PSSA/Keystone: Important Parent Information

The annual Pennsylvania System School Assessment and the Keystone Assessments are standards-based, criterion-referenced assessments which provides students, parents, educators and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance related to the attainment of proficiency of the academic standards. The standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Technology identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels. School districts possess the freedom to design curriculum and instruction to ensure that students meet or exceed the standards' expectations.

Every Pennsylvania student in grades 3 through 8 is assessed in English Language Arts and Math. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 5 and 8 is assessed in science. All students that complete Algebra I, a 10th-grade English Language Arts course, and Biology are testing using the Keystone exams. The Keystone exams were created to replace the Grade 11 PSSA and serve as one component of Pennsylvania's statewide high school graduation requirement. Keystone exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards. The exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology (

Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to schools and districts for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning.

More information about PSSAs and Keystone exams can be found at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Website.