Graduation Requirements Including ACT 158 Keystone Graduation Requirements

High School

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

(Grades 9 – 12)

MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Four (4) credits in English
Four (4) credits in Social Studies
Five (5) credits in Mathematics (This requirement includes 8th grade mathematics courses)
Three (3) credits in Science, one (1) credit of which must be in Biology
One-half (0.5) credit Physical Education/Health & Wellness (Grade 9)
One (1) credit in Physical Education (Grades 10-12)
One-half (0.5) credit Microcomputer Applications (Grade 9)
One-half (0.5) credit Senior Survivor (waived for GJCTC students who complete program)
Six and one-half (6.5) credits in elective courses

Minimum Credit Requirement

25.0

A "credit" is one (1) year or two (2) semesters of work successfully completed in a subject which meets five (5) days a week.

Seniors must satisfy all graduation requirements to be eligible to participate in the Commencement program. If you are in doubt, see the guidance counselor.

To be eligible for activities of a specific class, a student must be ranked by credits as a member of that class.

Ranked as a Sophomore - 5.5 credits

Ranked as a Junior - 11.3 credits

Ranked as a Senior - 17.7 credits

*For more detailed information regarding credits and rank, please reference the Program of Studies page.

ACT 158: Keystone Pathways to Graduation

Students graduating in 2023 and beyond, the following five options exist to meet the statewide graduation requirement:

In accordance with Pennsylvania’s Act 136 of 2020, beginning with the graduating class of 2023, students must meet statewide graduation requirements in one of five ways.

Options 1 and 2 - Keystone Pathways:
Successful completion of the three Pennsylvania Keystone Exams are an acceptable pathway for graduation:

Option 1 - Keystone Proficiency Pathway: Scoring proficient or advanced on each Keystone Exam - Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.

Option 2 - Keystone Composite Pathway: Earning a composite score of 4452 on the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams (while achieving at least a proficient score on at least one of the three exams and no less than a basic score on the remaining two).

Option 3 - Alternate Assessment Pathway:
Successful completion of locally established grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve proficiency and one of the following:

Attainment of an established score on an approved alternate assessment (SAT, PSAT, ACT, ASVAB);

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): score 1010
PSAT: score of 970

ACT: score of 21

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam: 31

Attainment of an established score on an Advanced Placement Program in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score;

Successful completion of a dual enrollment course in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score;

Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program

Acceptance in an accredited 4-year nonprofit institution of higher education and evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework.

Advanced Placement (AP) exam: score of 3 on an AP exam related to one of the following courses

Algebra Equivalent	Literature Equivalent	Biology Equivalent
AP Calculus AB	AP English Language and Composition	AP Biology
AP Calculus BC	AP Literature and Composition	AP Environmental Science
AP Computer Science A		AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science Principles		AP Physics 1: Algebra Based
AP Statistics		AP Physics 2: Algebra Based
AP Physics 1: Algebra Based		AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnesium
AP Physics 2: Algebra Based		AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Chemistry

Option 4 - Evidence Based Pathway: Successful completion of locally established grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve proficiency and demonstration of three pieces of evidence consistent with the student's goals and career plans, including one of the following:

Attainment of an established score on a SAT subject test, an Advanced Placement Program Exam:

SAT Subject Test: score of 630

AP program exam: score of 3

Acceptance to an accredited nonprofit institution of higher education other than a 4-year institution and evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework

Attainment of an industry-recognized credential; or

Successful completion of a concurrent enrollment or postsecondary course; and

Two additional pieces of evidence, including one or more of the options listed above, or: satisfactory completion of a service learning project; attainment of a score of proficient or advanced on a Keystone Exam; a letter guaranteeing full-time employment; a certificate of successful completion of an internship or cooperative education program; or satisfactory compliance with the NCAA's core courses for college-bound student-athletes with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.

Option 5 - CTE Pathway: For Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrators, successful completion of locally established grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve proficiency and attainment of an industry-based competency certification related to the CTE Concentrator's program of study or demonstration of a high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment or readiness for continued meaningful engagement in the CTE Concentrator's program of study. For further explanation of the CTE Pathway, please see PDE's Act 6 guidance.

More information can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website.