PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES RECEIVING NEW YORK STATE'S REGENTS DIPLOMAS
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Why is this important?
Before 2005, New York State offered its mainstream high school graduates two types of diplomas, the “Local Diploma” and the more prestigious “Regents Diploma.” Receipt of a Regents Diploma represents mastery of demanding academic skills and shows that the graduate is ready for higher education in America’s most selective colleges.
How are we doing?
Since 2001, the percentage of Long Island graduates receiving a Regents Diploma has grown steadily, with the biggest gains coming in 2005, when 86% of all diplomas were Regents Diplomas. This is an improvement of 37% since 2001.
Considering the influence of school poverty on diploma type, there are some encouraging signs. The gap between high-poverty schools and the middle and wealthy schools narrowed substantially in 2005. The percent of graduates in high-poverty schools receiving Regents diplomas increased another percentage point to 67% in 2006. The rate for middle- and low poverty schools remained high at around 90%.