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). Students are required to take the Keystone Exams.

Keystone Exams are scheduled in December and January for Senior High Students and in May for both Junior and Senior High students. Students and their parents will be notified if and 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 your child's counselor.