Do students need to become proficient on the PSSA in order to graduate from high school?

This depends on the school district. All students must demonstrate proficiency in Reading and Math in order to graduate from high school. If a student’s score on the eleventh grade PSSA is not high enough to be considered proficient, then the student can retake the test in the fall of their senior year. If the student is still not scoring proficient, then the individual school district can elect to use a local assessment to allow the student to demonstrate proficiency. The local assessment should be aligned with the state standards and thus, in theory anyway, the PSSA.

Since the school’s graduation rate influences the AYP, the school districts have a lot of incentive to help the student show proficiency. (Not to mention the fact that it is difficult to “flunk” all these kids.)