Graduation Requirements

Fonda-Fultonville’s graduation rate is typically above 90 percent. For more information on graduation statistics, please view the FFCS NYS School Report Cards.

Fonda-Fultonville Graduation Requirements

Fonda-Fultonville offers the following diploma types: Individualized Education Plan, Local, New York Regents, New York Advanced Regents, and the FFCS Comprehensive District Diploma (CDD). The CDD requires students to complete 300 hours of community service during their high school career and additional credits in math and science courses.

Beginning with the Cohort of 2005, in order to participate in the graduation ceremony, the Building Principal must certify that the student has met the following requirements:

The student has completed the requirements for a Diploma, including 22.5 units of school credit and the passing of required Regents examinations as indicated below. The units of credit must include the following:

Regents Diploma Required Courses

  • English: 4
  • Social Studies: 4
  • Math: 3
  • Science: 3
  • Foreign Language: 1
  • Art/Music: 1
  • Health: 0.5
  • Physical Education: 2
  • Electives: 4
  • Total: 22.5

Advanced Regents Diploma Required Courses

  • English: 4
  • Social Studies: 4
  • Math: 3
  • Science: 3
  • [a] Foreign Language: 3
  • Art/Music: 1
  • Health: 0.5
  • Physical Education: 2
  • Electives: 2
  • Total: 22.5

[a] Students completing a sequence of not less than 5 units of credit in CTE or the Arts are not required to complete the additional two units of LOTE or the examination in LOTE.

Regents Diploma Required State Examinations

  • English Language Arts
  • Integrated Algebra
  • Regents Global History Exam
  • Regents US History Exam
  • Regents Science Exam

Advanced Regents Diploma Required State Examinations

  • English Language Arts
  • Integrated Algebra
  • Integrated Geometry
  • Algebra 2/ & Trigonometry
  • Regents Global History Exam
  • Regents U.S. History Exam
  • Two Regents Science Exam(s)
  • [a] Pass either the Regents Comprehensive Examination, State approved alternative or locally developed Check Point B examination in that language to earn a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation

[a] Students completing a sequence of not less than 5 units of credit in CTE or the Arts are not required to complete the additional two units of LOTE.

Comprehensive diploma requires a total of 28 credits which includes 4 credits in both Math and Science, 3 credits in Foreign Language or an appropriate sequence as required by NYSED for the Advanced Regents diploma and 3 credits of Community Service (credits awarded for completion of 300 hours of service. Students must also successfully complete all required Regents Examinations.

Students with disabilities may be able to fulfill testing requirements using the safety net or as stated in the student’s Individual Education Plan.

NOTES:

A.Beginning September 1, 2010, all high school students who drop a half-year course after the first interim report or a full-year course after the first marking period will receive a “W” for withdrawn on their transcripts. Any courses dropped after the end of the marking period will also contain the grade achieved in that course.

Students who transfer to FFCS in the 12th grade will be expected to meet the minimum graduation requirements established by the New York State Education Department.

However, to achieve a Regents or Advanced Regents diploma, all SED regulations must also be met.

New York State Graduation Requirements

Students in New York state have four different ways they can meet high school graduation requirements. Two of these options will lead to a high school diploma, while the other two provide students with non-diploma credentials.

Each graduation option requires different coursework and related exams — and each option helps prepare students for a variety of future educational and career opportunities. Students are advised to consult with their school counselors as early as middle school to ensure they are choosing the appropriate coursework to meet graduation requirements.

What are the options?

  1. Local diploma: There are five local diploma options for general education students, students with disabilities and English language learners. Requirements vary for each.
  2. Regents diploma (and Advanced Regents diploma): The coursework required for Regents and Advanced Regents diplomas is intended to help students prepare more rigorously for college and careers.
  3. Career Development Occupational Studies (CDOS) credential (non-diploma): Students who earn this credential are considered ready for entry-level employment after high school.
  4. Skills and Achievement Commencement credential (non-diploma): Students who earn this credential have severe disabilities and have attended school for 12 years. This credential includes a summary of the student’s levels of achievement in academic and career development and occupational (CDOS) studies.

