What Is a High School Transcript? Why Do You Need One?

For Multnomah Athletic Foundation scholarship programs, an unofficial electronic transcript is all that is required. Go to your guidance counselor’s office and ask them how to get a transcript or check on your school’s website under the student portal. You can upload the transcript directly into the online portal when you apply.

Read below for more information.

A high school transcript is a record of all your academic accomplishments in high school. It lists every class you took, when you took them, the grades you received and standardized test scores. Every student who attended high school has a transcript, and if you attended more than one high school, you will have a transcript from each school.

How to Get Your High School Transcript

How you obtain and send your high school transcript varies from school to school and also depends on whether or not you currently attend that school. Follow the guidelines below to learn how to request and receive your high school transcript.

If you currently attend the high school you’d like a transcript from, then you’re in luck because that makes it pretty simple to get your transcript.

  1. First, stop by your guidance counselor’s office and ask them how you can request a copy of your high school transcript. Your counselor will advise you on next steps which could include:
  2. Picking up a copy in person from your school’s office
    1. If this is the case, stop by the office and tell them you’d like a copy of your transcript. You may need to bring an ID or know your student identification number in order to get your transcript. In general, unofficial versions of your transcript can be printed off very quickly, sometimes right then, but receiving or sending official versions may take a few days longer.
  3. Requesting a copy online
    1. If your school has this, there will often be a page on their website where you can request a transcript. It may allow you to print off an unofficial copy for yourself and/or request for an official copy to be sent on your behalf.

Do You Want an Official or Unofficial Copy of Your Transcript?

There are two versions of your high school transcript: official and unofficial. Both versions contain the same information and will look the same or nearly identical, but an official transcript often includes an official seal or tamper-proof marks or is enclosed in a sealed envelope. This ensures no information on the transcript is altered.

Most colleges want an official version of your high school transcript. Official versions are often sent directly by your high school, either through snail mail or as an e-mail. Your school may also give you an official version of your transcript inside a sealed envelope for you to send yourself. If they do, do not open this envelope, as it will make the transcript no longer official. If you just want a copy of your transcript for your own personal use, an unofficial version is fine.

When you request a copy of your high school transcript, make sure you know whether you are requesting an official or unofficial version.

You generally need a transcript for three reasons:

#1: To apply to college or scholarships: Most colleges require an official copy of your high school transcript when you apply.

#2: To graduate or transfer high schools: High schools will look at your transcript in order to make sure you have met all your graduation requirements or to determine which classes you should enroll in if you transferred schools.

#3: To apply for some jobs: When applying for a job, you may be required to submit your high school transcript so the employer can look at your grades or see if you have taken certain courses applicable to the job.

Do You Need to Pay to Get Your Transcript?

It depends. Sometimes schools will charge you a small fee to cover the cost of creating and distributing your transcript. The amount charged and how it is charged varies by school. Some schools don’t charge fees at all for transcript requests.

This document was originally created by PrepScholar and was compiled by the Multnomah Athletic Foundation.