Pennsylvania Graduation Requirements

Requirement: Score at least 1,500 on each of the three Keystone exams. Out-of-state transfers who have demonstrated proficiency in their prior states’ exams for Keystone-associated content may be deemed by the LEA to have met Keystone Proficiency for that content.

Action Steps: Take each Keystone exam and score at least at least proficient on each. Keystone exams are offered throughout your high school experience. This is the clearest way to meet the PDE graduation requirement.

Requirement: Pass the NOCTI exam within the relevant CTE or CTC program (this is only for career and technical education students) or demonstrate readiness for CTE content. Students can also complete this pathway by completing a CTE/CTC program and doing one of the following:

• Score competent/advanced on Pre-NOCTI assessment
• Score competent/advanced on NOCTI assessment
• Earn at least one Industry-Based Competency Certification associated with your CTE program of study

Action Step: Students can sign up for career and technical education programs as early as 10th grade. Talk with your counselor if you are interested in this pathway. You can find out more about McCaskey’s CTE programs here.

The fifth pathway requirements students to complete a combination of different activities to meet the PDE requirement. Students must earn a total of three pieces of evidence from this pathway. These are outlined below.

First, Complete at least one of the following:

ACT Workkeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)

• Requirement: Earn at least Silver Level on the NCRC assessment
• Action Steps: School District of Lancaster has an ACT WorkKeys subscription and students can complete the curriculum and assessment at no cost. Talk to your counselor about signing up or sign up for the National Career Readiness Certificate prep camp this summer here.
• Note: ACT WorkKeys can only be counted once towards the evidence based pathway.

College Acceptance

• Requirement:The student must demonstrate acceptance into an other-than-4-year program in an accredited non-profit institution of higher education by providing:
  • A letter of admittance confirming non-conditional acceptance into an explicit degree program or major
    OR
    • Written confirmation of general admittance AND evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework through one of the following:
    • Placement test results (or equivalent criteria established by the IHE) indicating the student may enroll in college-level coursework in every subject area
    • College registration confirmation of enrollment in college-level courses (non-remedial) only
    • A locally-established graduate profile recommended minimally to consist of:
      • GPA of 2.6 (or C average) or higher
      • Attendance rate of 80% in grades 11 and 12
      • Successful completion in an advanced* secondary-level math course other than the course leading to the Algebra I Keystone Exam
      • Successful completion in an advanced* secondary-level English course other than the course leading to the Literature Keystone Exam
• Action Steps: Meet with a member of the Future Ready Center for assistance on completing a college application. Request a meeting here.
• Note: College acceptance can only be counted once towards the evidence based pathway.

Dual Enrollment

• Requirement: Earn a passing grade in any dual enrollment course
• Action Steps: More information on signing up for SDoL’s dual enrollment offerings here.

Earn Industry Based Credential

• Requirement: Earn an industry based credential related to student’s goals or career plans
• Action Steps: Complete a credential related to your career cluster of interest. Details on approved credentials are found here.

IB/AP

• Requirement: Score a 3 or higher on the IB/AP exam related to each Keystone you did not score proficient or advanced on. 
• Action Steps: Talk with your counselor about your course options.

Second, Complete at least two of the following

Additional Evidence From Section Above

• Requirement: See above
• Action Steps: See above

Complete Internship, Externship, or Co-Op

• Requirement: Complete one of these options while a high school student
• Action Steps: Meet with your high school counselor to identify if these options fit with your schedule.

Complete Service Learning Project

• Requirement: Complete a service learning project lasting at least 10 hours that meets a specific learning goal
• Action Steps: Submit a service learning project application for review and approval by your high school’s principal. See your counselor for information on this process.

Guarantee of Full Time Employment

• Requirement: Secure letter guaranteeing full-time employment upon high school graduation
• Action Steps: Have your employer provide a letter guaranteeing full time employment after graduation. Provide this documentation directly to your school counselor.

Keystone Exam

• Requirement: Score proficient or advanced on one Keystone exam area
• Action Steps: Meet with your school counselor to see if retesting a Keystone exam is the best fit for you. If you score proficient on one or two exams you can use those results here.

Meet NCAA Requirements for Student-Athletes

• Requirement: Meet NCAA course requirements with at least a 2.0 GPA
• Action Steps: Talk to your counselor if you plan to play collegiate level sports. The counselor will guide you on required courses.