Graduation Requirements

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Students attending Penn-Trafford High School will be governed by the following regulations:

1. A minimum of 24.5 CREDITS will be required for graduation.

2. Subject requirements for graduation for all students are:

4 credits of English (Eng.9, 10, 11) 3.5 credits of Social Studies (Civics, World, US) 

3 or 4 COURSES of Mathematics* 3 or 4 COURSES of Science*

2 credits of Humanities 1 credit of Physical Education

1/2  credit of Health 1/2 credit of Career and Personal Finance

*7 COURSES are required between Math and Science. (4 Math/3 Science or 3 Math/4 Science)

3. Students are required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exam in Literature, Algebra I, and Biology or one of the Act 158 Pathways.  This is a graduation requirement.

4. Seniors must satisfactorily complete a research paper/project for their PTHS senior English teacher in order to qualify for graduation and a diploma.

5. All students must complete 30 hours of Community Service prior to March 1st of their senior year. Failure to do so will result in students being placed on the restricted list. 

6. Students must complete all 8 components of their Career Portfolio (Smart Futures) by April 1.  Students not meeting targets will be placed on the restricted list.

7. All students must carry at least 7 credits each year.  Students are not required to take a study hall.  Seniors that have fulfilled their graduation requirements may choose to leave school early for internships, work release or to attend college level courses if they meet the criteria.  Seniors playing a WPIAL sport must adhere to the credit requirement set by the WPIAL.

8. Penn-Trafford High School operates on an eight (8) period day.  When selecting courses, students should be sure that they can be scheduled within the eight (8) period day.

9. Students who are interested in early graduation should contact their counselor prior to the end of their 10th grade year.

10. Students may take college classes for enrichment purposes at their own discretion.  Any courses taken at a local college/university for enrichment WILL NOT count towards the total credits needed for graduation or be factored into GPA/Class Rank.  Students would be responsible for all tuition/fees and transportation.  

11. Level 1 of a World Language, Algebra 1, Hon. English 9 and Geometry, when taken in middle school, will be shown on the student’s high school transcript.  The classes will earn credit toward high school graduation requirements but will NOT be factored into the GPA and Class Rank.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Courses in the following curricular areas will satisfy the humanities requirement:  Art, Social Studies electives, Family and Consumer Sciences, Language Arts electives, Music, STEAM and Technology Education, World Language.

KEYSTONE REQUIREMENTS

• Passing the Keystone Exams in Algebra, Biology and Literature continues to be a graduation requirement from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

• Students taking specific honors level core courses are required to show proficiency on Keystone Exams.  For example, for a student to take an honors level English course in 11th grade, they must be at least proficient on the 10th grade English Keystone Exams. 

• In addition, students applying to the National Honor Society must also show proficiency on all 3 Keystone Exams.

• Note: If a student doesn’t take the Keystone Exam per Chapter 4 regulations, they will be required to fulfill one of the other Act 158 Graduation Pathways.