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NYC High School Diploma Options

Published
October 14, 2022
Topics
K-12, Special Education, Transition Planning
  • Students have the right to attend school until the end of the school year in which they turn 21 or obtain a high school diploma.
  • Graduating with a high school diploma provides access to college, the military, and trade school.
  • High school students are encouraged to pursue a Regents or Advanced Regents diploma, which provide more access to post-secondary opportunities than the Local and High School Equivalency Diplomas.
  • Testing accommodations for the NYS Regents exams can be found on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
  • The NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) provides access to students’ course credits, grades, test scores, schedules, transportation information, and more. Contact your school for the account creation code.

Types of Diplomas

  • Regents
  • Advanced Regents
  • Local diploma
  • High School Equivalency (TASC exam, formerly the GED)

Regents Diploma

44 Course Credits + 5 Regents Exams (passing is 65% or higher).

SubjectEnglish Language Arts (ELA)Social StudiesMathScienceWorld Languages
(formerly LOTE)		+1 State Approved Option*
# OF EXAMS1111Not required1
EXAM NAMESELA-U.S. History
-Global History & Geography		-Algebra I
-Geometry
-Algebra II		-Living Environment
-Chemistry
-Earth Science
-Physics		Any NYC approved World Languages examAny additional Regents exam or state approved +1 option
Low Score Appeal for a Regents Diploma (For All Students): 1 Regents exam with a score of 60-64.
* Students may use an Advanced Placement (AP) or SAT II score, a State approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) exam, another Regents exam, or the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential as their +1 Option.

Advanced Regents Diploma

44 Course Credits + 9 Regents Exams (passing is 65% or higher)

SubjectELASocial StudiesMathScienceWorld Languages
(formerly LOTE)		+1 State Approved Option
# OF EXAMS113211
EXAM NAMESELA-U.S. History OR
-Global History & Geography		Algebra I, Geometry, AND Algebra IILiving Environment AND Earth Science, Chemistry, or PhysicsAny NYC approved World Languages examAny additional Regents exam OR state approved +1 option

Local Diploma*

44 Course Credits + 5 Regents Exams (passing is 55% or higher for students with disabilities)

SubjectELASocial StudiesMathScienceWorld Languages
(formerly LOTE)		+1 State Approved Option
# OF EXAMS1111Not required1
EXAM NAMESELA-U.S. History
-Global History & Geography		-Algebra I
-Geometry
-Algebra II		-Living Environment
-Earth Science
-Chemistry
-Physics		Any NYC approved World Languages examAny additional Regents exam or state approved +1 option
  • Low Score Appeal for a Local Diploma (For All Students): 2 Regents exams with a score of 60-64 with all remaining Regents exams with a score of 65 or above.
  • New Arrival ELA Appeal for a Local Diploma (English language learners who arrived in the US in grades 9–12): ELA Regents exam with a score of 55-59 (Students may also appeal one other Regents score of 60–64).
  • Safety Net Options for a Local Diploma (For Students with a Disability): See below

* Local Diplomas are accepted at some private colleges, community colleges, CUNY and SUNY colleges


Safety Net Options to Obtain a Local Diploma

(For Students with a Disability)

All safety net options are available to students with a current IEP, students with a 504 Plan, if documented, and students declassified in grades 8-12, if recommended (with the exception of the Superintendent Determination Option)  

Safety Net OptionRequirements and Eligibility
Low Pass Safety Net OptionScore between 55-64 on the required Regents exams
Low Pass Safety Net Option with AppealScore between 52-54 on up to two of the required Regents exams. To be eligible for this option, students must:
-Take the exams they are appealing at least twice
-Show evidence of having taken advantage of academic help at their school
-Pass the course in the subject they are appealing, and
-Receive recommendation by a teacher or the chair of the department in the subject being appealed
Compensatory Safety Net OptionScore between 45-54 on one or two for the required Regents exams (except for Math and ELA exams). To be eligible for this option, students must:
-Pass the ELA and Math exam with a 55 or higher or an approved appeal of 52-54
-Pass the course in the subjects on which they have scored 45-54, and
-Have satisfactory attendance
-A score of 65 or higher on a single exam may only be used to compensate for one exam on which they scored 45-54.
Superintendent Determination Option
(Only available to students with a current IEP)		A parent or guardian must make a request in writing to the principal or the Committee on Special Education (CSE).
 
To be eligible for this option, students:
-Are not eligible for the low pass safety net option/appeal or compensatory safety net option
-Must have earned 44 course credits
-EITHER pass the Math and ELA Regents exams with scores of 55 or higher (or successfully appeal scores of 52-54) OR earn a Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential
-Have taken all required Regents exams but have not passed one or more of these exams; and
-Pass the courses in the subjects of the failed exams

For each exam with a failing grade, the superintendent will review the students’  performance in the related course including projects, class work, quizzes, and tests.

Sources: Safety Net Options, Graduation Requirements


High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma*

DescriptionTo be eligible to take the New York State (NYS) High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam, an applicant must:
– As of January 2022, New York State has chosen to return to the General Educational Development Test (GED) for the High School Equivalency exam.
– There are four subject tests: Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA); Social Studies; Science; and Mathematical Reasoning.
– Accommodations must be applied for and requested in advance.		– Not possess a high school diploma,
– Have resided in NYS for at least thirty days; and
– Meet the age eligibility criteria
–See age eligibility guidelines here. 

To prepare for the GED exam, students under the age of 19 should enroll in a:

– State Approved Prep Programs
– NYC DOE Pathway to Graduation (P2G) High School Equivalency Program (Ages 17-21)

*Graduating with a High School Equivalency Diploma provides access to associate degree programs, the military, and trade school. Refer to INCLUDEnyc’s tip sheet about the GED Exam for more information about obtaining a High School Equivalency diploma.  

COVID-19 Updates

  • The New York State Education Department (NYSED) cancelled most Regents exams between June 2020 and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, students who passed courses that required a Regent Exam received waivers. For more information, view NYC DOE Graduation Requirements.

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