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: 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 college-in-high school (CHS) 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
| 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.