Credit Requirements
This table shows the number of credits required for each subject to earn a Regents Diploma. It’s important to note in most subjects, students choose the courses they want to take to meet the minimum requirements.
|
Minimum number of credits
|
|
English
|
4
|
|
Social Studies Distributed as follows:
- U.S. History (1)
- Global History and Geography (2)
- Participation in Government (½)
- Economics (½)
|
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
|
0.5
|
|
Electives
|
3.5
|
|
Total
|
22
|
Assessment Requirements
In addition to the 22 units of credit, students must also meet the NYS exam requirements to earn a diploma. To meet the exam requirements, students must pass 4 exams + 1 pathway. All students must pass one exam (Regents exam or Department-approved alternative) in each of the four subject areas (English, mathematics, science, social studies) plus one pathway.
|
REGENTS EXAM
|
# OF EXAMS
|
PASSING SCORE
|
|
English Language Arts (ELA)
|
1
|
65
|
|
Math
|
1
|
65
|
|
Science
|
1
|
65
|
|
Social Studies
|
1
|
65
|
|
Pathway
|
1
|
65 (if Regents Exam)
|
- Students with a disability may be excused from the requirement for 1 unit of credit in World Languages if so indicated on their IEP, but they must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.
Special Endorsements
Honors: A student earns a computed average of at least 90 on the Regents Exams 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 Exams. 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 Exams and/or 3 science Regents Exams.
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 3- part technical assessment.
Seal of Biliteracy: A student meets the criteria for earning the NYS Seal of Biliteracy.
Seal of Civic Readiness: A student meets the criteria for earning the NYS Seal of Civic Readiness
World Languages 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.
Flexibilities due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Exemptions: Students granted an exemption from any exam due to COVID-19 are not required to pass such specific exam to meet the assessment requirements for any diploma type.
Special Appeals: Eligible students may use lower scores (50-64) on Regents Exams taken during the 2021-22 or 2022-23 school year to meet the assessment requirements for any diploma type.
Special Determination: Students who are scheduled to graduate in June 2022 and either do not qualify for a Special Appeal or who are unable to participate in one or more required Regents Exam(s) because of illness, including isolation restrictions due to COVID, may request a Special Determination to Graduate with a Local Diploma in June 2022.
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.