Regents Diplomas

The coursework and exams required for the different Regents diplomas are intended to help students prepare more rigorously for college and careers.

Regents Diploma

The coursework and exams required for the different Regents diplomas are intended to help students prepare more rigorously for college and careers.

  • Course requirements (22 credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet one of the following two options.
    • A student must pass five required Regents exams**** with a score of 65 or better: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and one pathway*** assessment; or
    • A student must pass four required Regents exams**** with a score of 65 or better: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and satisfy all CDOS commencement credential requirements.

Regents diploma (through appeal)

Students can appeal one score that falls below but within five points of the 65 passing score to earn a Regents diploma. To seek an appeal, students must:

  • Take the Regents exam under appeal at least twice.
  • Take advantage of academic help provided by the school in the Regents exam subject.
  • Pass the related course.
  • Be recommended for appeal by the student’s teacher or department head.
  • Course requirements:
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 physical education
    • 3.5 electives
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet one of the following two options:
    • A student must pass four required Regents exams**** with a score of 65 or better and one Regents exam with a score of 60-64 for which the school district grants an appeal: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and one pathway*** assessment (note: non-Regents pathway assessments cannot be appealed); or
    • A student must pass three required Regents exams**** with a score of 65 or better and one Regents exam with a score of 60-64 for which the school district grants an appeal: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and satisfy all CDOS commencement credential requirements.

Regents diploma with honors

  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Exam requirements:
    • A student must pass five required Regents exams**** with a computed average score of 90 or better: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and either one pathway*** assessment or satisfy all CDOS commencement credential requirements (no more than two NYSED-approved alternatives may be substituted and will not count in the computed average).

Advanced Regents diploma

  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of mathematics
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • A student also must earn an additional two units of credit in a language other than English (LOTE) or a five-unit sequence in the arts or career and technical education (CTE). (Students with disabilities who are excused from the language other than English requirement per their IEP need not complete a five-unit sequence in the arts or CTE to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation.)
  • Exam requirements: There are several combinations of Regents examinations and/or New York State Education Department (NYSED)-approved alternatives students may take, if applicable:
    • Traditional combination: one English language arts; one global history and geography; one U.S. history and government; three mathematics and two science (one must be life science and one must be physical science) = eight assessments.
    • Pathway*** combination (other than STEM): one English language arts; one social studies; three math; two science (one must be life science and one must be physical science) and either one pathway (other than science or mathematics) or the student must meet the CDOS commencement credential requirements = seven or eight assessments.
    • STEM (mathematics) pathway*** combination: one English language arts; one social studies; four math and two science (one must be life science and one must be physical science) = eight assessments.
    • STEM (science) pathway*** combination: one English language arts; one social studies; three math and three science (one must be life science and one must be physical science) = eight assessments.

In addition, a student must pass either a locally developed Checkpoint B language other than English (LOTE) examination or complete a five-unit sequence in the arts or CTE.

Advanced Regents diploma with mastery in math

  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of mathematics
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • A student also must earn an additional two units of credit in a language other than English (LOTE) or a five-unit sequence in the arts or career and technical education (CTE). (Students with disabilities who are excused from the language other than English requirement per their IEP need not complete a five-unit sequence in the arts or CTE to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation.)
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet all assessment requirements for the Regents diploma with advanced designation (see above) and, in addition, score 85 or better on each of the three mathematics exams.

Advanced Regents diploma with mastery in science

  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of mathematics
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English (LOTE)*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • A student also must earn an additional two units of credit in a language other than English (LOTE) or a five-unit sequence in the arts or career and technical education (CTE). (Students with disabilities who are excused from the language other than English requirement per their IEP need not complete a five-unit sequence in the arts or CTE to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation.)
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet all assessment requirements for the Regents diploma with advanced designation (see above) and, in addition, score 85 or better on each of the three science exams.

