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Category: Keystones

An Analysis of the Act 158 Graduation Pathways Used by Graduating Seniors in 2022-23

An Analysis of the Act 158 Graduation Pathways Used by Graduating Seniors in 2022-23

Pennsylvania’s Act 158 created a statewide graduation requirement for all Pennsylvania high school students. Students who were in 12th grade during the 2022-23 school year were the first graduates who needed to satisfy the Act 158 requirements. This brief summarizes completion rates of the five pathways for this group of students.

The When and How of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia

The When and How of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Education Research Consortium (PERC) study explores the “when and how” of Keystone Exams in the School District of Philadelphia, examining the timing of when students first take Keystone-associated courses, the share of students that pass those courses upon their first attempt, and the Keystone exam-taking patterns of those who pass and fail those courses.

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2022-23 School Year

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2022-23 School Year

This brief provides a summary of the major assessments administered in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and student participation in these assessments during the 2022-23 school year.

Keystone Performance Trends in SDP: 2018-19 to 2022-23

Keystone Performance Trends in SDP: 2018-19 to 2022-23

The Keystone exams are end-of-year standardized state assessments typically administered to Pennsylvania students in grades 8-11 as they near completion of the associated English, Algebra, or Biology course. This brief describes annual Keystone exam performance trends between the 2018-19 (pre-Covid) and 2022-23 school years.

2022-23 PSSA Results for District Students Show Improvements in Math and Science, Stability for ELA; Keystone Results Show Declines in Algebra and Biology but Improvement in Literature

2022-23 PSSA Results for District Students Show Improvements in Math and Science, Stability for ELA; Keystone Results Show Declines in Algebra and Biology but Improvement in Literature

On November 8, 2023 PDE published the results of the state standardized tests administered in the 2022-23 school year. Statewide results show mixed results for ELA, with improvement from 2022 for 3rd grade but declines for 7th and 8th grades. PSSA math and science scores improved over 2022 for all grades across Pennsylvania. Although proficiency rates for SDP students are lower than statewide rates, SDP students’ year-over-year results align with the statewide results; we see overall signs of post-pandemic improvement, especially in grades 3-8 math and science.

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2021-22 School Year

A Summary of District-Wide Assessments Administered to SDP Students During the 2021-22 School Year

This brief describes the District-wide tests administered at the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) during the 2021-22 school year and provides details about student participation.

Analysis of the Relationship between 2021-22 Star Assessment and Keystone Assessment Performance

Analysis of the Relationship between 2021-22 Star Assessment and Keystone Assessment Performance

The School District of Philadelphia’s Board of Education’s Goal 4 is focused on improving the reading and math performance of grades 9-11 students on the Keystones. To track progress toward the Goal, the District examines the performance of students on “Leading Indicators,” the within-year assessments of reading and math skills administered multiple times between the annual Keystone exams. This report examines the statistical relationship of Winter and Spring Star performance and Keystone performance in 2021-22.

2021-22 PSSA and Keystone Results for District Students Highlight Areas for Post-Covid Recovery and Growth

2021-22 PSSA and Keystone Results for District Students Highlight Areas for Post-Covid Recovery and Growth

The 2021-22 school year was the first year that the PSSAs and Keystones were administered normally since 2018-19 (pre-pandemic). In late November, PDE published the results of the state standardized tests administered in the 2021-22 school year.

PSSA and Keystone Performance Trends: 2014-15 to 2021-22

PSSA and Keystone Performance Trends: 2014-15 to 2021-22

The 2021-22 school year was the first year that the PSSAs and Keystones were administered normally since 2018-19 (pre-pandemic). These briefs describe District-wide performance trends on the PSSAs and the Keystone exams from 2014-15 to 2021-22.

Changing the Finish Line: Implications of new graduation requirements in the School District of Philadelphia

Changing the Finish Line: Implications of new graduation requirements in the School District of Philadelphia

Beginning with the class of 2023, Pennsylvania high school students will need to demonstrate career or postsecondary preparedness to meet statewide graduation requirements and receive a diploma. This Philadelphia Education Research Consortium (PERC) publication examines Pennsylvania’s new graduation requirements (Act 158), including the results of an analysis using historical District data to explore potential impacts for school communities.