Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Harder-To-Pass Regents Has Educators Fearing Mass Failure
By
Anna Hiatt
Published Apr 11, 2012
Modified Apr 11, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Anna Hiatt
Published Apr 11, 2012
Modified Apr 11, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Even when failing a test—with a score of 55%—still meant passing, 44% of New York City high school students still managed to flunk the Global History Regents exam last year. The statewide exams, first issued in 1865, are administered to gauge student achievement and college preparedness. This year the passing bar has been raised higher, from 55% to 65% and educators fear that the higher test-score expectations could result in lower graduation rates.
In 2010 the highest graduation rate was 65.1%—and then students only needed to pass three out of five Regents exams to get a diploma (if not a Regents diploma). At times, the testing system can seem almost punitive—like in 2010 when New York refused to let a girl being evicted from her house the day of the exam take a makeup.
That old cliche, that if you don't know your history you're doomed to repeat it? Well, New York City's school system seems to be stuck in that cycle. Last year only 56% of NYC students passed the Global History and Geography test. Critics of the subject test say that it's harder than the other tests, like math (62% passage rate last year) and English (76%), because it demands specific answers, and students need to remember two years worth of content learned in the ninth and tenth grades. And what are those questions about the fictional Titanic movie doing on an actual history test, anyway?
Tagged
education
failing
mandatory testing
regents exam
standardized testing
Anna Hiatt
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx community hosts vigil for boy killed in e-bike fire
Zion Maine died Wednesday after a lithium-ion battery ignited, killing him and injuring four members of his family.
By
Carol Chen
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 9:22 p.m. ET
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
California man was shot by a NJ detective in Moonachie, officials say
By
Kaya Laterman
The NYPD is confiscating e-bikes along a clogged East Village street
By
Willow Higgins
New Yorkers enrolled in SNAP will get more money for fresh produce next year
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .