High School
- High School Course Catalog
- High School Graduation Requirements
- Keystone Exams
- Parkway West Career and Technical Center
High School Course Catalog
Although designed for student use in selecting courses for the following year, the Course Catalog also provides information for long range graduation planning. The Course Catalog is distributed in January to all students in Mt. Lebanon in grades 8 through 11. Parents and incoming ninth graders are invited to an evening curriculum presentation in January to learn about course offerings.
High School Graduation Requirements
|
Total Credits – Class of 2016 Total Credits – Class of 2017, 2018 and 2019 |
42.8 43.0 |
|
English – Students must take an English course each semester; one course must be year-long American literature course. Students who do not score at the proficient level on the Eighth Grade PSSA Reading Assessment must take an Academic Literacy course during the ninth grade year. Remember that the Academic Literacy 3 course is taken in addition to English 9. |
8 |
|
Mathematics – Computer science courses do not count for math credits. |
6 |
|
Science Science credits must be distributed as follows: 2 credits – Physical Sciences; 2 credits – Life Sciences; 2 credits – Geosciences |
6 |
|
Social Studies 1 credit – American Political & Economic Systems 2 credits – World Cultures 1 credit – History of Western Cultures 2 credits – United States History |
6 |
|
Health & Wellness –Students fulfill the state-mandated graduation project through successful completion of a personal health project in this course. |
1 |
|
Physical Education – Courses are required for students in grades 9 and 10 and are elective for students in grades 11 and 12. |
1 |
|
Information Technology – Class of 2016 Practical Arts – Class of 2017, 2018 and 2019 |
.8 1 |
|
Arts or Humanities Electives– Arts include courses in Fine Arts, Technology Education, and Family & Consumer Science. In addition, Humanities include the humanities courses in Fine Arts and the following courses: AP European History, Anthropology, Comparative Religions, (H) European Literature, Honors International Relations, AP Psychology, Psychology, Social Psychology, Honors Contemporary Domestic Issues in Global World, Intro to Global Studies and World Language courses beyond Level 2. |
4 |
|
General Electives |
10 |
Keystone Exams
KEYSTONE EXAMS
Beginning with the class of 2014, in order to be eligible for graduation, a student must demonstrate mastery on the Keystone Exams: Algebra 1, English Literature, and Biology. The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject area. This requirement will be considered a stand-alone graduation requirement and as such, will not be calculated into the final course grade. In order to be eligible for graduation, children with disabilities will be required to pass the Keystone Exams or alternate assessments, as determined by each child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Should a student not demonstrate proficiency on a Keystone Exam, the student will be required to participate in a supplemental instruction program and retake the Exam up through and including the student’s junior year of high school. A student, in his/her senior year, who does not score proficient on a Keystone Exam, will be eligible to complete a project-based assessment. A project-based assessment can raise a student’s Keystone score to the proficient score, but not beyond it.
Parkway West Career and Technical Center
Students wishing to participate in extensive study of a technical area may pursue application to Parkway West Career and Technical School. Students accepted into the program are transported by the district to Parkway for daily half-day sessions through which they earn general elective credits toward graduation at Mt. Lebanon High School. Students also attend the high school for daily half-day sessions for instruction in core subjects such as English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education. At Parkway, students develop technical skills to obtain and hold jobs in a variety of fields. Attendance in the Parkway program does not preclude college admission following graduation.