journalism.
- Showcases impressive accomplishments: The applicant’s accomplishments demonstrate strong leadership and strategic vision through their ability to boost student readership engagement by 25% and increase the number of articles published by 30%.
- Sections are well-organized: Clear section headers and bullet points guide readers through this resume effortlessly, ensuring the high school student’s key achievements and skills are easily accessible.
High School Resume Template (Text Version)
Use this text-version resume template for high school students as a starting point, and explore our full selection of resume templates for professional layout options.
Aya Smith
Boston, MA 02116
(555)555-5555
Aya.Smith@example.com
Professional Summary
Motivated high school student with a 3.9 GPA, three years on the honor roll, and 50+ hours of community service. Strong leadership, organizational, and teamwork skills; eager to contribute positively in a professional setting.
Work History
The Greater Boston Food Bank – Volunteer
Boston, MA
09/2024 – Current
- Sorted and packed food donations for distribution to over 200 families monthly.
- Assisted in organizing donation drives and community events, helping raise over 500 pounds of food for local families
- Helped increase efficiency by streamlining packing stations, reducing preparation time by 15%.
East Boston High School – Tutor
Boston, MA
09/2023 – 04/2024
- Assisted 10+ peers weekly in math and English, helping improve grades by an average of one letter grade.
- Developed personalized study guides that increased test performance by 20%.
- Strengthened communication skills by adapting teaching methods to different learning styles.
Languages
- Spanish – Limited Working (B1)
- French – Elementary (A2)
Skills
- Public Speaking
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Social Media Management
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Time Management
- Problem-solving
Accomplishments
- Organized a school fundraiser that raised over $1,000 for a local charity, exceeding the goal by 25%.
- Selected as Student Council Representative, collaborating with peers and faculty to improve student activities.
Education
East Boston High School
City, State
Expected in 01/2027
High School Diploma
- Extracurriculars: Varsity Soccer Team, Debate Team, Student Council
- GPA: 3.9
- Relevant Coursework: Advanced Math, Science, English
- Honors: Honor Roll, Academic Excellence Award
Related Resume Guides
Advice for Writing Your High School Resume
Whether you’re applying for a part-time job, internship, or summer opportunity, a well-written resume can help you showcase your skills, achievements, and potential. Explore practical tips for organizing your resume, highlighting your strengths, and creating an application that makes a strong impression.
Highlight relevant certifications and training
Certifications and training can help high school students strengthen their resumes by showing initiative, specialized skills, and a willingness to learn. While your education section highlights your high school coursework, graduation status, or relevant classes, a certifications and training section can showcase additional skills you’ve developed outside the classroom.
Depending on your goals, you might include certifications related to technology, workplace safety, customer service, first aid, language skills, or industry-specific training. You can also highlight relevant workshops, online courses, school programs, or career-focused electives that helped you build useful skills.
Add a certifications and training section if you have credentials that relate to the job you’re applying for. Place it near your education or skills section so employers can quickly see the qualifications you’ve earned. These additions can help demonstrate your interests, preparation, and commitment to developing skills that will support your future goals.
Example of a certifications & training section
Microsoft Office Specialist
Issued by: Microsoft
CPR & First Aid
Issued by: American Red Cross
Adobe Certified Associate in Digital Video Using Adobe Premiere Pro
Issued by: Adobe
Google IT Support Professional Certificate
Issued by: Coursera – Google
Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Issued by: California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) through Coursera
Certifications, online courses, workshops, and school programs can help strengthen your resume. Include credentials that relate to the opportunity, such as first aid certification, software training, language skills, or career-focused programs.
List your most relevant skills
Balancing technical and soft skills on your resume helps employers understand both what you can do and how you work with others. Technical skills include abilities such as using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, social media platforms, design software, or other tools relevant to the job. Soft skills include qualities like communication, teamwork, organization, problem-solving, and adaptability.
Include a skills section on your resume to give employers a quick overview of your strengths. Choose skills that are relevant to the opportunity you’re applying for, and focus on abilities you can support with examples from school, activities, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. For example, if you helped plan a school event, you might highlight your organization, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Whenever possible, show your skills in action throughout your resume rather than simply listing them. Describing how you used your abilities in real situations makes your experience more meaningful and helps employers understand the value you can bring to their team.
If you don’t have much formal work experience, highlight the skills you’ve developed through school, activities, volunteer work, sports, clubs, and personal projects. Communication, teamwork, leadership, organization, and problem-solving are valuable skills employers look for.
Write a strong professional summary
A professional summary or resume objective serves as an introduction at the top of your resume, giving employers a quick overview of your skills, experience, and goals. Choosing the right type of introduction depends on your background and the opportunity you’re applying for.
A professional summary is typically three to four sentences long and highlights relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments. It is most useful for candidates with a strong work history who want to showcase their expertise and the value they can bring to an employer.
A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on your career goals and what you hope to contribute in a role. This format is often a better fit for high school students, first-time job seekers, recent graduates, or anyone with limited professional experience. Rather than focusing on past accomplishments, an objective highlights your strengths, interests, and enthusiasm for gaining experience.
As a high school student, you can use your resume objective to highlight skills developed through classes, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, sports, or part-time jobs. The examples below show how to write effective summaries and objectives for different backgrounds and career goals.
High school resume summary examples
Recent graduate
Recent high school graduate with strong academic performance and a keen interest in computer science. Completed coursework in programming languages, including Python and Java. Participated in a coding club and volunteered as a tech assistant at local community events. Eager to apply foundational skills in a dynamic environment.
