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Graduation Requirements

21CCCS Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet both the local graduation requirements as well as the Act 158 graduation requirements.

Local Graduation Requirements:

  • Required courses to take: Government and Career & College Readiness.
  • Required courses to earn credit or complete a project-based assessment: Biology or an equivalent course, English Literature or an equivalent course, Algebra I or an equivalent course
  • Students are required to earn a minimum of 22 credits in the following categories::
    1. English: 4.0 Credit
    2. Social Studies: 3.0 Credits*
    3. Science: 3.0 Credits*
    4. Mathematics: 3.0 Credits*
    5. Physical Education: 0.5 Credits
    6. Health: 1.0 Credits
    7. Career & College Readiness: 0.5 Credits
    8. Electives: 6.0 Credits

Students are required to take a fourth credit in one of the following disciplines: Math, Science, or Social Studies

Act 158 State Graduation Requirements

Act 158 provides alternative pathways for students to achieve statewide graduation requirements.

Keystone Pathways

Successful completion of the three Pennsylvania Keystone Exams is an acceptable pathway for graduation:

Keystone Proficiency Pathway:

Scoring proficient or advanced on each Keystone Exam - Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.

Keystone Composite Pathway:

  1. The Keystone Exam 3: score composite is 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).
  2. The Keystone Exam 2: score composite is 2939 or Greater (where eligible under §121.1)

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);
    1. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): score 1010
    2. PSAT: score of 970
    3. ACT: score of 21
    4. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam: the minimum score to gain admittance to a branch of the armed services in the year the student graduates.
  • 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 concurrent enrollment (dual enrolled 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 (ex. German American Chamber of Commerce); or
  • 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:
    1. Algebra Equivalent: AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science A
    2. Literature Equivalent: AP English Literature and Composition
    3. Biology Equivalent: AP Biology, AP Environmental Science

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:
    1. SAT Subject Test: score of 630
    2. AP program exam: score of 3
    3. AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics
  • 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
  • Successful completion of a concurrent enrollment (dual enrolled course) or postsecondary course; and

Two additional pieces of evidence, including:

  • One or more of the options listed above
  • 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.

CTE Pathway

CTE students who focus on career training must complete two things if they didn’t pass their Keystone Exams. First, they need to finish local school requirements in the subjects they did not score proficient. Second, they must either earn an industry certificate related to their career program, show they’re likely to pass an approved industry test, or prove they’re ready to continue successfully in their career training program.

Act 158 Pathway Graphic