The Keystone Exams are a compulsory, end-of-course assessment used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to comply with accountability requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). All students are required to take the Keystone Exams.

The high school administers Keystone Exams during the winter and spring. Exams in biology, 10th grade literature and algebra are administered in the winter for students who completed those classes in the first semester. A similar window of testing occurs in May for students in year-long and second semester courses. Students and their parents will be notified when they are scheduled to test.

Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career and community readiness. Keystone Exams will continue as the statewide assessment Pennsylvania uses to comply with accountability requirements set forth in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Although students will no longer be required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams to meet the statewide graduation requirement, students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability. Failure to do so will affect a Local Education Agency (LEA) and school's participation rate.

If you have specific questions about Keystone testing requirements or how they apply to your child, please contact Mrs. Julie Davis directly at jcdavis@nullexetersd.org or 610-779-3060, extension 2146.