Some work experience
High school student with two years of experience working part-time as a retail associate, developing excellent customer service and sales skills. Actively involved in the school’s business club, leading projects that improved peer engagement and fundraising efforts. Seeking opportunities to leverage hands-on retail experience alongside academic achievements.
Extracurricular experience
Accomplished high school senior with leadership experience as president of the student council and captain of the varsity soccer team. Demonstrates advanced organizational and team-building skills, successfully coordinating multiple school events and sports activities. Passionate about pursuing a career in sports management while maintaining high academic standards.
High school resume objective examples
Entry-level job
Diligent high school graduate with a strong interest in computer science, seeking an entry-level position to apply foundational programming skills and contribute to innovative tech projects. Eager to learn and grow within a dynamic team environment.
Job change
Driven individual transitioning from part-time retail work to the culinary field, aspiring to leverage customer service experience and passion for food in a kitchen assistant role. Excited to support chefs in preparing delicious meals while honing cooking skills.
Internship opportunity
Recent high school graduate passionate about environmental science, looking for an internship opportunity at a conservation organization. Committed to contributing research skills and enthusiasm for sustainability efforts aimed at protecting natural resources.
Review the job description and adjust your resume to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the role. A retail job may value customer service and teamwork, while an internship may focus more on technical skills, coursework, or projects.
Showcase your accomplishments and projects
Including projects and presentations on your high school resume can help demonstrate your skills, interests, and ability to complete meaningful work—especially when you have limited professional experience. Academic projects, class presentations, research assignments, group projects, and personal projects can all show valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, organization, and teamwork.
When adding a projects section, include the project name, a brief description of what you created or accomplished, the skills you used, and when you completed it. Focus on the impact of your work whenever possible. For example, instead of simply listing a science project, explain how you conducted research, analyzed information, presented findings, or collaborated with classmates.
You can also strengthen your resume by including academic honors, awards, scholarships, certifications, or other recognition that demonstrates your dedication and achievements. These accomplishments help employers understand your strengths and the effort you put into developing new skills.
Example of a projects and awards section
First Place Winner, School Science Fair | 2025
- Independently designed and executed a study to investigate the effectiveness of different natural soil amendments on plant growth, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices.
- Collected and analyzed quantitative data on plant height, leaf count, and biomass to determine the most effective amendment, using statistical software to ensure data accuracy.
- Presented a detailed research poster outlining the methodology, results, and conclusions to a panel of judges, earning first place among 50+ projects.
Recognition for Outstanding Research | 2024
- Conducted a comprehensive research project on the effects of microplastics on local aquatic ecosystems, including a literature review and a field-based water sampling component.
- Analyzed water samples under a microscope to identify and quantify microplastic particles, contributing new data to a classroom-wide study.
- Authored a detailed report summarizing findings and presented the project to the class and teacher, earning special recognition for the project’s thoroughness and unique approach.
You can use our Resume Builder to easily create your first resume, highlight your skills and achievements, and build a professional application for jobs, internships, and other opportunities.
FAQ
Do I need to include a cover letter with my high school student resume?
Yes, including a cover letter with your high school resume can help you stand out to potential employers or admissions officers. A cover letter provides an opportunity to highlight your enthusiasm for the role and explain how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
For instance, if you’re applying for a part-time job at a local store, you can mention any relevant volunteer work or school projects that showcase your teamwork and organizational skills.
Using tools like our Cover Letter Generator can simplify the process by helping you draft personalized letters based on your resume details. Looking at cover letter examples can also offer inspiration and guidance on how to effectively structure your own letter, ensuring it reflects both your personality and the requirements of the position.
How long should a high school student’s resume be?
For a high school student, a one-page resume is ideal. At this stage, you likely have limited work experience, so focus on highlighting education, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and any relevant skills or awards. This keeps your information clear and easy to read.
If you have extensive involvement in clubs, sports, or part-time jobs that truly showcase your strengths and achievements, then consider expanding to a two-page resume. Just ensure every detail included adds value and relevance to your goals.
Explore our guide on how long a resume should be for more tips tailored to different career stages and roles.
How do you write a high school student resume with no experience?
Creating a resume with no experience as a high school student may seem difficult, but it just requires focusing on your strengths and potential to show what you can accomplish.
- Include education details: Start by listing your high school name, expected graduation date, and any academic honors or achievements you’ve earned.
- Highlight extracurricular activities: If you’re involved in clubs, sports, or volunteer work, include these as they demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and commitment.
- Showcase transferable skills: Think about skills you’ve developed through school projects or personal interests like communication, organization, or problem-solving. These are valuable to employers.
- Add a section for hobbies/interests: Mentioning hobbies that relate to the job you’re applying for can show passion and dedication.
By focusing on these areas, you’ll create a strong resume with no experience that showcases your potential. Tailor it to each opportunity to stand out!
Should I include my GPA on a high school resume?
Include your GPA on a high school resume if it is strong and relevant to the opportunity, such as a job, internship, scholarship, or academic program. A high GPA can help demonstrate your dedication and work ethic. If your GPA is not a strength, you can leave it off and focus on other qualifications, such as coursework, extracurricular activities, projects, volunteer work, or skills.
What do I put on a resume if I’ve never had a job?
If you’ve never had a job, focus on experiences that show your skills, responsibility, and potential. Include your education, relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, school projects, certifications, and skills.
You can also highlight accomplishments from clubs, sports, or personal projects that demonstrate teamwork, leadership, organization, or problem-solving.
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Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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