LI students earning more Regents-level diplomas

April 15, 2010 by JOHN HILDEBRAND / john.hildebrand@newsday.com

Long Island high-school students continue to earn more Regents-level diplomas, according to the latest school "report cards" released Thursday by the State Education Department.

Islandwide, 93.7 percent of last year's graduates earned such diplomas, signifying completion of academic courses at a basic college-prep level. Numbers were up from 89.9 percent in 2008 and 90.1 percent in 2007.

In Suffolk County, 89.7 percent of graduates obtained Regents diplomas last year. Nassau's figure was 91.4 percent.

"Obviously, I'm proud we're continuing to head in the right direction," said Charles Leunig, superintendent of Copiague schools. Eight-three percent of graduates in that district earned Regents diplomas last year, compared to 78 percent the year before.

As in many districts, graduation gains were most marked among Copiague's black and Hispanic students, who constitute 72 percent of enrollment there. The state has long pushed increased numbers of students to earn Regents diplomas, with an eye toward phasing out local diplomas that are less demanding academically.