Upcoming Courses

studying

The classes you take in middle school will have an impact on the courses you can select in high school. Each spring, with the help of your school counselor, you will have the opportunity to select the classes you would like to take for the following year. Take the most challenging courses you can in high school to be prepared to go to college after you graduate.

Your Academic Plan

Your school counselor can help you make an academic plan for high school. When planning courses for the following year, make sure you tell your counselor what your future plans are and if your plans include going to college. That way, your counselor can direct you to the appropriate classes.

There are courses that are required by the New York State Department of Education and those that are choices, including the arts, language arts and some technology classes.

Courses Units:  English Language Arts (ELA) 2 units, Social Studies 2 units, Math 2 units, Science 2 units, Technology Education 1-unit, Physical Education every semester, Health Education 0.5 unit, The Arts 1 unit; 0.5 unit in two sections in any combination of music and/or art Languages Other Than English (LOTE).  Begins no later than 8th grade; choose a language offered by the school Home and Career Skills 0.75-unit Library and Media  

Within the required courses, if you maintain a high-grade point average, you may be able to choose an accelerated path and take high school honor level classes or AP classes.  Taking high school honor level classes or AP classes in high school is not required, but it helps lay the foundation for developing college level knowledge and skills. Your counselor will help you determine if you are ready for more advanced classes.

There are two levels of diploma for graduating high school in New York State.

  • Regents Diploma
  • Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation

Each requires certain classes and exams.

To graduate high school, students must take the following classes:

In New York, students are generally required to earn 22 course credits in high school

Diploma Type: English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Health, Secondary Language, Art or Music Phys Ed Sequence Courses/Electives

Regents Diploma 4 4 3 3 0.5 1 1 2 3.5

Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation 4 4 3 3 0.5 3 1 2 1.5

Regents Diploma - a score of 65 or better is required on these Regents exams:

  • Comprehensive English
  • Mathematics (Any One of the Math Class Options)
  • Global History
  • US History
  • Science (Any One of the Science Class Options)
  • Language Other Than English

Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation - a score of 65 or better is required on these Regents exams:

  • Comprehensive English
  • Mathematics (Mathematics A or Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry)
  • Global History
  • US History
  • Science (One Physical and One Life Science)
  • Language other than English

Additional Designations

With Honors
The "with honors" designation is added to either Regents Diploma option for students with an average score of 90 or more on all required Regents exams.

Technical Endorsement
Students enrolled in an approved school district or BOCES career and technical education (CTE) program who successfully complete all requirements earn a technical endorsement to be affixed to their high school diplomas.
Learn more about New York State's high school graduation requirements from the New York State Department of Education.

New York State Higher Education

Services Corporation

99 Washington Avenue Albany

New York 12255

© Higher Education Services Corporation