Guidance

Updated Grading Policy

As your child’s learning journey continues this year, it is critical that you have a clear picture of their progress. Grades provide a common language for understanding and communicating with your child’s teacher(s) about their strengths and areas for growth. However, given the challenges we have been navigating together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have recognized the need to update our grading policy. In this letter, I will share information about the grading policy for the 2020-21 school year.

Please note that our policy reflects feedback from school communities, school leaders, and many other stakeholders across the city. We have heard loud and clear that as students continue to adapt to remote and blended learning, our grading policy must also evolve to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of our students. The 2020-21 grading policy aims to provide you with a clear picture of your child’s progress while honoring each individual student’s experience adapting to new ways of learning

Graduation Requirements

In New York State, students can earn three types of diplomas:

1. A Regents diploma
2. An advanced Regents diploma
3. A local diploma

All of these diplomas are valid high school diplomas. All students can earn a Regents or advanced Regents diploma. An advanced Regents diploma lets students show additional skills in math, science, and languages other than English. Only some students who meet specific criteria can graduate with a local diploma, with lower exam scores.

To earn a diploma, students must earn specific course credits and pass specific Regents exams. If you believe your student is not on track to graduate, please speak to your school’s guidance counselor immediately.