Advanced Regents diploma with honors

  • Course requirements:
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of Language other than English*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • In addition, a student must earn an additional two units of credit in a language other than English (LOTE) or a five-unit sequence in the arts or career and technical education (CTE). 22 total credits**
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet all assessment requirements for the Regents diploma with advanced designation with a computed average score of 90 or better (no more than two NYSED-approved alternatives may be substituted and will not count in the computed average.) The locally developed Checkpoint B language other than English (LOTE)* examination is not included in the computed average.

*Students with a disability may be excused from the language other than English (LOTE) requirement if stipulated in their IEPs, but must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.

**Although New York state requires a minimum of 22 course credits, school districts can impose greater requirements than the state minimum.

***Multiple pathways

The state Board of Regents recognizes the importance of engaging students’ interests in rigorous and relevant academic programs in alternate areas, including: the arts; languages other than English (LOTE)/bi-literacy; career and technical education (CTE); the humanities; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and career development and occupational studies (CDOS).

There are currently five 4+1 pathway assessment options that require students to pass Regents exams in English, math, science and social studies, plus a fifth assessment that can include:

  • A New York State Education Department (NYSED)-approved arts assessment (arts pathway). Nine exams are available.
  • A NYSED-approved foreign language assessment (LOTE/bi-literacy pathway). There are five exams available.
  • A NYSED-approved CTE assessment (CTE pathway). There are more than 60 exams currently available.
  • An additional Regents exam in a different social studies or one of eight NYSED-approved alternatives in English language arts and social studies (humanities pathway).
  • An additional Regents exam in a different math or science course, or one of 16 NYSED-approved alternative exams in math and science (STEM pathway).

A sixth 4+1 graduation pathway is the career development occupational studies (CDOS) pathway. The “4+CDOS” pathway requires students to pass Regents exams in English, math, science and social studies, plus meet the requirements to earn the New York State CDOS credential.

****In most cases, students may substitute an assessment from the NYSED-approved alternative assessments found at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/hsgen/archive/list.pdf.

Note: This information is current as of November 2018. It is anticipated that additional alternative assessments will become available under the different pathway options.

Local Diplomas

There are five local diploma options for general education students, students with disabilities and English language learners. Requirements vary for each.

All students can appeal up to two Regents exam scores that fall below but within a certain point range of the 65 passing score to earn a local diploma. To seek an appeal, students must:

  • Take the Regents exam under appeal at least twice.
  • Have at least one score on the exam under appeal within the acceptable point range: 60-64 for general education students; 55-59 for English language learners seeking an appeal on an English language arts exam; 52-54 for students with disabilities.
  • Take advantage of academic help provided by the school in the Regents exam subject.
  • Pass the related course.
  • Be recommended for appeal by the student’s teacher or department head.

Local diploma (general education students through appeal)

  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of mathematics
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet one of the following options:
    • A student must pass at least three Regents exams with a score of 65 or better and two Regents exams with a score of 60-64 (for which the school district grants an appeal): one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and one pathway*** assessment; or
    • A student must pass at least two required Regents exams with a score of 65 or better and two Regents exams with a score of 60-64 (for which an appeal is granted by the school district) as follows: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and satisfy the CDOS commencement credential requirements.

Local diploma (for students with disabilities)

