Graduation and Keystone Pathways
Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness. Keystone Exams will continue as the statewide assessment Pennsylvania uses to comply with accountability requirements set forth in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Although students will no longer be required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams to meet the statewide graduation requirement, students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability.
In October of 2018, the Pennsylvania requirement that all students must obtain a proficient or advanced score on each of the three Keystone Exams (Algebra 1, Biology & Literature) was removed. Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, a new statewide graduation requirement will apply in addition to the Chartiers Valley High School graduation requirements. The new Pennsylvania graduation requirements provide five alternative pathways for high school students to demonstrate readiness for postsecondary success.
- Keystone Pathway: Scoring proficient or advanced on each Keystone Exam - Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.
- Composite Pathway: Earning a satisfactory composite score on the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams. The passing composite score will be available in August of the same year.
- Alternate Assessment Pathway: Earning a passing grade on the courses associated with each Keystone Exam, and satisfactorily complete one of the following alternative assessments: SAT (1010), PSAT (970), ACT (21), ASVAB (31)
- Attain Gold Level or better on ACT WorkKeys.
- Advanced coursework (AP - attainment of 3 or better on AP exams)
- Successful completion of concurrent enrollment courses related to each Keystone content area.
- Pre-apprenticeship completion or acceptance in a 4-year nonprofit institution of higher education for college-level coursework.
- CTE Pathway: Earning a passing grade on the courses associated with each Keystone Exam, and pass the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) or the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) assessment in an approved Career and Technical Education concentration.
- Evidence Based: Earning a passing grade on the courses associated with each Keystone Exam, and demonstrate readiness for postsecondary engagement through three pieces of evidence from the student’s career portfolio aligned to student goals and career plan. Examples of evidence will include ACT WorkKeys, SAT, AP, IB and concurrent coursework, higher education acceptance, community learning project, completion of an internship, externship or co-op or full-time employment.
It is important to remember that Keystone Exams are the statewide assessment that Pennsylvania uses to comply with accountability requirements in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Chartiers Valley School District is still expected to achieve 95 percent participation on its statewide exams.
PA Pathways to Graduation - Pathway Criteria