It wasn’t until 1999 that all NYS students were required to take the English regents and all five by 2003.
There was a huge uproar in my district (and many others) that the classes would be dumbed down as a result.
Did some kids take regents exams before that - obviously yes - but most kids didn’t and as I said, only those planning on going to state school took them because there was a scholarship attached to it way back when I was in high school.
“The tests at issue have caused an uproar among educators and parents this year, the first in which public high school seniors will be required to pass the Regents English exam in order to graduate.”
“The private schools are one of three groups seeking to gain exemptions from new state rules that by 2003 will require all students to pass Regents examinations in five subjects – math, science, global studies, American history and English – in order to graduate from high school.”
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/24/nyregion/private-schools-seek-to-stick-to-their-own-standards.html