  • Available to: Students with disabilities with an individualized education program (IEP) or if included on the student’s Section 504 accommodation plan. Also, students declassified from special education while in grades 8-12 if recommended and documented by the committee on special education (CSE).
  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet one of the following four options:
    • 55-64 Low-Pass Safety Net Option (provides a way for students with disabilities to earn diplomas if they don’t earn passing scores on their assessments):
      • A student must pass one or more of the required Regents exams (math, science, English language arts or social studies) with a score between 55 and 64. Non-Regents exams, such as NYSED-approved alternative assessments or Regents Competency Tests (RCTs), cannot be used in this option. Also, students using this option may also use the Compensatory Safety Net Option or, if eligible, the RCT Safety Net Option, to meet graduation requirements.
    • 55-64 Low-Pass Safety Net with Appeal Option (provides a way for students with disabilities to earn diplomas if they don’t earn passing scores on assessments by appealing to graduate with a local diploma using the lower score). To be eligible, a student must:
      • Have taken the Regents exam under appeal at least two times;
      • Have scored 52-54 on the Regents exam under appeal;
      • Present evidence that he/she has taken advantage of extra academic help in the subject area being tested by the Regents exam;
      • Have earned a course average in the subject under appeal that meets or exceeds the passing grade required by the school and
      • Be recommended for an exemption by the student’s teacher or department chairperson in the appealed subject area.
      • Through the appeal, the student is seeking waiver of the graduation assessment requirement in the academic subject area under appeal. The appeal can be initiated by a student’s parent/guardian or teacher and must be submitted to the school principal. Approval of the appeal will not change the student’s score on the exam being appealed.
      • Non-Regents exams are not subject to appeal.
      • Students using this option may also use the Compensatory Safety Net Option to meet graduation requirements.
    • Regents Competency Test (RCT) Safety Net Option for students entering grade 9 prior to September 2011: For this option, a student who fails a required (mathematics, science, English language arts, social studies) Regents exam must receive a passing score on the corresponding RCT.
      • A student must take the required Regents exams but may take the RCT before or after the Regents exam.
      • A student using this option may not use the Compensatory Safety Net Option or the Superintendent Determination Option with this RCT option.
    • Compensatory Safety Net Option: A student who receives scores between 45 and 54 on one or more of the five required Regents exams, other than the English language arts or math, must make up for the low score with a score of 65 or higher on another required Regents exam.
      • A student must earn a score of at least 55 — or an approved appeal score of 52-54 — on both the English language arts and one math exam.
      • A student must obtain a passing grade for the course in the subject area in which the 45-54 score was earned.
      • A student also must have a satisfactory attendance rate (reflected by the school’s attendance policy) for the year in which the exam was taken.
      • A score of 65 or higher on a single examination may not be used to compensate for more than one examination for which a score of 45-54 is earned.
      • A student who uses this option may also use the Low-Pass Option, but cannot use the RCT Safety Net Option.

Local diploma (through superintendent’s determination)

  • Available to: Students with disabilities with IEPs (does not include students with Section 504 accommodation plans). Also, students who used the Low-Pass (55-64) Safety Net Options or the Compensatory Safety Net Option are not eligible for this option.
  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of Language other than English*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Requirements: Each of the following is required:
    • A student has earned the required course credits and has passed all courses required for graduation, including the Regent courses that correspond with the required Regents exam areas (math, science, English language arts and social studies); and
    • A student must earn a minimum score of 55 on the Regents English language arts (ELA) and math exams; and/or have successfully appealed a score between 52 and 54 on the ELA or math Regents exams; and/or was unable to achieve a minimum score of 55 and did not request an appeal of a score between 52 and 54 on the ELA or math Regents exams, but completed the CDOS commencement credential requirements; and
    • The student has participated in all required Regents exams but has not passed one or more of the tests; and
    • The student has otherwise demonstrated competency in the subject area(s) where he/she was not able to demonstrate proficiency of the state’s learning standards through the Regents exam; and
    • A superintendent’s or principal’s determination that a student has met the standards for graduation despite an inability to demonstrate this proficiency through the assessment required for graduation. This process can only be started when a parent or guardian sends a written request for this determination to the student’s school principal or committee on special education (CSE) chairperson. The student and parent must receive written notice of the superintendent’s determination and a completed Superintendent Determination of Graduation with a Local Diploma form (updated by NYSED in January 2018). If a superintendent determines a student does meet the requirements for graduation, the district must inform the student and parents in writing that the student will no longer be eligible for a free appropriate public education after graduation. If a superintendent determines a student has not met the requirements, the district must inform the student and parents in writing that the student has the right to attend school until he or she receives a diploma or turns 21, whichever comes first.

