Do Regents Scores Count Toward GPA? New York District Rules in 2026

Many New York high school students are surprised to learn this. You can pass all five Regents exams and still have your district treat those scores very differently from the next student’s district.

Some districts count your Regents score as 20% of your final course grade. Others ignore it completely. And a growing number have adopted a middle-ground rule: it only counts if it helps you.

Here is exactly how the rules work in 2026, which districts do what, and what is changing starting in 2027.

What NYSED Actually Says About Regents and GPA

The New York State Education Department has a clear official position on this. The NYSED states it does not require or recommend that schools use Regents exam scores in the calculation of a student’s final course average.

This has been the department’s stated position for years. A 2022 NYSED memo reinforced it directly, noting that Regents scores are scaled scores — not percentage scores — and therefore do not align cleanly with how most districts calculate course averages.

Despite this guidance, grading policy is determined locally. Each district sets its own rules. That is why two students taking the same Geometry Regents exam on the same day can end up with very different final course grades.

How Much Do Regents Scores Affect Your GPA?

The answer depends on which of three policies your district uses.

Policy Type	How It Works	GPA Impact
Regents score counted in final grade	Typically weighted as 20% of final course average	Score can raise or lower your GPA
Do No Harm policy	Regents score only counted if it improves your average	Score can only help, never hurt
Not counted at all	Regents score appears on transcript but does not factor into final grade	Zero GPA impact

Which Districts Count Regents Scores in GPA — and Which Do Not

Here is what verified reporting shows about specific districts as of 2025-2026.

District	Region	Regents GPA Policy
Rye City School District	Westchester County	Not counted in final grade
Pelham Union Free School District	Westchester County	Previously counted; scores removed from college transcripts starting 2025-26
Riverhead Central School District	Suffolk County, Long Island	Suspended 20% weight in 2024; Do No Harm policy in effect
Greenport Union Free School District	Suffolk County, Long Island	Reduced weight from 20% to 10% after pandemic
Seneca Falls Central School District	Seneca County, Upstate NY	Counts Regents scores in final grade calculation
Rockville Centre Union Free School District	Nassau County, Long Island	Questions about scaled score compatibility with local grading systems; policy under review

 

If your district is not listed here, check with your school’s guidance counselor. Policies are set at the local level and are not published in one central state database.

The “Do No Harm” Policy: What It Means

The Do No Harm policy is simple. Your Regents exam score is only factored into your final course grade if it is high enough to bring your average up. If your Regents score is lower than your course average, it is ignored.

Riverhead Central School District is one of the most documented examples of this debate playing out publicly. The district temporarily adopted Do No Harm during the pandemic, then debated for years whether to make it permanent. In May 2024, the Riverhead Board of Education voted unanimously to suspend the traditional 20% weighting policy and keep the Do No Harm approach for the 2024 exam cycle.

The Greenport Union Free School District took a similar approach, reducing its Regents weighting from 20% to 10% of the final course grade.

Advocates of the Do No Harm approach argue that students should not face GPA damage from a test they are already required to pass for their diploma. Critics counter that removing score weight reduces the exam’s seriousness and distorts class rank calculations.

Does This Matter for College Admissions?

For most colleges outside New York, Regents scores carry minimal weight. Admissions offices primarily review SAT or ACT scores, course rigor, and overall GPA.

This is part of why Pelham Memorial High School removed individual Regents scores from the college transcripts it sends starting in the 2025-26 school year. The principal cited both the state’s plans to phase out the exams and the school’s broader approach to student learning.

Within New York, some colleges do review Regents scores as part of a student’s academic record. A Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation can still signal academic strength to in-state institutions.

What Changes in 2027: Regents Phase-Out Explained

Starting with the 2027-28 school year, passing Regents exams will no longer be required to graduate from a New York public high school. The Board of Regents approved this change in November 2024 under its NY Inspires plan.

Here is how the timeline breaks down by graduation year.

