Plus some academic do’s and don’ts What parents need to know about HS graduation requirements. (Power Point on guidance office webpage under “Parent’s Corner”) Plus some academic do’s and don’ts

Requirements for Graduation: Must satisfy all 3 of the below areas to graduate: 1) Need to pass specific courses (ie. 4 yrs. of English, etc.) 2) Need to pass specific exams (Regents Exams) 3) Need to accumulate > 22 credits *Not satisfying any of the above requirements – will not graduate! (extra yr. of HS or summer school/August graduate?) _____________________________________________ Keep in mind long range planning, such as: - NCAA (college athletics)? (Approved courses?) - College bound? (Course rigor! Take college, &/or AP.) - Vocational/Trade (BOCES)? (Can’t be failing/behind.)

Graduation Requirements: Courses English 9, *10, *11, *12 = 4 cr. Glob. 1, *Glob. 2, *US Hist., *PIG/Econ = 4 cr. Three math courses (which ones depends on ability and dipl. type)= 3 cr. Three science course (which ones depends on ability and dipl. type)= 3cr. Four Gym/PE classes =2 cr. One credit in Art or Music= 1 cr. Health = .5 cr. (or *Allied Health) At least 1 cr. in Spanish (highly encouraged to take additional ones)= 1 cr. Total = 18.5 credits Must accumulate > 22 credits though! Remaining credits=electives. *AP & college level courses count towards these requirements

Is Required Coursework Specific Only to HS? No!!! Most colleges require students to take General Education Courses in addition to major “Gen. Ed.” requirements are college elective courses, many of which are outside of a major. Many Gen. Ed.’s can be completed with Newfane’s College or AP Courses – before students even start college! College courses taken at Newfane are offered at a very reduced rate and no book purchase

Diploma Types Listed in difficulty level to achieve: -Hardest to easiest 1) Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation (“Advanced Regents”)- 8/9 Regents exams 2) Regents Diploma (most common)- 5 Reg. Exams 3) Local Diploma- reserved for students with an IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan with the “safety net” -5 Reg. Exams but may have variances to pass 4) CDOS or SACC – IEP students only. (no Reg. Exams) -Credentials only – not a high school diploma.

Required Regents Exams By Diploma Regents Diploma: -ELA cc (Eng. 11) -Social Studies: -Global Studies 2 -US History -Math: 1 Reg. Exam (Alg 1cc, Geom cc or Alg 2 cc) -Science: 1 Reg. Exam (E. Sci., Liv. Env., Chem. or Physics) ______________________ = Total of 5 Regents Exams (Note: A Local Diploma is still available for students identified with a disability. Must still take Regents Exams though. Scores on Regents Exams may be < 65% for these students.)

Required Regents Exams: Advanced Regents Diploma -ELA cc (Eng. 11) -Social Studies: Global 2 & US History -Math: 3 Reg. Exam (Alg 1, Geom. and Alg 2) = (+2) -Science: 2 Reg. Exam - Liv. Env. and any 1 of remaining 3: E. Sci., Chem. or Physics) = (+1) - Plus take and pass Spanish 3 class and Span. 3 Regents (+1?) or replace with a 5 credit major in: art, music, business,tech., or BOCES. = Total of 8 or 9 Regents Exams (depends on Span.)

Graduation “bells & whistles”: Regents or Adv. Regents Diplomas Graduating with Honors, Merit and Mastery Honors Distinction: add up all Regents Exam scores required for the diploma type and divide by that number of exams (Spanish Regents is not included). If > 90%, then Honors. Merit Distinction: add up all Regents Exam scores required for the diploma type and divide by that number of exams. If > 85-89.9%, then Merit. (no Span.) _______________________________________________ Annotation of Mastery, on Adv. Reg. Diploma only: Annotation of Mastery Math: >85% on all 3 Math Reg. Annotation of Mastery Sci.: >85% on 3 Sci. Reg.

The High School Transcript! Every HS student has a transcript in progress Starts in grade 9, and some 8th grade courses apply (Span. 1, Liv. Env., Alg. 1cc, and Studio Art) What is on it? -courses taken every year (whether passed or failed) -final average in the courses -Regents Exams scores (if taken more than once, only highest score is shown- so retake!) -AP, SAT and ACT scores -GPA (weighted & unweighted) and class rank Transcripts (proof of graduation) required by colleges, military, NCAA, & many employers.

What Do College Admissions Look At What Do College Admissions Look At? (most of which is on the transcript) 1) Cumulative GPA (typically weighted ave.) & class rank -Includes any grade 8 HS courses/credits, plus gr. 9-11 When apply in fall senior yr. – no senior grades yet BUT most colleges ask for mid-year grades and all will require a FINAL transcript! (“senioritis” after accepted?) 2) SAT or ACT test scores -also important for scholarship $ 3) What courses were taken to get the GPA? More course rigor is best = College & AP (also weighted more to give a higher GPA). School profile sent with transcript which lists all of our College & AP courses. 4) Then look at course grades in the intended major, ltrs. of rec., activities/volunteerism, & list of senior yr. courses

More About Transcripts Take the most rigorous courses possible! The more selective the college, the more rigorous the courses need to take throughout HS. -College admissions folks know the difference between a good GPA with regular courses and a good GPA with college/AP courses. -College and AP courses are weighted higher! -course wt. translates into a higher wt. GPA/rank -also benefit by accruing coll. credits in HS

Transcript, though important, is not “The end all, be all!” Besides paying attention to the academics, work on “well-roundedness”. Get involved in something and take a leadership role if possible! Resume builder ( for coll. applications and scholarships) Can be community/volunteer service, sports, clubs, peer tutoring, employment, etc. Don’t have to spread self thin. Pick an interest and get involved . Getting very involved in one, or a few things, is better than doing little for many activities.

Finally… Students must do the homework, study for tests/quizzes, ask for help (no ‘magic bullet’) Students struggling in the core content areas? Besides staying after school, tutoring/AIS is available. Good academic upperclassman students can become peer tutors (receive HS credit & is good resume content).