Graduation Requirements

Credit Requirements

High School students must complete 44 academic credits for graduation (each full-time, semester-long class represents one credit). Minimum subject area requirements are as follows: 

• • English - 8 credits (4 years)

  • History - 8 credits (4 years)

  • Mathematics - 6 credits (3 years, although 4 years are recommended for college applications)

  • Science - 6 credits (3 years)

  • Foreign Language - 2 credits (1 year)

  • Electives - 7 credits (3½ years)

  • Arts - 2 credits (1 year)

  • Health - 1 credit, 1 semester)

  • Physical Education - 4 credits (4 years)

Students must have at least 8 credits for promotion to 10th grade, 20 credits for promotion to 11th grade, and 30 credits for promotion to 12th grade.

PBAT and Regents Exam Requirements

Lyons Community School is a member of the New York State Performance Standards Consortium.

As part of this group of innovative public schools, our students follow a unique assessment model that emphasizes in-depth thinking, research, and real-world skills. Instead of taking all five Regents exams, Lyons students take only the ELA Regents exam and complete four in-depth performance-based assessments (PBATs) in Math, Science, Literature, and Social Studies.

To earn a New York State Regents diploma, students must achieve a rating of competent or higher on each PBAT, which is developed and graded by teachers using state-approved rubrics.

This approach allows students to demonstrate their learning through meaningful projects and presentations—helping them build the skills they’ll need for college, careers, and life beyond school.