However, you might find *evidence* of a high school diploma in some public records, depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances. These might include:
* The school's records: The most likely place, though access is usually restricted. You would need to contact the high school directly and explain why you need access to the records. They will likely require proof of identity and a legitimate reason. FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) in the US protects student privacy, limiting who can access these records.
* College or university transcripts: If the individual attended higher education, their college transcript will often list their high school diploma as part of their admission credentials. However, access to these transcripts is usually restricted to the student.
* Employment records (rare): Some employers may keep copies of diplomas provided by their employees during the hiring process. These are generally not considered public records.
* Court records (extremely rare): In very specific legal contexts, a high school diploma might be mentioned as evidence in a court case, but these records would be part of the court’s case files and access would be strictly controlled.
In short, while a high school diploma itself isn't a public record, there are *occasional* instances where proof of its existence might be found within other records that *are* accessible under specific circumstances. Directly contacting the high school is the most straightforward approach if you need to verify someone's diploma.