New York State has introduced new options in recent years for students to meet graduation requirements. The Regents exams that have traditionally been used to satisfy the testing requirements for a Regents and Regents with Advanced Designation Diploma remain. The state has also designated additional “pathways” for students to satisfy diploma requirements, generally through some variation in required exams. While these pathways are referenced below, parents/guardians who have any questions about graduation requirements are strongly encouraged to contact their child’s counselor.
Credit Requirements
(Apply to all diploma types: Local, Regents, Regents with Advanced Designation
Required Courses & Minimum Number of Credits:
- English 4 Units
- Social Studies 4 Units
- 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 Units
- Science 3 Units
- Distributed as follows:
- Life Science (1)
- Physical Science (1)
- Life Science or Physical Science (1)
- Distributed as follows:
- World Language 1 Unit
- Health ½ Unit
- The Arts 1 Unit
- Physical Education 2 Units
- Career & Financial Management ½ Unit *Building Requirement Starting with the Class of 2028
- Electives 3 Units
- Total Credits 22 Units
Testing Requirements
Students must demonstrate competency in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies by passing the examinations listed below:
(Criteria to earn a Regents Diploma (passing score – 65%)
- English Language Arts Regents Examination (one exam)
- Social Studies Regents Examination (one exam)
- Mathematics Regents Examination (one exam)
- Science Regents Examination (one exam)
- World Language Checkpoint A Proficiency exam or 1 unit of high school World Language credit
AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- A score of 65+ on a fifth Regents exam in Social Studies, Math, OR Science
- A state-approved Career and Technical Education Program
- A state-approved Arts Pathway (Advanced Placement Studio Art)
- C-DOS Pathway Career Plan (216 hours and CTE coursework plus 54 of those hours in a work-based learning experience plus the completion of an employability profile. The 54 hours do not need to be in the same program as the coursework.)
Earning a Regents Diploma with Honors
Students receive a Regents Diploma with Honors by achieving a computed average of 90% or above on the required Regents exams as referenced on the Regents Diploma requirements.
Criteria to earn a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation (passing score – 65%)
Students seeking the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation must:
- Meet the credit and assessment requirements for a Regents diploma; and
- Pass two additional Regents exams or department approved alternatives in mathematics; and
- Pass one additional Regents exam or department approved alternative in science
- Students seeking advanced designation must pass at least one Regents exam or department approved alternative in both sciences (one life and one physical); and
- Complete a sequence:
- Earn an additional two units of credit in LOTE (for a total of three LOTE credits) and pass a locally developed Checkpoint B LOTE examination, or
- Complete a five-unit sequence in the Arts, or
- Complete a five-unit sequence in CTE
Earning a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors
Students receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors by achieving a computed average of 90% or above on the required Regents Exams as referenced on the Regents with Advanced Designation Diploma requirements.
Special Endorsements
Honors: A student earns a computed average of at least 90% on the Regents examinations applicable to either a Regents diploma or a Regents diploma with advanced designation. No more than two department approved alternatives can be substituted for Regents examinations. The locally developed Checkpoint B LOTE examination is not included in the calculation.
Mastery in Math and/or Science: A student meets all the requirements for a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation AND earns a score of 85 or better on three math Regents examinations and/or three science Regents examinations.
Technical Endorsement: A student meets the requirements for either a Local Diploma, a Regents Diploma or a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation AND successfully completes a department approved CTE program including the three-part technical assessment.
Criteria to earn a Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential
A CDOS Commencement Credential can be used as a standalone high school exiting credential that shows students meet work-readiness criteria, a supplement to a high school diploma, or to help meet Regents Diploma requirements as outlined above. To successfully meet CDOS Commencement Credential requirements, students must complete a career plan and demonstrate attainment of career exploration and development learning standards. CDOS requirements integrate academic course work and workplace readiness skills. Students must complete the equivalent of two units of study in Career and Technical Education course work, including 54 hours of work-based learning and at least one employability profile.
Languages Other than English (LOTE) Exempt Students
Students with a disability may be excused from the required units of credit in LOTE if so, indicated on their IEP, but they must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate. A LOTE exempt student who seeks a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation does NOT have to complete the five-unit sequence in the Arts or CTE in lieu of LOTE to meet the assessment requirements for the advanced diploma.
Related Resources
- New York State General Education & Diploma Requirements (http://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/general-education-and-diploma-requirements)
Superintendent Determination of a Local Diploma
Students with a disability who are unable to attain a Local Diploma through the various safety net provisions may be eligible for a Superintendent Determination of a Local Diploma under certain conditions. See Superintendent Determination Option for Graduation with a Local Diploma (http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/superintendent-determinationoption-august-2018.html).
- A student with a disability may appeal scores between 52 and 54 on up to two Regents examinations in any discipline and graduate with the Local Diploma. See Diploma Requirements Chart: Local diploma for Students with Disabilities.
- In the event a student with a disability is unable to attain a passing score on any Regents examination, the student may be eligible for a Superintendent Determination of a local diploma. See Information Related to Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities.
- English Language Learners seeking an appeal for a score of 55-59 on the ELA Regents Exam are only eligible if they entered the United States in grade 9 or after and were classified as an English Language Learner when they took the test the second time. See Diploma Requirements Chart: Local Diploma: English Language Learners Only.
- Students acquiring five units of credit in one of the following may be exempt from the LOTE requirement: Art, Business, Music, or Career and Technical Education.
For more information regarding New York State diploma requirements, please visit: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/gradreq/Documents/CurrentDiplomaRequirements.pdf