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Class of 2026 Graduation Requirements

On October 8, 2025, the New Jersey State Board of Education re-adopted with amendments the New Jersey Department of Education’s Standards and Assessment regulations, N.J.A.C. 6A:8. The Department anticipates that the revised regulations will go into effect upon publication in the New Jersey Register on November 3, 2025. 

The requirements for the class of 2026 will be available on the Graduation Assessments Requirements webpage and are detailed below. The Graduation Ready cut scores for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment and the Menu of Substitute Competency Tests have not changed for the class of 2026. 

First Pathway – New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA)

Table 1: Graduation Ready cut scores for the NJGPA

English Language Arts (ELA) Mathematics
≥725 ≥725

Second Pathway – Menu of Substitute Competency Tests

Students who attempted the NJGPA but were unsuccessful in achieving the Graduation Ready cut score in either ELA or mathematics may substitute a qualifying score from one of the following assessments to satisfy their graduation assessment requirement.


Table 2: Menu of Substitute Competency Tests and their related cut scores 

English Language Arts (ELA) Mathematics

One of the following:

  • ACT Reading ≥17
  • Accuplacer WritePlacer ≥5
  • Accuplacer WritePlacer English Second Language ≥4
  • PSAT10 Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) ≥420
  • PSAT10 Reading ≥21
  • PSAT/NMSQT EBRW ≥420
  • PSAT/NMSQT Reading ≥21
  • SAT EBRW ≥450
  • SAT Reading ≥23

One of the following:

  • ACT Math ≥17
  • Accuplacer Elementary Algebra ≥49 
  • Accuplacer Next-Generation QAS ≥250
  • PSAT10 Math Section or PSAT/NMSQT Math Section ≥420
  • PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math ≥21
  • SAT Math Section ≥440
  • SAT Math Test ≥22

Third Pathway – Portfolio Appeals

Students who attempted the NJGPA but were unsuccessful in achieving the Graduation Ready cut score in either ELA or mathematics may have their district submit a Portfolio Appeal on their behalf. More information on the Portfolio Appeal process can be found on the Graduation Assessment Requirements website.

A streamlined Portfolio Appeal option is available to students who meet or exceed the minimum required Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) composite score of 35 and allows for a 50 percent reduction in the quantity of Portfolio Appeals constructed response tasks (CRTs). Please see the website for additional information on adjustments to the Portfolio Appeal process for ELA and mathematics which have streamlined the Portfolio Appeal option.
 
Contact Information 
For questions, please contact the Office of Assessments at (609) 376-3960 or assessment@doe.nj.gov.