Local diploma (for English language learners)

  • Available to: Students who are English language learners
  • Course requirements (22 total credits**):
    • 4 credits of English language arts
    • 4 credits of social studies
    • 3 credits of science
    • 3 credits of math
    • 0.5 credits of health
    • 1 credit of arts
    • 1 credit of language other than English*
    • 2 credits of physical education
    • 3.5 credits of electives
  • Exam requirements: Students must meet one of the following options:
    • A student must pass four required Regents exams with a score of 65 or better and the English language arts Regents exam with a score of 55-59 for which the school district grants an appeal; or
    • A student must pass three required Regents exams with a score of 65 or better; one Regents exam with a score of 60-64 and the English language arts Regents exam with a score of 55-59. For both the 60-64 and the 55-59 scores, the school district must grant an appeal in the following: one math, one science, one social studies, one English language arts and either one pathway*** assessment or satisfy the CDOS commencement credential requirements.
    • Students who choose the CDOS pathway may still appeal an ELA score of 55-59 and other Regents exam score of 60-64.
    • The non-Regents pathway exams are not subject to appeal.
    • English language learners (ELLs) seeking an appeal of their 55-59 ELA Regents exam score are only eligible for an appeal in this area if they entered the United States in grade 9 or after and were classified as an ELL when they took the test the second time.

Local diploma with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Endorsement

  • Credits: A student is required to complete all credit requirements listed above for specific diploma types and successfully complete an approved career and technical education program.
  • Exam requirements: A student must pass all required state assessments listed above for specific diploma types and successfully complete the three-part technical assessment designated for his/her CTE program.

*Students with a disability may be excused from the language other than English requirement if stipulated in their IEPs, but must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.

**Although New York state requires a minimum of 22 course credits, school districts can impose greater requirements than the state minimum.

***Multiple pathways

The state Board of Regents recognizes the importance of engaging students’ interests in rigorous and relevant academic programs in alternate areas, including: the arts; languages other than English (LOTE)/bi-literacy; career and technical education (CTE); the humanities; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and career development and occupational studies (CDOS).

There are currently five 4+1 pathway assessment options that require students to pass Regents exams in English, math, science and social studies, plus a fifth assessment that can include:

  • A New York State Education Department (NYSED)-approved arts assessment (arts pathway). Nine exams are available.
  • A NYSED-approved foreign language assessment (LOTE/bi-literacy pathway). There are five exams available.
  • A NYSED-approved CTE assessment (CTE pathway). There are more than 60 exams currently available.
  • An additional Regents exam in a different social studies or one of eight NYSED-approved alternatives in English language arts and social studies (humanities pathway).
  • An additional Regents exam in a different math or science course, or one of 16 NYSED-approved alternative exams in math and science (STEM pathway).

A sixth 4+1 graduation pathway is the career development occupational studies (CDOS) pathway. The “4+CDOS” pathway requires students to pass Regents exams in English, math, science and social studies, plus meet the requirements to earn the New York State CDOS credential.

Note: This information is current as of November 2018; it is anticipated that additional alternative assessments will become available under the different pathway options.

Career Development Occupational Studies (CDOS) credential

Students can earn a non-diploma credential, a Regents diploma with a CDOS credential or a local diploma with CDOS credential.

Students who earn this credential are considered ready for entry-level employment after high school. The CDOS credential may be a supplement to a local or Regents diploma, or, if the student is unable to meet diploma standards, the credential may be awarded as the student’s exiting credential, as long as the student has attended school for at least 12 years, excluding kindergarten.

  • Available to: All students other than those who are assessed using the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA).
  • Requirements: Students must meet one of the following two options.
    • Complete a career plan; demonstrate attainment of the commencement-level CDOS learning standards in the areas of career exploration and development, integrated learning and universal foundation skills; satisfactorily complete the equivalent of two units of study (216 hours) in Career and Technical Education coursework and work-based learning (including at least 54 hours of work-based learning) and have at least one completed employability profile; or
    • Meet criteria for a national work readiness credential.

Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential

This is a non-diploma credential.

  • Available to: Students with severe disabilities who are assessed using the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA).
  • Requirements: All students with severe disabilities who attend school for at least 12 years, excluding kindergarten, leave school with this credential. The credential must include documentation of the student’s skills and strengths, as well as levels of independence in academic, career development and foundation skills needed for post-school living, learning and working.