New York State students have access to the local diploma, the Regents diploma, and the Regents diploma with advanced designation. To earn a New York State high school diploma, students must meet both the credit requirements and the assessment requirements. Schools and districts may create diploma requirements in addition to those required by the New York State Education Department.
While there are multiple means of earning units of credit towards a diploma, typically students earn diploma credit through the mastery of the learning outcomes set forth in a locally developed syllabus for a given high school subject, after the student had the opportunity to complete a unit of study (180 minutes of instruction per week throughout the school year, or the equivalent). The credit requirements below apply to all diploma types: local, Regents, and Regents with advanced designation.
Credit Requirements
Required Courses & Minimum Number of Credits:
- English 4 credits
- Social Studies 4 credits
- Distributed as follows:
- U.S. History (1)
- Global History and Geography (2)
- Participation in Government (1/2)
- Economics (1/2)
- Distributed as follows:
- Mathematics 3 credits
- Science 3 credits
- Distributed as follows:
- Life Science (1)
- Physical Science (1)
- Life Science or Physical Science (1)
- Distributed as follows:
- World Language 1* credits
- Health ½ credits
- The Arts 1 credits
- Physical Education 2 credits
- Health ½ credits
- Electives 3 1/2 credits
- Total Credits 22 credits
General Information
Enrollment in Courses
Students in grades 9-11 must enroll in a minimum of 6.5 courses, which total a minimum of 6.5 (including physical education) each semester. For students in grade 12 must enroll in a minimum of 5.5 (including physical education) each semester.
Academic Planning
When you plan your high school program, you should consider your special abilities, interests, and objectives. Your pattern of studies will be built around a minimum of required subjects. By carefully selecting elective subjects that meet your needs and satisfy your interests and abilities, you may work toward your own educational, career and technical, and personal goals. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with his/her parent/guardian, teachers, and school counselor.
College Entrance Requirements
Specific subject and grade average requirements vary from one institution to another, as the institutions differ in the programs they offer and the kinds of students they seek. College’s value a high school program that includes four years of English and Social Studies, four years of Math and Science, and two to five years of World Languages. College bound students looking to drop one of these areas before they graduate should do so only after careful consultation with teachers, counselors, and college/universities.
Advancing Through Sequential Courses
There are specific course prerequisites for advancing through sequential courses in some departments. Please read the course descriptions thoroughly.
Promotion Requirements
Class placement is determined by the number of credits completed as follows:
- Grade 9: 0 to 5.5 credits
- Grade 10: 5.5 to 11 credits
- Grade 11: 11 to 15.5 credits
- Grade 12: 15.5 + credits
Early Graduation
Students seeking to complete the diploma requirements in less than four years must complete the diploma requirements applicable to the student who first entered grade nine four years prior to the school year in which the diploma is to be awarded. The diploma will be awarded at the end of the semester in which all requirements are completed. Students who wish to graduate early must review and complete the Early Graduation Application with their school counselor. The building principal will review the application to determine if the student qualifies to graduate early. Applications are due for approval before September in each school year.
Honor Roll Criteria
At the end of each 10-week marking period, students are recognized for their academic achievement based on the following criteria and have no incomplete grades for the quarter, earn a quarterly average (not rounded) with the following ranges Honor Roll an overall average of 85-89.99% and High Honor Roll an overall average of 90-100%.
GPA Recognitions at Graduation
Saratoga Springs High School uses an unweighted GPA system and does not use, or report class rank on the transcript. Seniors are recognized at graduation based on their cumulative (not rounded), grade point average after 7 semesters of work as follows:
Summa Cum Laude
Average of 97% or better
(Blue, White, and Gold cord)
Magna Cum Laude
Average between 94-96.99%
(Blue and White cord)
Cum Laude
Average between 90-93.99%
(Solid White cord)
National Honor Society
(Blue and Gold Tassel)
French National Honor Society
(Blue, White and Red cord)
Spanish Honor Society
(Gold and Red cord)
Tri-M Music Honor Society
(Pink cord)
Adding a New Course
A course may be added to a student’s schedule when the schedule permits, based on seat availability, and prior to the third-class session. Please contact your school counselor to investigate whether this is an option for your schedule.
Dropping a Course
Students should make every effort to maintain a rigorous academic schedule. This includes maintaining a schedule with the minimum credits required at every grade level. Students are expected to take the courses they requested. Courses required for graduation will not be permitted to be dropped. For a student to replace an elective course with a study hall, the required paperwork must be completed no later than the end of the second quarter for a full year course or the end of the first quarter/third quarter for a semester course. Only in extenuating circumstances, and with administrator approval, may a student drop after the deadline and/or drop below the number of credits required by grade level. If a student is permitted to drop a course after the deadline, the course grade will indicate WF – Withdrawal Failing or WP – Withdrawal Passing on the official transcripts. This indication will not be calculated into the student’s final average.
Course Level Changes
In some of our academic disciplines, multiple levels of instruction have been established to meet our diverse student population’s needs. Early and frequent communication with the classroom teacher is essential in making educated decisions regarding level changes. Key factors considered are the student’s previous academic achievement, along with historic and current effort levels. Attending extra help regularly and completing all assignments allows students, parents, school counselors and teachers to collectively help make an informed decision.
Students, parents/guardians should be advised that once a student has signed up for a course, there is no assurance that a request for a level change can be accommodated. Requesting a level change may result in an undesirable disruption to a student’s original schedule, therefore it may not be possible to honor. Course requests to level up would be based on summer work completion. Level changes are approved subject to seat availability. A student may change course levels if seats are available, and the required paperwork is signed and approved by the parent, counselor, teacher, department head and assigned administrator (and/or building principal) no later than two weeks after the first quarter ends. Only in extenuating circumstances approved by administration will a student be permitted to change course levels after the deadline. In that case, the original course will stay on the official transcript with a grade indicated by WF – Withdrawal Failing or WP – Withdrawal Passing. This indication will not be calculated into the student’s final average.