Graduation Year	Regents Requirement
2026 and 2027	Must pass five Regents exams with a score of 65 or higher to earn a Regents Diploma
January 2028 onwards	Passing Regents no longer required; one unified diploma replaces the three-tier system
Class of 2031 (enters Grade 9 in fall 2027)	First cohort under fully overhauled credit requirements
2029-30 and beyond	Full Portrait of a Graduate framework in effect; Regents become optional pathway only

 

Important: Even after the phase-out, students will still be required to take Regents exams in certain subjects due to federal law. The difference is that a passing score will no longer be required to earn a diploma.

Students can still choose to take the exams to earn a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation as a seal of achievement on their transcript.

What Replaces Regents for Graduation After 2027

New York is replacing the exit exam requirement with the Portrait of a Graduate framework. Students will need to demonstrate six core competencies to earn a diploma.

Competency	What It Means
Academically Prepared	Foundation in core academic standards
Creative Innovator	Ability to think and produce original solutions
Critical Thinker	Analytical reasoning and problem-solving
Effective Communicator	Written, verbal, and digital communication skills
Global Citizen	Awareness of civic, cultural, and global issues
Future-Focused Leader	Career readiness and lifelong learning

 

Students will demonstrate these through capstone projects, portfolios, work-based learning, internships, and community service — in addition to taking Regents exams if they choose.

As of June 2026, the state has not yet published the full rubrics or exact mechanics for how each competency will be evaluated. Chalkbeat reported on June 23, 2026 that educators and advocates remain concerned about the pace of transition and lack of specific guidance for schools.

How to Find Your District’s Regents GPA Policy

There is no single statewide database that lists every district’s Regents grading weight. Here is how to find the answer for your school.

Step	Action
1	Check your district’s official website under Academic Policies or Grading Policies
2	Contact your high school guidance counselor directly
3	Ask at a Board of Education meeting — grading policies are publicly available
4	Review the student handbook issued at the start of the school year

FAQ –

Do Regents exams count toward your GPA in New York?

It depends on your school district. NYSED does not require or recommend it. Some districts weight Regents scores as 20% of your final course grade. Others use a Do No Harm policy. Some districts do not count them at all. Check with your guidance counselor for the policy at your school.

What is the passing score for a New York Regents exam?

The standard passing score is 65 on a scale of 0 to 100. Students who score between 60 and 64 may be eligible to appeal through their school’s superintendent. A score of 85 or higher is considered Level 5, the highest performance level.

What is a Do No Harm Regents policy?

A Do No Harm policy means your Regents exam score is only factored into your final course grade if it helps your average. If your Regents score is lower than your existing course average, the district ignores it when calculating your final grade. Riverhead and Greenport are among the districts that have used this approach.

Will Regents exams still exist after 2027?

Yes. The exams are not being eliminated — only the requirement to pass them for graduation is changing. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, students can still take Regents exams voluntarily, and a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation will still be available for those who pass.

Does a low Regents score hurt your college applications?

For colleges outside New York, Regents scores are rarely a factor. Colleges focus on SAT or ACT scores and overall GPA. Some schools, like Pelham Memorial High School, have already removed individual Regents scores from the college transcripts they send to admissions offices starting in the 2025-26 school year.

What happens if you fail a Regents exam?

If you fail, you can retake the exam in January, June, or August. Only the highest score is kept on your record. Students scoring between 60 and 64 may be eligible to appeal to their superintendent for diploma credit with a lower score, provided they meet additional criteria including a passing course average.

Bottom Line

New York State leaves the GPA question up to each district. The state recommends against counting Regents scores in course grades, but many districts still do it — and policies vary significantly from one county to the next.

If you are a student or parent in New York, the most important step is to ask your guidance counselor directly. Find out the exact weighting rule at your school before exam season, not after.

And if you are a current freshman or sophomore, keep the 2027 changes in mind. The entire graduation framework is shifting, and how Regents scores are treated — in both diplomas and GPA calculations — will look very different by the time the Class of 2028 and beyond graduate.

Official Resources

• NYSED — High School Regents Examinations
• NYSED — NY Inspires Graduation Measures FAQ
• NYC Public Schools — Regents Exam Information

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Grading policies are determined at the local district level and may change. Always confirm current policy with your school’s guidance counselor or district administration.

Last Updated: June 27, 2026