Graduation Requirements:

I. NEW YORK STATE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS TO GRADUATE

• English                     8    
• Social Studies           8
• Math                       6
• Science                   6*
• Language                 2**
• Music                      1 
• Art                         1
• Health                     1
• Gym   8 gym classes required to graduate (4)
• Elective Courses 7 (minimum)

Total                         44 (minimum)

*Three years of laboratory science (Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics and Marine Science), Wildlife Conservation or any Advanced Placement Science Course.

**Three years of foreign language is required for advanced Regents diploma and HSES endorsed diploma.

II. NEW YORK STATE EXAM REQUIREMENTS TO GRADUATE

ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA    Completion of the above credit requirements AND At least eight (8) Regents Exams with a passing score of “65”

• Two (2) Math Regents
• Two (2) Science Regents
• English  Comprehensive Exam                                   
• Global Studies Regents                                                
• U.S. History Regents
• Foreign Language Regents    

REGENTS DIPLOMA:  Completion of the above credit requirements AND

• One Math Regents
• One Science Regents
• English Comprehensive Exam
• Global Studies Regents
• U.S. History & Government Regents       

*Minimum of “65” allowed to graduate.                   

HSES Student/Parent Agreement

Graduating Class of 2011

Welcome to the High School for Environmental Studies (HSES).  You have the honor of being enrolled in a very special high school that offers a unique environmental program.  As a student of HSES, you are expected to meet and fulfill the following requirements in order to graduate with an HSES endorsed diploma.  An HSES endorsed diploma indicates that you have taken the challenging academic course-load offered by HSES, including and going beyond the basic state requirements for a high school diploma.

In order to receive an HSES endorsed diploma, students enrolled at HSES must take and pass the following subjects/exams:

• Environmental Seminar Research class (2 credits)
• Environmental Ethics (1 credit)
• Two environmental elective credits (i.e.) Environmental Seminar (2 credits), Wildlife Conservation (2 credits), Marine Science (2 credits), AP Environmental Science (2 credits)*
• Environmental Senior Thesis – Required component for Senior English class (Scientific or Humanities focus)
• Four years of English (8 credits)
• Four years of Social Studies ( 8 credits)
• Three years of Math at HSES(6 credits)
• Three years of lab Science at HSES.  Courses include Living Environment, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Environmental Science, Marine Science, Wildlife Conservation (6 credits)*
• Three years of World Languages at HSES(6 credits)**
• One year of Art (2 credits)
• One year of Music (2 credits)
• Physical Education (8 terms) (New city mandates governing physical education supersede the requirement)
• Health (1 credit)
• Required Regents Exams

One-term courses receive 1 credit; year-long courses receive 2 credits.  Admission to AP courses must be approved by the Department Supervisor.

*Marine Science, Wildlife Conservation, or any Science Course can each be used as an elective and/or as part of a 3-year lab science requirement

**You will be given full credit for any accelerated courses completed prior to entering HSES. You will receive credit on your transcript for these courses, However, this does not replace the three-year requirement for Math, Science and World Languages that you must take while at HSES.

In addition to these requirements, you will be required to participate in the following activities and programs listed below.

• HSES Community Service Program:  You are required to complete 100 hours of environmental community service.  These hours may be completed over the course of four years for credit or through the Environmental Internship Program, which includes an advisory class in the Sophomore year.  Students enrolled in the Environmental Internship Program will receive a letter grade and credit for their work.  Credit for volunteer service completed outside of the Internship Program must be approved by your Guidance Counselor prior to receiving credit.
• All Juniors and Seniors MUST attend a minimum of 8 periods a day including off site academic programs.
• Tutorial Classes and the Homework Help Center MUST be attended by students with academic needs.

Individual academic circumstances can be discussed with your guidance counselor.