Pleasant Valley High School (Pennsylvania) - Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

The Pleasant Valley School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28.5 credits to graduate including: Math 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 1 credit, Drivers Ed theory 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Computer Lit 0.5 credits and 6 PSSA Enhancement/electives. Each student in the High School, sophomores and juniors, must be registered for at least 8.0 credits per year. Seniors are required a minimum of 6.5 credits. Students who score below the proficient level on the 11th grade PSSA test must enroll in and demonstrate proficiency in a 9 week 1⁄2 credit course in Math and/or Reading prior to graduating called PSSA Enhancement.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. Completion of the graduation projects earns the student 0.5 credit towards graduation.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores will count for at least one-third of the final course grade. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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