Regents. Snort.
I got a 95 on the chemistry regents, despite not doing any work the entire year until 3 weeks before, and having failing grades the entire year. (Final report card said: Grade-65, Regents-95, Comments-test scores are poor.)
I got a 93 on Math III (the old system), after spending the whole year standing at the back window and looking outside during class (I was in a fight with the teacher). There wasn’t even anything interesting outside.
If your proof that they are serious is from the Regents, I am not very convinced.