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Curriculum and Instruction

General Education and Diploma Requirements

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Regents Diploma with Honors

To earn a Regents Diploma with Honors, a student needs to have a computed average score of 90 or higher on all Regents examinations required for the Regents diploma (no rounding up is permitted).

The examination requirements include a passing score on the following Regents exams or Department Approved Alternatives:​

Students who substitute more than 2 Department Approved Alternatives for these required Regents exams are not eligible for the honors endorsement.

Exempted exams may be used to meet assessment requirements for any diploma type, but would be removed from the calculation for the honors endorsement.  Additional information can be referenced in questions 36-38 of  Regents Examination and Graduation Requirements: Questions Related to COVID-19 Closure.

Example 1:

English Language Arts (ELA) 97
Algebra I 76
Living Environment 99
US History & Government 88
CDOS n/a
Average 90

This student earned a Regents Diploma with Honors.  The student's computed average equals 90 (97 + 76 + 99 + 88 = 360; 360/4 = 90).  The CDOS commencement pathway represents the final diploma requirement; therefore, the average is based only on the 4 Regents exam scores. 

Example 2:

English Language Arts (ELA) 65
Geometry 100
Chemistry 95
Global History & Geography 96
Algebra II 98
Average 90.8

This student earned a Regents Diploma with Honors.  The student's computed average equals 90 (65 + 100 + 95 + 96 + 98 = 454; 454/4 = 90.8).  The additional math Regents exam represents the pathway for this student; therefore, the average is based on the 5 Regents exam scores.

Example 3:

English Language Arts (ELA) 88
Algebra I 96
Living Environment 100
US History & Government 77
AP Biology Exam 3
Average 90.25

This student earned a Regents Diploma with Honors.  The student's computed average equals 90 (88 + 96 + 100 + 77 = 361; 361/4 = 90.25).  The AP Biology exam represents the pathway for this student; therefore, the average is based only on the 4 Regents exam scores. 

Transfer Students: Students who transfer to a New York State high school for the first time in grades 11  or 12, and have either one or two Regents examination(s) waived, may receive a Regents Diploma with Honors.  The requirements to receive a high school diploma with honors remain the same, except with a fewer number of required Regents examinations and with appropriate annotations on transcripts and permanent records.