Keystone Exam - Parent Information

Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158)

As many of you are already aware, the Pennsylvania General Assembly Passed Act 158 of 2018 to modify the graduation requirements for all students in the state of Pennsylvania. This law requires that every student meet a graduation requirement of proficiency on the Keystone Exams or via an alternative pathway. Please refer to the infographic to help explain the different pathways that we as a school may use to gauge your child's fulfillment of this graduation requirement. This resource also serves as our tool to assist us in our conversations with families as we work in partnership to chart their child's path to graduation.

Our team at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School will be in communication with families on their next steps in this process. As always, thank you for your trust and please reach out to your child's school counselor if you need any further clarification.

MASH will host two assessments during October 2023 for students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Students should complete the registration survey (https://forms.gle/aDMvSbVdnz2nQXUu7) by Thursday, September 21st if they plan on taking one/or both of these exams.

General Information:

The first test is the PSAT.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be administered at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The School District will be paying the cost of the test, so it would be free for you to take it.

All juniors planning to further their education upon graduation from high school are urged to take this test because:

You will familiarize yourself with the test format used on the SAT Reasoning Test. This could ease potential test anxiety.
It will help with college research.
You could become eligible for significant scholarship money based upon your test results.
Obtaining a score of 970 or higher on the PSAT will qualify as one of the Pennsylvania Graduation Pathways that applies to all students

In years past, we have allowed sophomores to also take the PSAT to prepare themselves for this high stakes test their junior year. Once again, any sophomore who wishes to take this exam can do so on Saturday, October 14th at no cost.

You may visit the PSAT website for more information: https://parents.collegeboard.org/college-board-programs/psat-nmsqt

The second test is the ASVAB

Interested students in grades 10, 11, and 12 may wish to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) instead of the PSAT (or in some cases, in addition to the PSAT). This exam is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success specifically to the military, but generally to one’s career path. This opportunity is also free for our students. The first offered ASVAB exam this school year will occur at MASH on Friday, October 6th. (There is no district transportation provided on this day, as it is an Act 80 Day. Please indicate in the survey if van transport is needed.)

Obtaining a score of a 31 or higher on the ASVAB also could assist students in qualifying for one of the Pennsylvania Graduation Pathways that applies to all students. Student scores will not be released to the military unless your child is interested in future enlistment. You may visit the ASVAB website for more information: https://www.officialasvab.com/

Please reach out to your counselor/child’s counselor if you have specific questions.

Emma Kromka, A-D, [email protected]

Gail Hiestand, E-K, [email protected]

Joel Covert, L-R, [email protected]

Robin Clarke, S-Z, [email protected]