Graduation Requirements
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, studentsÌýmust meet both the credit requirements and the assessment requirements.ÌýSchools and districts may create diploma requirements in addition to those required by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
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).Ìý The credit requirements below apply to all diploma types:Ìýlocal, Regents, and Regents with advanced designation.Ìý
| Ìý | Minimum Number of Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
|
Social Studies Distributed as follows:
|
4 |
|
Science Distributed as follows:
|
3 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| World Languages | 1* |
| The Arts (Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater, and/or Visual Arts) | 1 |
| Physical Education (participation each semester, 1/4 credit earned per semester) | 2 |
| Health | 1/2 |
| Electives | 3 1/2 |
| Total | 22 |
*Students with disabilities may be excused from the requirement for 1 unit of credit in World Languages if so indicated on their Individualized Education Program (IEP), but they must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.Ìý Such students are also exempt from the sequence requirement for earning a Regents diploma with advanced designation.Ìý
English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in Bilingual Education and English as a New Language programs must meet the following program requirements: 9-12 English as a New Language (ENL) Units of Study and Staffing Requirements a²Ô»å 9-12 Transitional Bilingual Education Program Requirements. For additional guidance, reference Units of Study Tables for English as a New Language (ENL) and Bilingual Education Programs.Ìý
Regents or local diploma
In addition to successful completion of the appropriate units of credits, to earn a Regents or local diploma, students must pass*:
- one English language arts Regents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- one mathematicsÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- one scienceÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- one social studiesÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative; and
- one pathway (seeÌýMultiple PathwaysÌýfor more information).
* Eligible students may meet the assessment requirements usingÌýAppeals, Safety Nets, and Superintendent Determination.ÌýStudents granted an exemption from any examination are not required to pass such specific examination to meet the assessment requirements for any diploma type (local, Regents, or Regents with advanced designation).
Regents diploma with advanced designation
In addition to successful completion of the appropriate units of credit, to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation, students must pass* two additional math assessments and one additional science assessment to include:
- one English language arts Regents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- three mathematicsÌýRegents Examinations orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternatives;
- one life scienceÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- one physical scienceÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
- one social studiesÌýRegents Examination orÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ-Approved Regents Examination Alternative; and
- one pathway (seeÌýMultiple PathwaysÌýfor more information).
* Eligible students may meet the assessment requirements for advanced designation usingÌýspecial appeals.ÌýStudents granted an exemption from any examination are not required to pass such specific examination to meet the assessment requirements for any diploma type (local, Regents, or Regents with advanced designation).Ìý
To earn the Regents diploma with advanced designation, students must also completeÌýoneÌýof the three sequence options:
- two additional credits in World Languages (for a total of three credits) and the locally developed Checkpoint B World Languages Exam,
- 5-unit sequence in the Arts, or
- 5-unit sequence in Career and Technical Education (CTE).
The 5-unit sequence,Ìýleading to the Regents diploma with advanced designation, is at the discretion of the district. The sequence should be a meaningful group of courses building upon a student’s skills and interests in a particular area. Â鶹ÊÓƵ recommends the sequence begin with a foundational course and then advance through electives in the discipline;Ìýhowever, the district has the responsibility to determine what ultimately the sequence will include.Ìý Â鶹ÊÓƵ does not have specific course requirements to be included in the 5-unit sequence in either the Arts or CTE for advanced designation.Ìý
Note:Ìý A studentÌýexempt from the World Languages credit requirementÌýwho 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 World Languages sequenceÌýin order to meet the assessment requirements for the advanced diploma.
