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, 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.

Distributed as follows:

• US History (1 credit)
• Global History and Geography (2 credits)
• Participation in Government (1/2 credit)
  • Economics (1/2 credit)

  Distributed as follows:

  • Life Science (1 credit)
  • Physical Science (1 credit)
  • Life or Physical Science (1 credit)

  *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. Such students are also exempt from the sequence requirement for earning a Regents diploma with advanced designation.

  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 and 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 .

  Diploma Assessment Requirements

  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 or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • one mathematics Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • one science Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • one social studies Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative; and
  • one pathway (see Multiple Pathways for more information).

  * Eligible students may meet the assessment requirements using Appeals, Safety Nets, and Superintendent Determination. Students 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 or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • three mathematics Regents Examinations or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternatives;
  • one life science Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • one physical science Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative;
  • one social studies Regents Examination or NYSED-Approved Regents Examination Alternative; and
  • one pathway (see Multiple Pathways for more information).

  * Eligible students may meet the assessment requirements for advanced designation using special appeals. Students 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).

  To earn the Regents diploma with advanced designation, students must also complete one of 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, leading 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. NYSED recommends the sequence begin with a foundational course and then advance through electives in the discipline; however, the district has the responsibility to determine what ultimately the sequence will include. NYSED does not have specific course requirements to be included in the 5-unit sequence in either the Arts or CTE for advanced designation.

  Note: A student exempt from the World Languages credit requirement 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 World Languages sequence in order to meet the assessment requirements for the advanced diploma.