Graduation Requirements
New York State Diploma Requirements Applicable to All Students Enrolled in Grades 9-12
Credit Requirements (Apply to all diploma types: Local, Regents, Regents with Advanced Designation.)
|
Area of Study
|
Minimum # of Credits |
|
English
|
4 |
|
Social Studies
Distributed as Follows: U.S. History (1), Global History & Geography (2), Participation in Government (1/2), Economics (1/2).
|
4 |
|
Science
Distributed as Follows: Life Science (1), Physical Science (1), Life Science or Physical Science (1)
|
3 |
|
Mathematics
|
3 |
| World Languages | 1** |
| Visual Art, Music, Dance, and/or Theater | 1 |
| Physical Education (participation each semester) | 2 |
|
Health
|
1/2 |
| Electives | 3 1/2 |
| Total | 22 |
(**) Students with a disability may be excused from the requirement for 1 unit of credit in World Language if so indicated on their IEP, but they must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.
Pathways
A student must either:
- pass an additional Regents examination in a different course (mathematics, science, or social studies); or
- pass an additional Department approved alternative in a different course (English, mathematics, science, or social studies); or
- pass a Department approved pathway assessment (Arts, CDOS, World Languages); or
- successfully complete a Department approved CTE program, including the associated 3-part technical assessment; or
- successfully complete all the requirements for earning the CDOS Commencement Credential.
Appeals
Appeals are subject to local district approval. Reference Appeals, Safety Nets, and Superintendent Determination.
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 2 department approved alternatives can be substituted for Regents examinations. The locally developed Checkpoint B examination in World Languages 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 3 math Regents examinations and/or 3 science Regents examinations.
- Technical Endorsement: A student meets the requirements for wither a local diploma, a Regents diploma or a Regents diploma with advanced designation AND successfully completes a department approved CTE program including the 3-part technical assessment.
Reference the Endorsements and Seals webpage or NYS Diploma/Credential Requirements for additional information pertaining to awarding special endorsements to students with exam exemptions due to COVID-19.
World Language Exemption
Students with a disability may be excused from the required units of credit in World Languages if so indicated on their IEP, but they must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate. Such student who seeks a Regents diploma with advanced designation does NOT have to complete the 5-unit sequence in the Arts or CTE in lieu of the sequence in World Languages in order to meet the assessment requirements for the advanced diploma.
Superintendent Determination of a Local Diploma
Students with a disability who are unable to attain a local diploma though the various safety net provisions may be eligible for a Superintendent Determination of a local diploma under certain conditions. Reference Appeals, Safety Nets, and Superintendent Determination.
Exemptions due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Students granted an exemption from any examination due to COVID-19 are not required to pass such specific examination to meet the assessment requirements for any diploma type. Reference the following FAQs: June/August, January 2021, June/August 2021, and January 2022 (USHG Only.)
Seal of Civic Readiness
A select number of NYS schools will pilot the Seal of Civic Readiness during the 2021-2022 school year. Reference the Civic Readiness Initiative.
Family Resources
Three flyers, a tracking tool, and presentation materials are available to support students' and families' understanding of the NYS Diploma Requirements. Reference Understanding NYS Diploma Requirements ~ Family Resources. Flyers and tracking tool are translated into eleven different languages.
Assessment Requirements
Regents Diploma for All Students:
| # of Exams | Passing Score | |
| English Language Arts | 1 | 65 |
| Math | 1 | 65 |
| Science | 1 | 65 |
| Social Studies | 1 | 65 |
| Pathway | 1 or CDOS | 65 if Regents Exam |
Regents Diploma via Appeal for All Students:
| # of Exams | Passing Score | |
| English Language Arts | 1 | ** |
| Math | 1 | ** |
| Science | 1 | ** |
| Social Studies | 1 | ** |
| Pathway | 1 or CDOS | ** |
** 1 Regents Exam with a score of 60-64 for which an appeal has been granted by the district and all remaining Regents exams with a score of 65 or above.
Local Diploma via Appeal for All Students:
| # of Exams | Passing Score | |
| English Language Arts | 1 | ** |
| Math | 1 | ** |
| Science | 1 | ** |
| Social Studies | 1 | ** |
| Pathway | 1 or CDOS | ** |
** 1 Regents Exam with a score of 60-64 for which an appeal has been granted by the district and all remaining Regents exams with a score of 65 or above.
Local Diploma via Appeal for Students with a Disability:
| # of Exams | Passing Score | |
| English Language Arts | 1 | 55+^ |
| Math | 1 | 55+^ |
| Science | 1 | 55+^ |
| Social Studies | 1 | 55+^ |
| Pathway | 1 or CDOS | 55+^ if Regents Exam |
*Compensatory Safety Net: Scores of 45-54 on any required Regents exam (Except ELA and Math) can be compensated by a score of 65 or above on another required Regents exam including ELA and Mathematics.
Local Diploma via Appeal for English Language Learners:
| # of Exams | Passing Score | |
| English Language Arts | 1 | *** |
| Math | 1 | *** |
| Science | 1 | *** |
| Social Studies | 1 | *** |
| Pathway | 1 or CDOS | *** |
*** Either the ELA Regents exam with a score of 55-59 for which an appeal has been granted by the district, and all remaining Regents exams with a score of 65 or above, or 1 Regents exam with a score of 60-64 and the ELA Regents with a score of 55-59 for which appeals have been granted for both by the district, and the remaining Regents exams with a score of 65 or above.
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation
Students seeking the Regents diploma with advanced designation must:
- Meet the credit and assessment requirements for a Regents diploma; nd
- 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 2 units of credit in World Languages and pass a locally developed Checkpoint B World Languages examination, or
- complete a 5 unit sequence in the Arts, or
- complete a 5 unit sequence in CTE.
Assessment Combinations for Advanced Designation
Traditional Combination: ELA, Global History and Geography, US History and Government, 3 Mathematics, 2 Science (1 Life Science, 1 Physical Science) = 8 Assessments
Pathway Combination (or other STEM): ELA, 1 Social Studies, 3 Math, 2 Science (1 Life Science, 1 Physical Science), 1 Pathway (other than science or math) = 7 (+Pathway) or 8 Assessments
STEM (Mathematics) Pathway Combination: ELA, 1 Social Studies, 4 Math*, 2 Science (1 Life Science, 1 Physical Science) = 8 Assessments
STEM (Science) Pathway Combination: ELA, 1 Social Studies, 3 Math, 3 Science (at least 1 Life Science, at least 1 Physical Science) = 8 Assessments
* A student with a disability may appeal scores between 52 and 54 on up to two Regents examination in any discipline and graduate with the local diploma. Reference New York State Diploma/ Credential Requirements: Local diploma for Students with Disabilities.
^In the event a student with a disability is unable to obtain a passing score on any Regents examination, the student may be eligible for a Superintendent Determination of a local diploma. Reference Appeals, Safety Nets, and Superintendent Determination.
+English Language Learners seeking an appeal 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 as English Language Learner when they took the test the second time. Reference New York State Diploma/Credential Requirements: Local diploma for English Language Learners.
++The 4th mathematics examination can be selected from the list of Department Approved Alternative Examinations.