High School Graduation Requirements

The importance of graduating from high school

Steel Center for Career and Technical Education believes strongly in the value of a high school diploma. Graduating from high school is a significant milestone in life, and a key to the future success of all students. The attainment of a student's future career goals begins with this important step. Since our programs operate as an extension of the high school curriculum provided by each of our member school districts, students do not "graduate" from Steel Center, they "complete" the program of study they enroll in. By simply attending Steel Center, students can become a Career and Technical Education (CTE) "concentrator" and with hard work and the attainment of specific criteria established by the state of Pennsylvania, students will ideally earn the "completer" status.

We want all of our students and families to pay close attention to the graduation requirements of their school district. These requirements are established by the School Board of each school district and are typically communicated in great detail in the high school student handbook and on school district websites. The graduation requirements of each school district can include criteria specific to each school district as well as those established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The information we are providing on this page is general information that outlines the state's graduation requirements. It is important to note that while the state's requirements used to mandate that ALL students pass the three Pennsylvania Keystone Exams in order to earn a high school diploma, laws were passed that now provide multiple pathways to meet state graduation requirements. One of those pathways is specific to Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators. The information below explains in detail the state graduation requirements, including how Steel Center students can meet these requirements. Again, this information does not include your local school district graduation requirements, which must be met in addition to the state requirements.

Students graduating in 2023 and beyond, 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. Listed below is the Steel Center CTE Option 5 Pathway along with the other options 1-4.

Pathways to High School Graduation in Pennsylvania

Steel Center Pathway to Graduation - Option 5 CTE

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 CLICK HERE to review Act 6 guidance provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

What is a CTE Concentrator? A CTE Concentrator is a student who has completed (passed) a minimum of two CTE *courses in a single career pathway throughout their high school career is considered a concentrator.
For a list of Steel Center's Industry-based Competency Certifications related to the CTE Concentrators program of study click the following button. Industry-based Competency Certifications - Option 5-CTE

Option 1 & 2 Keystone Pathway

Successful completion of the three Pennsylvania Keystone Exams is 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

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

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.