Keystone Exams

Avon Grove High School

Winter Keystone Exam Dates

December 4, 2023 – December 15, 2023

Spring Keystone Exam Dates

Algebra - May 13, 2024 and May 14, 2024

Literature -May 13, 2023 and May 14, 2024

Biology - May 15, 2024 and May 16, 2024

The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content.  Students must fulfill the expectations of one of the Keystone Pathways as a graduation requirement.  The Keystone Exams are directly aligned to two of the five Pathways.  Students will be offered multiple opportunities to take the Keystones throughout their high school career. 

 Learn more about the Graduation Pathways from the Graduation Requirements Presentation.

You may support your students by ensuring they do the following during testing:

·       Arrive to school on time

·       Get a good night’s sleep

·       Have a healthy breakfast

·       Bring a charged Chromebook to school

 

Students taking the Keystones are not permitted to have cell phones, cameras, or any other electronic devices in their possession during the administration of the exam. If a student brings a cell phone to a testing room it will be collected prior to the distribution of testing materials. If a student is in possession of a cell phone once the exam is underway, the student’s exam will be taken and their exam will not be scored.  The student will be subject to district disciplinary policy, the Dept. of Education’s requirement to retake the exam, and possibly other consequences. 

 

Chapter 4 of Title 22 of the Pa. Code (22 Pa. Code 4.4) provides for the right of any parent/guardian to excuse his/her child from the state assessment if, upon inspection of the testing materials, he/she finds the assessment to be in conflict with his/her religious beliefs.  This is the only basis under Chapter 4 rules for a parent/guardian to excuse his or her child from the statewide Keystone Assessments.

 

Parents and guardians may review the Keystone Exams if they believe they may be in conflict with their religious beliefs by making arrangements with the School Test Coordinator once the exams arrive at the school. Confidentiality agreements must be signed, and no copies of the Keystone Exams or notes about exam questions will be permitted to leave the school. If, after reviewing the Keystone Exams, parents or guardians do not want their child to participate in one or all of the exams due to a conflict with their religious beliefs, they may write a letter specifying their objection to the school district superintendent prior to the beginning of the exam(s) to request their child be excused from the exam(s).

 

Please know, if a parent/guardian chooses to excuse their child from taking the Keystones due to the conflict of a religious belief, the student will then be required to fulfill one of the other Pathways to graduate.

 

For more information about each of the Keystone Exams, visit PDE