ACT 158 Pathways to Graduation

ACT 158 is a Pennsylvania state-required standard for students to graduate.

Students who will be graduating from high school in 2023 and beyond have specific state graduation requirements

Students will need to take the KEYSTONE EXAMS  (Algebra 1, Biology, Literature).

Students who are proficient/advanced in all 3 Keystone exams will have met the state requirement.

Students who do not achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams can still meet the state graduation requirement set forth by one of the defined options (Pathways) outlined in the Statewide High School Graduation Requirement.

There are 5 Main Pathways to graduation:

Pathway 1: Keystone Proficiency

Proficient and/or advanced on all three Keystone Exams (Biology, Algebra 1, Literature).
*Minimum scaled score for proficiency on each Keystone Exam is 1500*

Pathway 2: Composite Score

  • Satisfactory Composite Score:
    Earn a total score which meets the requirement even though he/she wasn’t proficient on all Keystone Exams (3-Score Composite= 4452 or Greater/ 2-Score Composite is 2939 or Greater).

  • Must be Proficient in at least 1 Keystone

  • No below basic score on remaining Keystone Exams

Pathway 3: Career & Technical Education

  • Successful completion of local established grade-based requirements for academic content areas* associated with each Keystone Exam where proficiency was not reached.

  • Ex: Algebra 1 (grade of 60% or above)

AND

  • Attain industry-based competency certification related to the CTE (MBIT) program of study or

  • Likelihood of industry-based competency assessment success.

Pathway 4: Alternative Assessment

  • Successful completion of local established grade-based requirements for academic content areas* associated with each Keystone Exam where proficiency was not reached.

AND at least ONE of the following:

  • See PSAT Composite (970)

  • See SAT Composite (1010)

  • See ASVAB Composite (31)

  • See ACT Composite (21)

  • See AP score of 3 or greater in Keystone deficiency content area(s)

  • Acceptance to a 4-year college/university

  • Successful completion of concurrent courses related to Keystone deficiency area(s)* (ex: AP Bio)

  • Successful completion of pre-apprentice program*

Pathway 5: Evidence-Based

  • Successful completion of local established grade-based requirements for academic content areas* associated with each Keystone Exam where proficiency was not reached.

AND a combination of THREE other Pieces of Evidence from below:

One or more from List A and no more than two from List B.

List A:

  • Attainment of a 3 or higher or ANY AP EXAM

  • View Industry recognized credentialization

  • Acceptance into an other-than-4 year Institution of Higher Education (IHE) for college-level coursework

  • Successful completion of any concurrent or post-secondary course*

List B: