PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS after graduation
At Mastery, we believe in the greatness within each of our students. With love and high expectations, we support them in finding their own paths to success. Whether they want to attend college or start their career right after graduation, we make sure our students are prepared for both so they can make the choice that’s right for them.
Pathways to Graduation
Pennsylvania
Act 158
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has introduced statewide Pathways to Graduation — expanded high school graduation requirements that are currently planned to go into effect beginning this 2022-2023 school year. Each of the pathways offers a different combination of options that can serve to fulfill the additional graduation requirements.
This means that in addition to the 21.5 credits required to graduate, high school students graduating from a Pennsylvania high school starting this school year must meet additional requirements through one of the pathways designed to illustrate their college, career and community readiness.
Any student with a disability who satisfactorily completes a special education program developed by an individualized education program team that does not otherwise meet the requirements of Act 158 shall be granted and issued a regular high school diploma.
Students are responsible to complete the requirements in their graduation plan as outlined below. Mastery is creating opportunities in bold to assist your child with completing their graduation requirements. If you have questions, please reach out to your high school’s postsecondary advisor.
| Alternative Assessment Graduation Plan | |
|---|---|
| Passing Grade in Algebra I, Biology and English II AND At least one of the following: • PSAT: 970 • SAT: 1010 • Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program • Acceptance into 4 year Institution of Higher Education (IHE) for college-level coursework | • A passing grade of at least 65 by the end of semester 1 of senior year. Students and families may login to Home Access Center (HAC) to verify grades and course credits (21.5 required) on an unofficial transcript. • By the end of RP1 of senior year, students will apply to at least one 4-year university. Acceptance letters are typically received by mid-April |
| Evidence - Based Graduation Plan | |
|---|---|
| Passing Grade in Algebra I, Biology and English II AND At least one of the following: • Successful completion of any concurrent or postsecondary course Industry-recognized credential • Acceptance into an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) (other than 4 year) for college-level coursework AND No more than two of the following: • Successful completion of a service learning project • Completion of an internship, externship, or cooperative education program • Attainment of Proficient or Advanced on any Keystone Exam • Letter guaranteeing full-time employment or military enlistment | A passing grade of at least 65 by the end of semester 1 of senior year. Students and families may login to Home Access Center (HAC) to verify grades and course credits (21.5 required) on an unofficial transcript. By the end of RP2 of senior year, students will apply to the Community College of Philadelphia to fulfill this requirement By March, students must participate in a total of 20 hours of externship, internship or service learning. They will obtain 10 hours of externship by participating in and passing their Senior Seminar course. The additional ten hours is determined by the high school they attend. Please speak to a postsecondary advisor to learn more. |
| Keystone Assessment Graduation Plan | |
|---|---|
| Passing Grade in Algebra I, Biology and English II AND At least one of the following: • Composite score of at least 4452 with 1 Proficient • or Advanced Keystone score and no Keystone score Below Basic | • A passing grade of at least 65 by the end of semester 1 of senior year. Students and families may login to Home Access Center (HAC) to verify grades and course credits (21.5 required) on an unofficial transcript. |
| Career and Technical Graduation Plan (*only for Simon Gratz High School) | |
|---|---|
| Passing Grade in Algebra I, Biology and English II AND At least one of the following: • Industry-based competency certification • Likelihood of industry-based competency assessment success OR Readiness for continued engagement in CTE Concentrator program | • A passing grade of at least 65 by the end of semester 1 of senior year. Students and families may login to Home Access Center (HAC) to verify grades and course credits (21.5 required) on an unofficial transcript. |
New Jersey
Current seniors in the Class of 2023 are exempt from state assessment graduation requirements and will not need to demonstrate proficiency via the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA), substitute competency tests or the portfolio appeals process. Students in the Class of 2023 must still meet all other state and local requirements for graduation, including the course credit requirements in the sections below.
For the Class of 2024 and beyond, students must demonstrate proficiency in both math and ELA through one of the following pathways:
| First Pathway- NJGPA | Second Pathway- Menu of Substitute Competency Tests | Third Pathway- Portfolio Appeals |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take and demonstrate proficiency in grade 11 on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA), which includes content aligned to the Grade 10 New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in ELA and the NJSLS in Algebra I and Geometry. Proficiency Scores NJGPA Score in ELA and Math >= 750 (Graduation Ready) | Students who sat for the NJGPA in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics by meeting the designated cut score on one of the assessments on the menu of substitute competency tests below: ELA Options • NJSLA/PARCC ELA Grade 9 • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section • SAT Reading Test • ACCUPLACER WritePlacer • ACCUPLACER WritePlacer ESL • PSAT10 Reading or PSAT/NMSQT Reading • ASVAB-AFQT Composite Math Options • NJSLA/PARCC Algebra I • NJSLA/PARCC Geometry • NJSLA/PARCC Algebra II • SAT Math Section • SAT Math Test • ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) • PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math (taken 10/1/15 or later) • ASVAB-AFQT Composite | Students who completed the NJGPA in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics through a portfolio appeal in grade 12. Students must meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA and/or Math |
NJ Course Credit Graduation Requirements
All high schools must provide students with the opportunity to take credit-bearing courses in grades 9-12 that satisfy these NJ minimum state credit requirements for a high school diploma. In order to graduate, students must earn at least 120 credits in the specific content areas outlined below:
| Content Area | Course Credits Required for HS Graduation | Course Sequence & Additional Requirements (courses noted in bold are required; courses noted in italics are recommended but not required) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 20.0 | English I, English II, English III and English IV or AP Language or AP Literature or Sheltered English 9, 10, 11 or 12 |
| Math | 15.0 | • Algebra I or the content equivalent • Geometry or the content equivalent • Third year of math that builds on the concepts and skills of Algebra & Geometry (e.g. Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, etc.) |
| Science | 15.0 | At least 5 credits each in: • Laboratory biology/life science or the content equivalent • Laboratory/inquiry-based science course (i.e., chemistry, environmental science, or physics) • Laboratory/inquiry-based science course General Science, Biology, Chemistry or Physics or Environmental Science or AP versions of these courses |
| Social Studies | 15.0 | • 5 credits in world history • 10 credits in the history of the United States African American History, Modern World History, U.S. History or AP versions of these courses |
| Health, Safety & Physical Education | 15.0 | 15 credits over four years including: 3 ¾ credits in health, safety, and physical education during each year of enrollment, distributed as 150 minutes per week each year Physical Education / Health |
| World Languages | 5.0 | Spanish I |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 5.0 | |
| 21st Century Life, Career & Welness | 5.0 | Internship, Junior Seminar & Senior Seminar |
| Financial Literacy | 2.5 | Economics (content is embedded in this course), Financial Literacy, Personal Finance |
| Additional Electives | 22.5 | |
| Total Course Credits | 120 |
*5 credits = passing final grade in a single period year-long course
The NJ DOE requires both meeting the total number of credits in each content area and earning credits in specific courses aligned with NJ student learning standards as noted in the chart above.
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7,500
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